Louisville announces more sanctions for men’s basketball

The University of Louisville announced additional sanctions on its men’s basketball program Wednesday as the school awaits the outcome of an NCAA investigation into its sex scandal.

The Cardinals, who previously banned themselves from 2015-16 postseason play, took measures Wednesday that will affect the team’s recruiting in the years ahead.

Louisville will reduce the number of scholarships it awards by one in 2017-18 and one in 2018-19. It will also reduce immediately by 30 the number of days members of the coaching staff may recruit, which U of L said is a 24 percent reduction. The program will also reduce official visits by one in 2016-17 and one in 2017-18.

Louisville’s statement said the school is working “collaboratively with the NCAA in the investigation” and that the university is not able to discuss the investigation or the facts.

“After much deliberation, the university believes that self-imposing these penalties is appropriate,” the statement read. “While the university could elect to wait until the infractions process is complete, those consulted agree that these penalties are consistent with NCAA legislation, and imposing these penalties now is the right thing to do and may advance the university’s goal of expediting resolution of this matter.”

Louisville’s statement said Athletics Director Tom Jurich, Coach Rick Pitino and NCAA consultant Chuck Smrt were among those who provided input to school president James Ramsey before the decision to impose additional sanctions.

The school also said it is “working on implementing additional corrective measures to improve its oversight of the men’s basketball program.” It did not specify what those measures were but said they were designed to promote communication and transparency.

Ramsey said in February, when the school self-imposed its postseason ban, that the investigation revealed that violations did occur when the school reviewed allegations by an escort that a former Louisville staffer paid her and other dancers to strip and have sex with recruits and players.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 2:44 PM with the headline "Louisville announces more sanctions for men’s basketball."