Pitino to attend women's game without his team

Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino will be in New Orleans Tuesday night, hoping to watch the university's women's hoops team win a national title of its own.

Due to an NCAA rule, his players won't be joining him.

After the Louisville men triumphed in a thrilling 82-76 win over Michigan Monday night, Under NCAA rules, neither the school nor Pitino could pay for the players to get to New Orleans or attend the game.

An NCAA spokesperson told Paste BN Sports in an email that the NCAA did offer to grant a waiver to Louisville early Tuesday that would have allowed the school to pay for the trip, but the school says it had already made plans to go home.

Contributing: Associated Press