ESPN Men's Basketball

Andy Katz and Seth Greenberg talk to Rick Pitino about his fishing trip and what's next for Louisville. Plus, Arizona coach Sean Miller discusses some of his players trying out for Team USA and the Wildcats' next season.

By now, you've surely heard about the latest scandal out of Ohio State, wherein a full audio tape of University president Gordon Gee, made during Ohio State’s Athletic Council on Dec. 5, leaked to the Internet, and the world got to hear Gee say allegedly comedic but mostly just ill-advised things about Big Ten expansion and commissioner Jim Delany ("Jim is very aggressive, and we need to make certain he keeps his hands out of our pockets while we support him"), former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema ([Wisconsin AD] "Barry Alvarez thought he was a thug. And he left just ahead of the sheriff") and the vagaries of negotiations with Notre Dame ("The fathers are holy on Sunday, and they're holy hell on the rest of the week. You just can't trust those damn Catholics on a Thursday or a Friday ...").

Those were probably the more famous among Gee's remarks, which have caused a right proper outrage both inside and outside the Ohio State university leadership. Outwardly, Gee has been on the apology tour for much of the past 48 hours, and while inside the university he's been the subject of harsh reviews of his ability to lead, including a recommendation that he "get help from professionals to revisit his personal communications and speechwriting processes and rethinking what speaking engagements he accepts," which is bureau-speak for we're shutting this guy down.

In all the furor, it might have been easy to overlook the portions of Gee's comments that might have offended folks on the college basketball side. But don't worry; Gee managed to cover those bases, too. Gee also said, because a priority of Big Ten expansion is to "make certain that we have institutions of like-minded academic integrity ... you won't see us adding Louisville ... or the University of Kentucky."

Needless to say, Louisville coach Rick Pitino did not much care for Gee's comments. From his interview late last week on WHAS Louisville's Terry Meiners' Show:

"We've been the No. 1 grade point average in the Big East the past three years," Pitino said. "Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. ... Ignorance is not just curtailed to coaches or other people; it's curtailed to presidents as well. President Gee is obviously trying to crack jokes and denigrate other people, and in Louisville -- I can't speak for Kentucky; I'll let John [Calipari] speak for them -- we don't take kindly to those comments, and we're very insulted by it. And when people have to make jokes and denigrate others to get laughter, that means they're truly ignorant of the facts, and certainly he is ignorant of the facts. Really bothered by it."

"What really gets me boiling," said Pitino, "it's not Louisville or Kentucky. What gets me boiling is the fact he knocks the Catholics at Notre Dame. I don't know what denomination he is or what lord he prays to, but trying to get jokes out of that, it really, really boils me. ... It's a pompous attitude and certainly I have a major problem with him, not with Ohio State, and he's a pompous *** for making those statements."

Here's the thing: Typically, I think people are too easily offended. I mean, I get why. Sometimes, people like to get offended. In a world of uncertainty and half-facts, we get to unanimously agree one person or the other is stupid; we get to shake our fists and curse the heavens and ask where the world went so wrong. Being outraged is fun.

That's why I tend to think we can overboard with our outrage on some of this stuff. And that was my first reaction to Gee -- OK, he's crazy, and he should probably be quiet for a few months years, but was anything he said worse than your average message board comment? Shouldn't we all settle down, and pack a thicker skin next time?

And then I realized: Gee isn't some Internet commenter. He's the president of a massive public university. He's supposed to be idealistically devoted to the continued human pursuit of knowledge, which began with the wheels we would one day use to take robot-selfies on Mars. Gee is supposed to be inspiring. He is supposed to remind you that your college degree taught you more than how to think about your favorite football and basketball teams -- that it taught you how to think about the world and our human place in it.

Instead, this guy is cracking jokes about the football coach firing him. He's acting like a back-slapping bro who just finished 18 holes and a drink too many in the dining room at the country club. He's a glorified fan in a bow tie.

