Pitino: Mathiang won't return this season after foot injury

Feb 12, 2016 - 11:20 PM LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Louisville coach Rick Pitino says he won't bring back injured junior forward Mangok Mathiang now that the No. 13 Cardinals are out of postseason following a self-imposed ban.

The 6-foot-10 Mathiang broke his left foot Dec. 19 against Western Kentucky and was expected to miss six to eight weeks after surgery. He had been working out and Pitino said Friday he considered playing him in the postseason.

But Louisville announced the one-year ban last Friday from all postseason tournaments after its investigation into an escort's allegations that a former staffer hired her and other dancers for sex parties revealed that violations did occur.

Pitino says it's in Mathiang's best interest not to return this season and heal, adding, ''I think he's very much OK with it.''