W WILD WEEK AROUND LOUISVILLE BASKETBALL

April 24, 2009


The program in the news most often in the last week has been Louisville with three stories that made major headlines and has college basketball fans stepping back and saying...'whoa.'

The first item with the Cards was a change in their coaching staff as Richard Pitino left his father's staff to fill an opening on Billy Donovan's staff at the University of Florida. The move on its own was very curious as Richard was on the UL staff for just two seasons after working as an assistant on Ron Everhart's staffs at Northeastern and Duquesne and a year as an administrative assistant on Tom Herrion's staff at the College of Charleston. The Gators Finalized the Pitino Hire (Gainesville Sun) before things took a very serious turn for coach Rick Pitino, and the move started to make more sense.

Coach Pitino went public late last weekend that he was victim of an extortion attempt of the estranged wife of a Louisville team equipment manager, a woman with whom it appears Pitino had an affair with. Apparently the woman, Karen Sypher, has made "false, defamatory and outrageous allegations in an attempt to pressure" Pitino to "cave in to this scheme" and pay her millions of dollars.

With those allegations not public knowledge, the rumor mill has been buzzing strong for several days and Regardless of Outcome, Nobody Will Win in Pitino Mess (CBS Sports) as, in the very least, reputations will be sullied as Sypher and her Mother Vow Not to Back Down (ESPN.com) as they claim to be the victims, not coach Pitino who has the FBI investigating an extortion claim against Sypher.

Then, to top off the week, Louisville 2010 verbal commitment Jeremy Tyler has decided to forego his senior season, of high school, to turn professional. The 6-foot-11 Prospect Will Leave High School to Play in Europe (NY Times). Tyler will no doubt earn a lucrative contract overseas and pick up endorsement money (Under Armour) as he will get his schooling against professional men and come back for the NBA draft in two years. Will he be a trailblazer? Or will the European trail to the NBA go down in flames with Brandon Jennings and now Tyler? We should know soon enough how successful the path is...