Luke Hancock, ex-Louisville players to sue NCAA for vacated 2013 title

Justin Sayers | Courier Journal

Wednesday update: Ex-Louisville players sue NCAA for loss of 2013 championship

Former University of Louisville basketball players Luke Hancock and Tim Henderson confirmed they are among former Cardinals players who are going to sue the NCAA.

The players, along with their attorneys, will hold a press conference Wednesday to announce an anti-NCAA suit "pertaining to its vacating of Louisville's 2012 and 2013 men's basketball seasons, including its 2013 championship," according to a press release.

During an appearance on 93.9 FM in Louisville on Tuesday afternoon, Hancock said the lawsuit is a result of players being "fed up" with living with the NCAA's decision to vacate more than 100 wins as a result of the school's escort scandal.

He said he was the first of the former Cardinals players to meet with attorneys over the past "several months" after the University of Louisville lost its NCAA appeal.

In February, the NCAA Appeals Committee upheld Louisville's punishment for the escort scandal, which included vacating 123 wins.

"There’s been a wrong and we would like it to be righted," said Hancock, team captain of the championship team and Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

Fans celebrate 2013 Louisville basketball champs Armed with everything from red pom-poms to basketballs to a 2013 Sports Illustrated magazine,

Henderson confirmed he was involved in a text message to the Courier Journal.

Hancock declined to provide specifics about the suit, including what they're suing for, in which court it's being filed, and whether it involves former Louisville head coach Rick Pitino.

He also declined to provide names of the other players in the suit, only saying there are representatives from each team that lost wins (from 2011-2015).

“We feel like we have quite a bit more standing than the average fan," Hancock said during the radio appearance.

Hancock also said the lawsuit had not yet been filed. As of 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, a review of state and federal court records confirmed that.

Related: 2013 U of L players are proud of championship even if banner is gone

See also: Chris Mack is making former Louisville basketball players feel welcome

Wednesday's expected announcement comes less than two weeks after the 2013 Cardinals team gathered in Louisville to celebrate the five-year anniversary of its championship.

This is the second known lawsuit filed against the NCAA in relation to Louisville's punishment.

A group of fans, who have dubbed themselves the University of Louisville Protection and Advocacy Coalition, sued the NCAA in April for the reinstatement of the wins and repayment of financial damages but not exceeding $74,999.

A judge is expected to rule next month on a motion to dismiss the case asked for by the NCAA.

The NCAA argued that the fan group has "no authority to sue on U of L's behalf and have not sustained any legally cognizable injury."

Justin Sayers: 502-582-4252; jsayers@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @_JustinSayers. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/justins.