Having self-imposed itself out of the 2015 NCAA tournament, Syracuse has paid its penalty (more than $1 million), reduced scholarships and vacated victories. Coach Jim Boeheim has served his nine-game suspension, and the Orange is back in business as a bubble team (record 16-8, RPI No. 45) in the NCAA sweepstakes.
Now it’s Louisville’s turn, withdrawing its basketball team from the 2016 classic so as not to affect the future (recruiting). While Rick Pitino stewed and transfers Damion Lee (from Drexel) and Trey Lewis (Cleveland State) teared up, the action demonstrates that President James Ramsey and arguably the most effective AD in the country, Tom Jurich, agree with the charges expressed in the book by whistleblowing madam Katina Powell.