So.
Uh, this is, uh, I don't even know.
Earlier today, the Indianapolis Business Journal released a story/press release-ish stating that they'll be releasing a book tomorrow written by a woman that alleges she presided over a system of escorts funded by University of Louisville Director of Basketball Operations Andre McGee. IIf you'd like more details on all that, you can read Ricky O'Donnell's recap right here.
Like, that's weird.
And here's where it gets weirder:
Reporters are asking questions about whether or not Indiana turned Louisville in:
Lville AD Tom Zurich said an associate AD at Indiana heard from a top booster how to ID a photo; Zurich said that's how he 1st heard.
— Jeff Rabjohns (@JeffRabjohns) October 2, 2015
Louisville AD Tom Jurich, on conference call, said an Indiana booster made him aware of the existence of certain photos.
— Jeff Rabjohns (@JeffRabjohns) October 2, 2015
Question: Do you think Indiana turned you in? Louisville AD Tom Jurich: "I have no comment."
— Jeff Rabjohns (@JeffRabjohns) October 2, 2015
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT?
The story, from there, even gets weirder still.
At the end of the his press conference, Rick Pitino was asked about the fact that an "Indianapolis newspaper" was picking the story up and their publishing house printing the book -- which could be released tomorrow. Pitino responded by stating the fact that, from what he was told, the "publisher" of the book's name is on Indiana's law school and going on to attack the book's credibility.. That law school, which the author of this article attends, is indeed named for Michael Maurer -- who is the chairman of IBJ Media Corp. Do with that what you will.
Zach Osterman of the Indianapolis Star got in touch with Fred Glass during Pitino's press conference. Glass said the first he'd heard of any of this was when it was in the news, stating ""I’d be extremely surprised if anybody would have that communication with Louisville without telling me about it. And nobody told me about it."
I don't know what to do with any of this. I don't know. It's pretty obvious Louisville is taking the "attack the book's credibility" angle here -- as there's no other real route to go. We'll update as things continue to develop.
UPDATE, 6:46pm:
Tom Crean has now responded to the comments from Pitino and Jurich.
Tom Crean: "Any assertion our basketball program had anything to do with the situation at Louisville is flat-out wrong."
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) October 2, 2015
Ok, so, maybe did in fact tip Louisville off to all of this:
OK, update on all of this: Indiana did in fact alert Louisville to all of this, unknowingly.
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 2, 2015
On Aug. 28, Mickey Maurer -- for whom the IU-Bloomington law school is named -- contacted Scott Dolson, IU's deputy director of athletics.
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 2, 2015
In an email, Maurer asked Dolson to connect him with a UofL counterpart. Maurer said: "I have a photo and I need a player ID.
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 2, 2015
Dolson forwarded that email on to Louisville Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director Kevin Miller, who then sent it to Kenny Klein.
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 2, 2015
It was at that point, based on an email conversation I'm reading, that Louisville realized that the book "would not be favorable" to UofL.
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 2, 2015
It appears Louisville alerted Dolson of the situation, and Dolson apologized, saying he "did not know he was headed in that direction."
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 2, 2015