Jeff Greer

@jeffgreer_cj

The University of Louisville is "confident" that the school's self-imposed postseason ban and recruiting penalties will be enough to satisfy the NCAA after it completes its investigation into multiple alleged violations in the university's men's basketball program, Rick Pitino said this week in an interview on the College Hoops Today podcast.

Pitino said U of L followed the self-punishment recommendations of Chuck Smrt, the compliance consultant hired to conduct an internal investigation on behalf of the school.

In addition to keeping the team out of the ACC and NCAA tournamentslast season, U of L in April docked the men's basketball program two scholarships over the next three years, reduced recruiting travel days for coaches and limited the number of official visits prospective student-athletes can make to the university's campus.

"It was pretty severe for us," Pitino told the podcast's host, Jon Rothstein.

"Do I expect any more? I don't make those decisions, but we followed what Chuck Smrt told us the violations would incur. We feel very confident that that'll be it."

It's unclear when the NCAA and Smrt will conclude their inquiries into the allegations laid out by Katina Powell, a self-described escort who claimed former U of L staffer Andre McGee paid her and other women thousands of dollars and gave them game tickets in exchange for them dancing for and having sex with players and recruits.

There have been multiple reports in recent months that the NCAA is nearing the completion of its inquiry. The organization has refused to confirm or deny those reports.

U of L confirmed last Thursday that Smrt was still conducting his investigation, and the NCAA's vice president of enforcement, Jon Duncan, said in August that his staff works closely with the universities under investigation.

Upon completion of its investigation, the NCAA would send U of L a notice of allegations, which would detail the violations the NCAA believes occurred and what it has determined to be the facts of the case. The member institution then gets 90 days to respond, and then the case goes before the NCAA's committee on infractions.

In some cases, though, schools can agree with the NCAA enforcement staff on the facts of the case and the proposed penalties and expedite the process before the notice of allegations is sent.

Former U of L president James Ramsey acknowledged in February that it was "reasonable to conclude" violations occurred, and U of L athletics director Tom Jurich has repeatedly said the school is working with the NCAA to try to quickly resolve the inquiry.

On Rothstein's podcast, Pitino said the postseason ban was "extremely difficult" for departed fifth-year seniors Damion Lee and Trey Lewis, but he also said U of L "earned" its punishment.

"It was difficult, but certain things are earned, and we earned that year's probation by one person doing the wrong things in life," Pitino said, referring to McGee, a former player, graduate assistant and director of basketball operations. "Unfortunately for the fans, the players, the coaches, everybody who put in so much time and effort, it was disappointing. But certainly we deserved to sit that year out."