Louisville fans can be mad about the Louisville jab. Kentucky, too. Catholics can be upset by the notion that its men of the cloth are occasionally fearsome negotiators. But to me, that's all small stuff. The big thing about Gee is just how unbecoming of his position his behavior is, and what it says about what major college athletics has done to major college education. That's what's offensive.

In five months, the 2013-14 college basketball season will begin.

It’s always tough to make projections in the weeks following any season. But the dust has settled.

The following list highlights sophomores who will be asked to carry more weight next season. Some of these young men might have to carry an entire team.

1. Javan Felix (Texas) – Felix entered 2012-13 as a freshman who expected to play minimal minutes in Rick Barnes’ rotation. Then Myck Kabongo was suddenly suspended for receiving impermissible benefits and lying to the NCAA about it. Enter Felix, who started 23 games at point guard (6.8 PPG, 4.1 APG) for the Longhorns. Barnes lost his top three scorers from a team that failed to make the NCAA tournament, so Felix will assume a leadership role again. This time, however, he’ll guide an even younger and more inexperienced bunch than last season’s crew. But his invitation to this summer’s USA Basketball U19 training camp is a testament to his performance under pressure last year.
2. Sam Dekker (Wisconsin) – Few question Dekker’s ceiling. His 116.7 offensive rating was fifth in the Big Ten per KenPom.com (among players who’d used at least 20 percent of their team’s possessions). In a reserve role (22.3 MPG), the freshman averaged 9.6 PPG and 3.4 RPG. He also shot 39 percent from the 3-point line. It was an impressive debut. He certainly seems capable of handling more next year for Bo Ryan. He doesn’t have a choice. Jared Berggren, Mike Bruesewitz and Ryan Evans are gone. Josh Gasser will return from an ACL injury, so Dekker won’t have to lead alone. But he’ll have to help in more ways.
3. Siyani Chambers (Harvard) – Tommy Amaker had a roster that was fully capable of retaining its Ivy League crown as the 2012-13 campaign approached. Then top performers Kyle Casey and Brandyn Curry abruptly left the program before the season amid an academic scandal. So Amaker turned to this freshman who had few Division I offers. Chambers embraced his new responsibilities as the starting point guard for Harvard, averaging 12.4 PPG, 5.7 APG and 1.5 SPG. He also hit 81 percent of his free throws and 42 percent of his 3-point shots. The Crimson return the heart of a squad that upset New Mexico in the second round of the NCAA tournament in March, so this team will be favored to win the Ivy League again. Amaker knows he has a point guard he can trust.
4. Yogi Ferrell (Indiana) – The Hoosiers are the most mysterious team in the Big Ten, perhaps America. Yes, they’ve lost Victor Oladipo, Cody Zeller, Christian Watford and Jordan Hulls. But Tom Crean signed another stellar recruiting class, led by Noah Vonleh. Then there’s Hanner Mosquera-Perea & Co., part of Indiana’s previous recruiting crew that collectively provided inconsistent production. Ferrell (7.6 PPG. 4.1 APG), who ended last season as the apparent leader of the future, will be the key to the new chemistry in Bloomington. He walked into a fortified situation his freshman season. It’s not exactly clear what sort of situation he’ll encounter this fall. But it won’t work without him.
5. Georges Niang (Iowa State) – Fred Hoiberg wanted to win on Day 1. He couldn’t wait for young players to blossom two or three years down the road. He needed guys who could play immediately. So he signed a bunch of Division I transfers and junior college prospects in his first few seasons on the job. The results? Back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. But Hoiberg can build in the coming years around Niang, a 6-foot-7 wing with the tools to mature into a high-level talent in 2013-14. He averaged 12.1 PPG and 4.6 RPG last season and made 39 percent of his 3-point attempts. The Cyclones lost four of their top six scorers from last year’s squad. Next season’s squad, which will feature four new junior college transfers, will be one of the most inexperienced teams in Hoiberg’s tenure. So Niang has to improve on last year’s production and prove that he’s a go-to guy in the locker room too.
