While this looks really bad on the surface, there was no punishment that the NCAA was going to be able to dole out here that would have satisfied everybody. The punishment, in a vacuum, isn't so lenient - Pitino's reputation takes an irreparable hit (whether it should is another matter) and a team with legitimate final four aspirations is barred from the tournament. If Louisville and Nova played on a neutral court before the tournament, it would have been close to a pick 'em. This was no slap on the wrist.
Now, the fact that the NCAA continually allows the programs (cough Syracuse) to do the legislating is what is problematic, as it does nothing but serve the long-term interests of the wealthy while dashing dreams of the innocent.
And the fact that UNC and Louisville - for what amounted to rampant academic fraud and sexual misconduct - sat the same number of postseasons out combined as UConn did for running a red light will always be impossible to stomach. I'm not a conspiracy theorist guy but there isn't a shadow of doubt in my mind that there are ulterior motives in these vetting processes.
