Rick Pitino believes Louisville Basketball scandal happened; Denies flipping UK fan off

For much of the past four months, the Louisville Cardinals have been plagued with allegations of illegal recruiting tactics involving strippers and/or prostitutes.

UL and the NCAA are looking into allegations made in "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen," which detail how former Cardinals director of basketball operations Andre McGee paid an escort service to provide sex for recruits.

To this point, head coach Rick Pitino has been mum on the allegations and subsequent NCAA investigation while letting the process play out and the truth hopefully coming out, however brutal it may be for Louisville.

For the first time since the initial allegations were made, Pitino is now openly admitting that he believes there was in fact a scandal.

Pitino: "Did one person do some scurrilous things? i believe so… based on what I know now, I believe so."

— Howie Lindsey (@howielindsey) January 1, 2016

Pitino repeatedly said he knew nothing about what Katina Powell alleges. Knew nothing and is furious about what (may have) happened.

— Howie Lindsey (@howielindsey) January 1, 2016

For months, UL fans said the Katina Powell scandal was made up...now their coach has admitted it. Reality sets in...

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) January 1, 2016

Pitino says he hasn't been interviewed yet by Chuck Smrt or the NCAA. Hasn't been given a timeline for investigations.

— Jeff Greer (@jeffgreer_cj) January 1, 2016

Pitino says he has not yet been interviewed regarding the allegations involving his program. Speculates earliest this may resolve is July.

— Eric Crawford (@ericcrawford) January 1, 2016

However, Pitino is not ready to admit he flipped a UK fan off during last Saturday's game between the Cards and Cats.

Rick Pitino: "I did not" flip off a UK fan.

— Jeff Greer (@jeffgreer_cj) January 1, 2016

Oh?

Oh...