College basketball takeaways: Mick Cronin is angry

5 college basketball takeaways: Mick Cronin is angry

CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 29: Mick Cronin, head coach of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, reacts to a call during the first half of the game against the University of South Florida at Fifth Third Arena on January 29, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 19: Head coach Rick Pitino of Louisville talks to his team while playing The University of Michigan during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by A.J. Mast/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

A Legit Potential Game-Changing Lawsuit

We already got the jokes off in regard to Rick Pitino suing Louisville for a supposed unjust firing, but real ramifications can be had if the embattled former Cardinals coach ends up receiving a huge payout.

For those somehow unaware, the Hall of Fame coach is seeking more than $35 million in a federal breach of contract lawsuit against the Louisville athletic association. This was filed on Thursday.

As noted several times by plenty of wonderful people, Pitino was as much fired for a lifetime achievement of scandal as he was for just this one instance of the FBI probing his program like he probes people at chain restaurants.

Firing someone “for cause” is rather objective. No one would argue that Pitino should have been canned for his win-loss record, but a more than solid case can be made that — between the most famous 15 seconds ever, a hooker scandal, and the FBI tomfoolery — he and his debacles overstayed their collective welcome.

If — and this is a monumental if — Louisville settles with Pitino out of court, or the court rules in the coach’s favor, an awful precedent would end up being set. That being, basically, a coach can do whatever in the hell he wants (illegally or immorally) and still be correct in wanting his salary after being shown the door.

It could release the gates to hell, to be honest. The very little in true consequences that are in place to stop coaches from behaving badly now, which barely keep the nefarious types from cheating as is, will no longer matter.

Sure, you can give coaches meaningless show causes or suspensions, but if they believe that money will be sent their way regardless of iffy actions, they might as well start asking shoe companies for some money in big plastic bags.

After all, what else would they have to lose?