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Seth Greenberg: “I really believe” Louisville basketball will not receive a postseason ban

By Presley Meyer

COLLEGE PARK, MD - FEBRUARY 29: Seth Greenberg talks during ESPN College GameDay before the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Michigan State Spartans in the Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - FEBRUARY 29: Seth Greenberg talks during ESPN College GameDay before the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Michigan State Spartans in the Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – FEBRUARY 29: Seth Greenberg stands on the set of ESPN College GameDay before the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Michigan State Spartans in the Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – FEBRUARY 29: Seth Greenberg stands on the set of ESPN College GameDay before the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Michigan State Spartans in the Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /

Greenberg speaks out

The message has been loud and clear from the NCAA:

  • If you break rules, then lie and/ or cover up wrongdoing, you are likely to get away with it (see: UNC, Baylor, LSU).
  • If you break rules and cooperate fully or admit to any wrongdoing, you will be punished heavily.

That’s why it shocked me to hear ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg’s take on the current situation in college basketball- particularly pertaining to the punishment Louisville will receive.

Following the news of the schools second scandal, head coach Rick Pitino and his entire staff were let go, followed by long-time athletic director Tom Jurich a day later.

Louisville assistant David Padgett, one of two staffers left over from the previous regime, took over as acting head coach just days prior to the 2017-18 season.

Administrators were forced to act swiftly and once again take a massive hit financially and in regards to public relations. Louisville missed its second NCAA tournament in three years, and was forced to completely rebuild with a new president, Neeli Bendipudi, athletic director, Vince Tyra, and head men’s basketball coach coach, Chris Mack.

Even then, the NCAA did not hold back in classifying its findings after an investigation into Louisville’s wrongdoing as a level I violation- the most severe of its four classifications. After being labeled as a victim of Adidas and its constituents in federal court, the NCAA has labeled Louisville as the perpetrator, citing that Adidas agents are classified as school boosters.

Louisville basketball’s level I violation occurring during a probationary period has led to most speculating that the program could be assessed a postseason ban spanning two years or more.

However, ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg joined ESPN Louisville’s Bob Valvano on the V Show on Thursday, and he took an optimistic angle.

"”I do think if you let go of your president, you let go of your athletic director, you let go of your coaching staff, you’ve got to get some credit for that… You give back a national championship. I would be disappointed if Chris Mack, his team, his players, his program- because it’s his program right now- gets penalized to the point where they can’t play in the NCAA Tournament. I think financially they should take a hit because, quite honestly, that’s where you can hurt them. We say ‘student athlete welfare’ and for the better interest of the game, I don’t think you should hurt them- The coaching staff and the current players. I’m hoping that they do the right thing: Hit ‘em in the pocket book and let the players play on.”"

Valvano, surprised by Greenberg’s answer, agreed that that’s the right thing as well, but doesn’t think the NCAA will agree.

”The question is what do you think they’ll do?,” Valvano responded.

"”I think they’re going to do that,” Greenberg responded. “Yeah, I do. I know people are going to say ‘the NCAA is gonna screw ‘em. But I really believe that this new committee that overlooks this whole situation has got to be a group a people that says ‘hey wait a second.’ If you’ve got a problem, you address the problem and you take appropriate action. And that’s exactly what (Louisville) did. If you applaud the action that they took, which they did, then why would you not give them the benefit of the doubt moving forward?” Hit em in the pocket book. Big. That’s what they should do. But certainly don’t punish the people who had nothing to do with it.”"

Greenberg also went on to say that he believes Pitino, now the head coach at Iona, will receive some sort of ban, speculating around 9 games.

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