6. Perry Ellis (Kansas) – Well, a lot has changed in recent weeks for Kansas. The Jayhawks ended last season with question marks. They’d lost all five starters once Ben McLemore declared for the NBA draft. So perhaps the Big 12 title streak – nine in a row – would be in jeopardy entering the 2013-14 season? That was then. Andrew Wiggins signed with Bill Self’s program and squashed all doubts. The addition of Tarik Black certainly helps too. But Kansas has historically benefited most from depth. And they have that inside now. Ellis is in a great position as the projected starter at power forward. He’s surrounded by playmakers, so he just has to continue to be the efficient threat he was in 2012-13 (5.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 48 percent from the floor, 13.6 MPG). Kansas has suddenly become a national title contender again. Self’s freshman class is uncanny now, and Black is an instant boost for the program. If Ellis is as potent as his prep accolades suggested he’d be at this level, KU will be in a position to reach Arlington next April.
7. Montrezl Harrell (Louisville) – Kentucky might be favored to win the national crown next season. But Louisville deserves consideration too. The Cardinals lost Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng. But Russ Smith, Luke Hancock, Chane Behanan and Wayne Blackshear return. Harrell could have an expanded role in Rick Pitino’s system too. Louisville lost size when Dieng decided to turn pro. But now the Cardinals have a bunch of versatile forwards who will continue to cause matchup problems for opponents. Harrell fits that formula. The 6-8 North Carolina native had his moments last season, including a 4-for-4 performance against Wichita State in the Final Four. He averaged 5.7 PPG last season, and he’s capable of more in 2013-14.
8. Kyle Anderson (UCLA) – Welcome to the Steve Alford Era. It begins a year after Ben Howland signed the nation’s top recruiting class, a class that -- without an injured Jordan Adams -- was dismissed from the second round of the NCAA tournament by Minnesota. But with the exception of Shabazz Muhammad, that heralded class will return. Adams must regain his strength after suffering a season-ending foot injury. Tony Parker’s minutes will increase if he’s in better shape and more focused. Anderson is as critical as any returnee on the roster. The 6-9 athlete averaged 9.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.5 APG and 1.8 SPG. Anderson entered 2012-13 as a lengthy point guard with a unique skill set. By the end of the season, however, we really weren’t sure what position he played for the Bruins. That’s what Alford must decide. Anderson can pass and handle the ball. His shooting must improve (21 percent from the 3-point line). But he’s usually a mismatch. Still, he needs a position.
9. Fred Van Vleet (Wichita State) – Gregg Marshall’s squad will enter next season as the clear favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference. Ron Baker, Cleanthony Early and Van Vleet return to a program that surprised the nation with a run to the Final Four in April. With point guard Malcolm Armstead gone, Van Vleet steps into his slot as starting point guard. Van Vleet (4.3 PPG, 2.3 APG) flourished in spurts last season. But his effort against Ohio State in the Elite Eight (4-for-8, 12 points, 2 steals, 3 rebounds and 2 assists) provided evidence that the young guard will not be intimidated with a more significant role next season. His postseason experience made him more confident. The latter is crucial, especially for a young point guard.
10. Chris Obekpa (St. John’s) – On Dec. 8, Obekpa recorded a school-record 11 blocks against Fordham. He’s a true rim protector. He was second in the nation with 4.1 BPG, and he led the nation with a 15.8 block percentage, per KenPom.com. He’s the defensive anchor for a young St. John’s squad, and the 6-9 big man was also a solid rebounder (6.2 RPG). Now … the other things about his game. His offense was limited to dunks and garbage points. He’s a phenomenal athlete, so he has the potential to make strides on that end of the floor. And if that happens, watch out. With improved shooting and a better post game, Obekpa could evolve into one of the nation’s most complete players.

