LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville has released the NCAA reply to the school’s response to the Notice of Allegations involving potential violations in the recruitment of basketball player Brian Bowen, Jr.

What You Need To Know

  • University of Louisville releases NCAA response to the school's response to the Notice of Allegations

  • Document repeats the accusation UofL was a participant in fraud

  • Louisville has 15 days to request which body will hear the case

  • UofL issued a statement online

 

The 70-page reply from the NCAA repeats the accusation that Louisville was a knowing participant in fraud and "The enforcement staff is unaware of any factual information that warrants a lower penalty range for the institution related to the Level I and II violations present in this case."

The case centers on employees of shoe company Adidas offering Bowen’s family $100,000 if he would attend Louisville.

Louisville acknowledges the offer was made, but argued in a September response to the NCAA that they were unaware of it and played no part in it. They pointed to a Federal trial that ruled the school was the victim of fraud, asking how the NCAA could portray them as a perpetrator of fraud.

But the NCAA was unmoved by Louisville’s defense, repeating an assertion that Adidas is considered a "booster" and therefore UofL "has knowledge or should have knowledge" of their actions.

The NCAA uses the words of UofL Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance John Carns against the school. Carns testified under oath in October 2018 that Adidas was a "representative of the institution's athletics interests".

The NCAA also argued that former Cardinal coach Rick Pitino missed multiple red flags in the recruitment of Bowen… ignoring issues which should have concerned him and warranted follow-up. 

In addition, the NCAA alleged additional Level 1 violations by former assistant coaches Kenny Johnson and Jordan Fair for their conduct after leaving UofL.

Louisville now has 15 days to request which body will hear their case, either the traditional Committee on Infractions (COI) or the newly created Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP). Most people anticipate the school will request the IARP, but the official decision will be made by the NCAA’s five-member Infractions Referral Committee.

Louisville is not planning to hold a press conference today, but issued a written response on the school website: "The enforcement staff’s response is the latest step in the ongoing NCAA enforcement matter. The university stands firm in its position that the majority of the allegations are not supported by the facts or by NCAA bylaws."

Here is the NCAAs response which has been redacted by the University of Louisville.

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