Fansided

Potential fallout from US Attorney’s announced investigation into college basketball

By Chris Stone

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: A general view during the National Anthem prior to the game between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: A general view during the National Anthem prior to the game between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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College basketball may never be the same, so what’s the potential fallout from Tuesday’s announcement?

The announcement by the United States Attorney’s Office that it had indicted 10 people for fraud and corruption in association with college basketball recruiting is sure to have significant ramifications for the sport. From head coach firings to new investigations to NCAA rule changes, here’s a look at the biggest changes that may be to come.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 19: Head coach Rick Pitino of the Louisville Cardinals reacts to their 69-73 loss to the Michigan Wolverines during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 19: Head coach Rick Pitino of the Louisville Cardinals reacts to their 69-73 loss to the Michigan Wolverines during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

The end of Rick Pitino at Louisville

It’s not too hard to connect the dots between the indictments filed today and the Louisville Cardinals. Although the school is not explicitly mentioned, there are few large universities in the state of Kentucky and even fewer who landed a 5-star All-American on the day identified in the complaint.

The complaint references the alleged transfer of $100,000 to what is presumed to be the family of Class of 2017 recruit Brian Bowen and while the the complaint also does not explicitly mention the involved of the head coach, Pitino is already on thin ice.

Remember, the Hall of Famer is scheduled to be suspended for the first five Atlantic Coast Conference games of this season for a failure to monitor charge associated with a prior scandal that was unearthed in 2015.

Reporting out of Kentucky that Louisville is expected to drop a major announcement has done little to quell the rumors that Pitino could get kicked to the curb by the university. Couple that with Pitino’s statement issued on Tuesday night, which denies all wrongdoing, coming from his personal attorney rather than the university and you’ve got yourself a nice little package of speculation.

Any decision that keeps Pitino off the sidelines either for an extended period or permanently would be significant for the Cardinals. Louisville is expected to enter the 2017-18 season with a consensus top 10 team and a shot at making the Final Four in San Antonio.