Louisville responds to NCAA's notice of allegations against basketball team

The University of Louisville has issued a response to the NCAA after the organization issued the school a notice of allegations in May.

The school initially received a notice of allegations for its involvement in the NCAA's pay-for-play scheme, specifically pertaining to the recruitment of former five-star men's basketball prospect, Brian Bowen. The NCAA initially sought to punish the Cardinals for a Level I violation and three Level II violations, one of which was against former head coach, Rick Pitino.

In a 75-page response released by the university, Louisville argues it shouldn't be held responsible for the conduct of an Adidas employee, consultant, and former agent runner. The trio allegedly promised to pay Bowen's father $100,000 during the former's recruitment.

"This argument is as novel as it is wrong," the school wrote in its statement. "Even if an institution has some responsibility for the conduct of its suppliers, that responsibility plainly does not extend to acts of fraud perpetrated against the institution itself."

Louisville is calling on the NCAA to reduce its highest-level alleged offense to a Level II mitigation violation. The university also seeks to have its several Level II violations reclassified lower.