Pitino Warns Cheerleader: 'Don't Do It Again'

University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino told the media about his phone call to male cheerleader Jordan Alcazar after Sunday's victory over Pittsburgh.

Alcazar has received national attention after he mistakenly thought the game was over and tossed the ball in the air with 0.5 seconds left in overtime. He received a technical foul, and the Panthers had an outside chance to tie the score.

“I'm sure he felt bad,” Pitino said. “I said, ‘Look, we won the game — it would have been a big deal if we lost the game — but we won the game, so enjoy your moment of glory. Have some fun with it.' … I said, ‘Keep the footage. Twenty years from now your children will be able to laugh about it — but don't do it again.' ”

Pitino said when he spoke to U of L spirit coordinator Todd Sharp on Sunday he asked that Alcazar not be suspended. Sharp could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

U of L spokesman Kenny Klein said he was not certain Alcazar would be cheering at Wednesday's game against Providence because the squad's personnel rotates.