Pitino reacts to post-season ban

The University of Louisville announced sanctions that included a post-season ban for this season's team. Coach Rick Pitino reacted Friday.

Louisville President Dr. James Ramsey and Athletic Director Tom Jurich both called the sanctions "painful" during their opening statement.

Jurich: "We support these actions, they are going to be very painful."

Pitino seized on that comment when he began speaking.

"I just met with our basketball team and painful... well, I think would be one of the best understatements I could make," Pitino said.

"Damion and Trey came to me and said, 'We just want the experience one time,'" Pitino said, explaining that they broke down when he told the team the news.

"As I told them the penalty, they all stood up and started hugging Damion and Trey as they cried," Pitino said.

Pitino told a story about his old Kentucky teams and how the Kentucky fans embraced the players who couldn't make an NCAA Tournament run. Pitino called on the fans to lift Lewis and Lee up during the final four home games of the season.

"Damion and Trey have nothing - nothing to look forward to right now," Pitino said. "They were hit over the head with a sledgehammer - getting punished for something they had nothing to do with."