LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Louisville coach Rick Pitino has apparently said all he plans to say for now about the troubling allegations outlined in a book by an escort that has led to a sex scandal looming over his men's basketball program.
Pitino was mum about the allegations on Saturday, but questions continue to swirl after the online release of Katrina Powell's book, "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen." The 104-page book was published by an affiliate of the Indianapolis Business Journal and is scheduled for release Oct. 12, though the publisher said it could be sooner.
Kate Snedeker, a spokeswoman for IBJ Book Publishing LLC, said that Powell is not doing interviews.
While Pitino and Powell aren't talking about the book, Louisville confirmed Friday it has been investigating her allegations that Andre McGee brought escorts to dorm parties and paid the women to dance and strip, and have sex with recruits and players. McGee left Louisville in 2014 to join the staff at Missouri-Kansas City, which has placed him on paid administrative leave.
McGee could not be reached for comment and messages left with his Louisville attorney, Scott Cox, have not been returned.
Pitino was questioned about the allegations again after Saturday's Red-White scrimmage, but repeatedly said his focus is on coaching.
"I'm just going to concentrate on basketball," Pitino said Saturday, adding that he has not read the book and has no plans to read it. "When adversity hits, the strong survive. ... Idleness is what makes the mind wander, so the best thing I can do is work, work, work."
The coach also doesn't want players talking about it. He said his current roster had nothing to do with the allegations and has instructed them not to discuss the situation.
"We told them it's not your concern," he said, "and I've been told to coach basketball and not do anything else. Not get involved in this."
Cardinals forward Mangok Mathiang said it's out of the players' control.
"All we're trying to focus on is the season coming up and the teams we're going to play," said the 6-foot-10 junior, who sat out the scrimmage with an eye injury. "There's always going to be adversity and we've been through it plenty of times before."