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Louisville's Lewis, Lee devastated by postseason ban: 'We don't deserve this'

Jamie Rhodes / USA TODAY Sports

They've heard about it, read about it, and watched it, but Trey Lewis and Damion Lee will never get to experience the NCAA tournament for themselves.

"We don't deserve this," Lewis said. "This team doesn't deserve this."

Louisville announced a self-imposed postseason ban Friday as the NCAA continues to investigate an alleged escort scandal. Though the first round of the competition doesn't start until March, Lewis and Lee are already victims of an upset.

The graduate transfers came to the Cardinals after starring at Cleveland State and Drexel, respectively, but they've never made it to the NCAA tournament. They were a lock to get a taste of the Big Dance this year - until now.

"Trey and I were truly devastated," said Lee, who's averaging 17 points per game for the Cards. "For us to come from where we came from, to put ourselves in this position ... You guys really haven't seen the work this team has put in ever since we came together last summer. Early mornings, late nights."

Lewis and Lee were never implicated in the alleged scandal, but it doesn't matter now. With the postseason out of sight - Louisville won't participate in the ACC tournament, either - they'll look to salvage what remains of their college experiences.

"This is our tournament, these nine games," Lewis said.

"This has been the greatest experience of my life as far as college, no matter what happened," he added. "A lot of things happened outside of our control. ... You have to look for the good that can come out of things. This is character development. ... I truly believe that good is going to come out of this situation for all of these guys up here."

Louisville is currently the 19th-ranked team in the country, and will face Boston College on Saturday in the Cardinals' first game since announcing the ban. After that, they'll travel for a meeting with Duke on Monday.

Right now, though, Lewis and Lee prefer to live in the moment, soaking up the rest of their college careers.

"No matter what, this school, city, and community has been so welcoming to us," Lee said. "There is no other place in the world we would rather go."

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