In today's offseason update of Bracketology, Kentucky and Louisville are both No. 1 seeds. In our latest way-too-early Top 25, the Commonwealth rivals are ranked No. 1 and No. 2. Both are uber-talented and led by legendary coaches.

So which is a safer bet to win it all in 2014? Two of our writers state their cases:

KENTUCKY (Jason King)

A lot of folks have been asking the past few weeks if I think John Calipari’s latest batch of one-and-dones can win a national championship. My answer: How could they not?

John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins were special, Terrence Jones and Brandon Knight performed beyond their age, and Anthony Davis was arguably the best player college basketball has seen since Kevin Durant.

But what we’ll witness in 2013-14 will be foreign even to Kentucky. Never has a college basketball team featured this many gifted players all on the same roster. Six of the top 25 prospects in the ESPN 100 Class of 2013 signed with the Wildcats, including five who are ranked among the top 10. Mix in the return of Alex Poythress, Kyle Wiltjer and Willie Cauley-Stein, and as many as 10 UK players could be drafted next summer.

That’s just ridiculous.

Managing this much talent and getting it to jell in such a short time would be a challenge for any coach, but if anyone can make it work, it’s Calipari, who is as good as anyone in the country at managing one-and-dones. His first three years at UK ended with an Elite Eight, a Final Four and a national championship.

Injuries, poor chemistry and a lack of toughness and leadership derailed last season’s Wildcats and kept them out of the NCAA tournament. But the hiatus will last only one year.

The talent in Lexington this season will be too good and too plentiful. Experience can play a huge factor in March, but in the end, when everything else (coaching, depth, size, etc.) is equal, the team with the best players usually wins. And no team will have better players than Kentucky.

LOUISVILLE (Dana O'Neil)

The best player on the floor at this past Final Four wasn't a national player of the year candidate. He wasn’t some wunderkind freshman or even someone hotly recruited out of high school. No, the best player on the floor at the Final Four was Louisville’s Luke Hancock, a transfer who had both the guile and the gumption to star on college basketball’s biggest stage.

That’s the thing about the push to the national championship -- it is the great separator, its winner as strong in intangible qualities as it is in flat-out talent. Leadership, smarts, courage ... those are the things that often show up in our title winner.

Which is why I still like Louisville. I am dazzled by the great talent amassed down the road in Lexington and am by no means dismissing it. Yes, last season’s Kentucky freshmen only went to the NIT, but the 2012 freshmen won the whole thing, so broad conclusions are dangerous at best.

But pushed to pick between the two, I’m going to side with experience. Louisville returns seven players who either started or contributed significantly on a team that won a national title. That doesn't happen very often in college basketball anymore, and on the rare occasion that it does, good things happen. In 2007, the Florida roster collectively decided to return, and the Gators won a second national title. In 2009, North Carolina’s players put NBA dreams on hold, and won a championship.

I know the Louisville players aren't the same caliber. Save Russ Smith, who likely would have been a second-round pick, none really faced an immediate pro career. But the collective experience this pack of Cards returns is every bit as valuable -- and adding a five-star point guard (Terry Rozier) and the junior college national POY (Chris Jones) doesn't hurt.

That’s why I’m still betting on Louisville. Rick Pitino's horse might not have won the Kentucky Derby, but the Hall of Fame coach has the horses to win another title.

Editor's Note: This month, ESPN Insider's college basketball and recruiting experts are teaming up to examine how 15 of the nation's best recruiting classes will fit in with their teams in the 2013-14 season. Today's featured program: Louisville. Check out the Nation blog each morning for a corresponding post on the key returnee for each of the 15 teams.

Last month in Atlanta, Louisville won the national championship with depth, tenacity, stubborn defense, talent and will.

From mid-February on, the Cardinals showcased an unmatched fortitude. Few expected an easy road to the title, but Louisville clearly had the edge in every postseason matchup that threatened to disrupt its mission.

And the Cards were the last team standing at the Georgia Dome. Most of the critical characters in that run -- Russ Smith, Luke Hancock and Chane Behanan -- will return. Key reserves Montrezl Harrell and Wayne Blackshear are back, too.

Plus, a strong recruiting class anchored by five-star guard Terry Rozier and junior college star Chris Jones will join the team soon.

Entering 2013-14, the preseason favorite to win the national title will be the best team in Kentucky. And the Cardinals have a case in the debate, even though Kentucky coach John Calipari essentially signed the Charlotte Bobcats.

Smith and Co. can repeat.

But there’s a lot of pressure on Behanan, the most important returnee for the team.

