His Pitt Panthers were being blown out at Louisville, and fans were talking smack about his players.

Stallings finally decided he had to go THERE: He played the Adidas/Rick Pitino/$100,000 card.

The $100,000 remark was a reference to allegations that the father of onetime Louisville recruit Brian Bowen agreed to accept that much money from Adidas to steer his son to the school.

Bowen's recruitment was examined as part of a federal investigation into fraud in college basketball.

The probe led to the dismissal of Cardinals coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich, among others.