CBB Odds: Will Rick Pitino return to the court? And who takes over at Louisville?

A third major disgrace was apparently the charm for Rick Pitino and Louisville.

Pitino has been “effectively fired” by Louisville as yet another scandal has rocked the program. This one involves Adidas and the paying of top recruits to attend certain schools in exchange for future representation, a claim sending shockwaves throughout college basketball.

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Louisville is not yet officially named in the FBI corruption probe, but the university acknowledged it was under investigation. 

Pitino, 65, is clearly done at Louisville, but is this the end of his coaching career?

The Greek Sportsbook has created odds on Pitino coaching in college basketball -- and it is banking on a return.

Will Rick Pitino by a college basketball head coach by 2020-21?

Yes: -5000 (risk $5,000 to win $100)
No: +2500 (risk $100 to win $2,500)

Louisville was already on probation after a years-long use of prostitutes and strippers for recruiting purposes was uncovered in 2015.

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Pitino wasn’t fired after that, nor was he let go after a messy sex scandal involving extortion by a mistress in 2011.

But this latest one finally did him in.

Pitino called it “a complete shock” that Louisville is involved in the latest scandal.

He also pleaded ignorance when the 2015 scandal was brought to light.

For all the off-court drama Pitino has brought to the program lately, he is clearly one of the more successful coaches in the sport’s history.  

He won a national championship at Louisville in 2013, and won one at Kentucky in 1996, the only coach to lead two different programs to titles. He led the UofL, UK and Providence to a combined seven Final Fours.

He has 770 careers wins to only 269 losses, a .741 win percentage, ranking among the greats of the game.

In addition to Pitino's future, there's the question of who takes over at Louisville, with the start of camp on the horizon. 

But boy, the baggage.

If this scandal marks a new dawn of college sports, schools may shy away from the scandal-ridden coach in the twilight of his career.

Go with the low-risk, high-reward “No" on Pitino's return. 

In terms of Louisville's next coach, Cronin of Cincinnati is a great pick, in terms of regional recruiting. He's earned the ACC opportunity if he wants it. 

But for a program already on probation and possibly facing much tougher sanctioning, Louisville's status as a blue-chip gig may be temporarily on hold. 

With the season about to begin, I could see Louisville quickly promoting an assistant, even if on an interim basis, making The Field the place to lay a bet.