Archive note: This report describes events and claims from an earlier college basketball controversy. References to suspensions, testimony and legal proceedings reflect the circumstances at the time, not current status.
LSU had advanced to the Sweet 16 while the coach who assembled its roster and staff remained on indefinite suspension.
Basketball commentator Dick Vitale had been a vocal critic of Will Wade and had not been shy about sharing his opinion. During a Monday morning appearance on the “Off The Bench” radio program, the conversation with its hosts became heated as they debated Wade and reporting about the case.
Associated audio report
The original article was accompanied by an audio segment of the radio exchange.
Vitale urged the hosts to consult journalists who had reported extensively on the controversy, arguing that their findings went further than his own criticism.
At the time of the original report, Wade was expected to testify in a federal college basketball corruption trial. Subsequent developments are not reflected in this short archived dispatch.
This brief is retained as part of Wisconsin Gazette’s sports archive. Dates and contextual language have been clarified so the historical account is not mistaken for current news.
