UPDATE: Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino has been put on administrative leave and "effectively fired" from the University of Louisville. Click here for the full story and more updates.

FROM EARLIER:

Amid a damning FBI investigation that alleges a "pay for play" scheme to lure top basketball recruits to the University of Louisville basketball program, head coach Rick Pitino apparently won't go down easy.

"Rick Pitino’s attorney Steve Pence promises that [University of Louisville] 'won’t fire Pitino without a bare-knuckle fight,' " Terry Meiners, a Louisville TV and radio personality, posted on his blog.

"Pence predicts that Pitino would prevail in a legal struggle over his reported $44 million buyout," the post continued.

The University of Louisville is among the college basketball programs targeted in the ongoing FBI investigation. Among the allegations: an Adidas executive conspired to pay $100,000 to the family of a top-ranked recruit to play at Louisville and to represent Adidas when he turned pro.

Pitino denied involvement in the scheme.

"These allegations come as a complete shock to me," Pitino said in a statement released by his lawyer. "If true, I agree with the U.S. Attorney's Office that these third-party schemes, initiated by a few bad actors, operated to commit a fraud on the impacted universities and their basketball programs, including the University of Louisville. Our fans and supporters deserve better, and I am committed to taking whatever steps are needed to ensure those responsible are held accountable."

Asked in an interview if he expects Pitino will keep his job, Pence said: "I would certainly think so. I don't know why it would be otherwise."

The University of Louisville acknowledged its inclusion in the ongoing investigation hours after the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York unsealed its criminal complaint in the case.

"While we are just learning about this information, this is a serious concern that goes to the heart of our athletic department and the university," interim President Gregory Postel's statement said. "U of L is committed to ethical behavior and adherence to NCAA rules; any violations will not be tolerated."

Reach reporter Thomas Novelly at 502-582-4465 or by email at tnovelly@courier-journal.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

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