Attorney for Pitino says he knew nothing about payment to former recruit Bowen

ESPN reports an attorney for former University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino says the convictions Wednesday in the college basketball corruption trial support Pitino’s claim that he knew nothing of money given to the family of former recruit Brian Bowen.

Attorney Marc Mukasey said in a statement today the government argued that former Adidas executive James Gatto, business manager Christian Dawkins and amateur league director Merl Code “needed to conceal” the scheme from schools and “no one with any degree of credibility implicated Pitino.”

The University of Louisville announced a partnership with Adidas today that is “focused on building ethical leadership” in college athletics. The project will be jointly funded by the school, Adidas and U of L athletic director Vince Tyra.