LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville coach Rick Pitino is taking an indefinite leave of absence for health reasons.
"I have been in excruciating pain the last three or four games," Pitino said Monday. "It's getting worse day by day."
Pitino, 51, said the pain was "urological-related," and that he had been coaching with it for four to five months. He said doctors have ruled out prostate cancer, but he would be seeking treatment at the Cleveland Clinic.
Louisville (15-1) is ranked fourth in this week's AP Top 25.
Pitino said he did not know how many games he would miss. The Cardinals host Houston on Wednesday.
"It could be a couple of days, it could be a couple of weeks," Pitino said.
The Cardinals have won 15 straight games after a season-opening loss to Iowa. They beat Tennessee 65-62 Sunday night.
"Last night, I was doubled over in pain," Pitino said.
Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich said Pitino told him about the pain during the past few weeks.
"I know he's been struggling. Last night it probably came to a head," Jurich said. "He wants to get this addressed."
Assistant Kevin Willard, the son of Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard who last week pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, will coach the team in Pitino's absence. As a condition of his plea, Willard must undergo alcohol counseling.
Two years ago, Pitino spent a night in a hospital undergoing tests for an undisclosed illness. Pitino said at the time tests revealed nothing seriously wrong, and he was quickly back on the sidelines for the Cardinals.
Pitino, who won a national championship with Kentucky in 1996 and led Providence in 1987, ranks among the top 10 in active college coaches in winning percentage.
He arrived in Louisville in March 2001 after 3 1/2 disappointing seasons in the NBA with the Boston Celtics. He succeeded retired Hall of Fame coach Denny Crum at Louisville.
COLORADO STATE 89, UNLV 83 (OT): At Fort Collins, Ronnie Clark scored the final four points in overtime and Matt Nelson added 20 points and 10 rebounds before he was injured.
Clark had a total of eight points and Jon Rakiecki added 19 points, including four 3-pointers. The Rams (10-8, 2-3 Mountain West Conference) had a 60-44 lead when Nelson left the game holding his right knee with 6:58 remaining.
Nelson was scheduled to have his knee evaluated Tuesday. He sprained the same knee in a Jan. 3 loss at Montana State.
Odartey Blankson notched his 12th double-double of the year with 20 points and 16 rebounds. J.K. Edwards had 17 points for UNLV (10-6, 1-3).
Louis Amundson cut the Rams' lead to 76-75 with 20 seconds left. Shelton Johnson missed four straight free throws for Colorado State.
James Peters was fouled with two seconds left, but made only one free throw to send the game into overtime.
Matt Williams scored the first six points for the Rams in overtime to give them an 82-77. Playing without four starters who had fouled out, the Rebels got no closer than 84-82 after a 3-pointer by Romel Beck.
Before leaving the game, the 7-foot Nelson took advantage of the smaller Rebel frontline. He scored 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting as Colorado State led 30-23 at the half.
UNLV managed only five field goals, but stayed close hitting 13-of-18 free throws.
WYOMING 79, SAN DIEGO STATE 71: At Laramie, Jay Straight scored a career-high 30 points and walk-on Jerry Webb added 10 points in five minutes as Wyoming snapped a three-game losing streak.
Wyoming (9-9, 2-3 Mountain West Conference) fell behind early and looked lackluster most of the first half, but jumped back into the game when Webb came off the bench.
The little-used guard/forward scored 10 of his 13 points in five minutes, and the Cowboys grabbed their first lead of the game off a 3-pointer by Dion Sherrell with 2:17 left in the half.
Straight scored 21 points in the second half as Wyoming caught fire from the 3-point arc and took control of the game. Alex Dunn added 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while David Adams scored 11.
Wyoming was behind 37-34 early in the second when Straight led the Cowboys on a 17-3 run to give them a 51-40 lead with 13:43 left.
San Diego State's Chris Manker kept the Aztecs (11-8, 2-2) in the game, hitting four 3-pointers in the second half and scoring 14 points. Brandon Heath added 15 points and Aerick Sanders 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Aztecs came within three points with 2:30 remaining, but Straight put the game away with a 3-point jumper. The Cowboys also hit 9-10 free throws in the last 1:04 to keep them ahead.
MEN'S TOP 25
NO. 16 TEXAS 62, NO. 13 TEXAS TECH 61 (OT): At Lubbock, Texas, Brandon Mouton hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime and Royal Ivey then made two free throws with 17 seconds to play to lift Texas.
Mouton made his 22-foot shot off a crosscourt inbounds pass with 2.6 seconds left and tied the game at 55.
Jarrius Jackson missed a long 3-pointer at the buzzer and Texas Tech's 12-game winning streak was snapped.
Kenton Paulino scored 12 points for Texas (13-3, 4-1 Big 12). Jackson scored 17 points for the Red Raiders (16-3, 4-1).
NO. 23 PROVIDENCE 65, GEORGETOWN 50: At Providence, R.I., Donnie McGrath scored 18 points to lead the Friars to their sixth straight win.
Providence (14-3, 5-1 Big East) has won five in a row in the conference and moved into a tie for first place with No. 7 Pittsburgh.
Gerald Riley had 22 points for the Hoyas (11-5, 2-4).
Sheiku Kabba had 15 points for the Friars, who moved into the Top 25 for the second time this season earlier Monday.
WOMEN'S TOP 25
WAKE FOREST 69, NO. 10 NORTH CAROLINA 67: At Winston-Salem, N.C., Liz Strunk scored 15 points and Tonia Brown added 14 to lead Wake Forest.
Strunk, a 73 percent shooter from the free throw line, made two key free throws with 21 seconds left and Brown made one of two with 13 seconds left for the Demon Deacons (9-9, 2-5 Atlantic Coast Conference).
The Tar Heels (15-3, 5-2) had a shot to tie the game but Nikita Bell missed a short jumper at the buzzer.