When focused, he’s a terrorizing post presence. We saw that in the Final Four.

Hancock earned most outstanding player honors but Behanan was a stabilizer for the program in the Final Four. He had 10 points and nine rebounds in his team’s victory over Wichita State in the national semifinals. He had 15 points, 12 rebounds and a steal in Louisville’s national championship game victory over Michigan.

In those two games, we witnessed the potential that could make Behanan a preseason All-American. He’s a rugged forward who will be expected to give Louisville productive minutes next year.

It’s difficult to single out one contributor on a roster with Louisville’s talent.

Sure, they’ll miss Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng. But the Cardinals are stacked again.

And with Harrell and Blackshear playing bigger roles, they’re possibly a more versatile squad.

Behanan, however, has to be a catalyst. A reliable catalyst. He’s better than the 9.8 PPG and 6.5 RPG he averaged last season.

He can be a double-double guy – consistently – for Pitino. He can be a more stubborn interior defender, too.

If there’s one question about next year’s team, it’s continuity. Last year’s crew displayed a special brand of cohesiveness.

Why? Siva was a mature leader who kept things together on the floor and off it. Dieng had an admirable level of poise and concentration.

Who will lead now?

Well, I think Pitino will turn to multiple players to fill that gap.

Behanan, the same player he suspended for a violation of team rules at the beginning of last season, is certainly on that list.

He matured throughout the season. But the Cardinals need him to sustain the level of concentration and determination he had in the Final Four throughout the 2013-14 campaign.

He has to be an anchor for a program with a legitimate shot at back-to-back national titles.

Behanan is on the radar of multiple NBA teams. He considered turning pro after last month’s championship run but wisely chose to return.

A strong season would elevate his draft stock and it would position Louisville to defend its crown.

The Cardinals will need Behanan to show up every night to achieve the latter.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The road back is not a short one; it's stretched along a timetable that could reach as long as eight months.

Kevin Ware doesn't really see it that way, though. The Louisville player who redefined resilience and optimism during the NCAA tournament is taking the same glass-half-full approach to his rehab.

“I look at it all as motivation," he said. “You can’t finish until you get started.’’

And so Ware is taking baby steps, literally and figuratively, on his right leg, which was brutally fractured during the Cardinals’ win over Duke in the Midwest Regional final on March 31. Just five weeks removed from surgery, he is riding a stationary bike and slowly increasing the amount of pressure and weight he can add to his right side.

Soon his scar should be healed, which will mean he can get to work even more, building up strength in his quad to help carry his leg.

This will be the diary of what he did on his summer vacation, a steady stream of constant rehab.

Ware finished up classes last week, and after hanging around town for the Kentucky Derby, he planned to head back home to Atlanta for a short visit and return immediately to Louisville. Once he’s in town, he and athletic trainer Fred Hina will spend lots of quality time together.

Strange as it sounds, Ware is lucky. As gruesome as his injury was, he didn't tear any ligaments, which makes the road back much more straightforward.

So far, Ware’s mental outlook is good -- “I feel like as long as I don’t see the video [replaying the injury], I’ll be fine," he said -- but he’s not kidding himself. Ask any athlete who has been through a long rehab and they will tell you that it is a lonely path, filled with frustrating steps backward and equally difficult plateaus.

Ware has been the toast of the town since his injury, appearing on countless national TV programs, feted by fans and even scoring an invite to the prestigious White House Correspondents' Dinner.

But soon enough, it will be just him and Hina in a room working to get better.

“I’m sure the hard days are coming,’’ he said. “I know they are. But I think I’m a lot stronger now to handle them.’’

Indeed, if anything good has come out of all this, it is Ware’s new sense of self. Once quiet and shy publicly, he has blossomed under the glare of the spotlight. He’s spoken often and eloquently about the determination he fed Louisville en route to its national championship, his strength and selflessness applauded from all corners.

He was stunned to get the ticket to the Correspondents' Dinner, an event filled with media personalities, celebrities and, of course, the president.

Ware admits to being more than a little starstruck at the number of famous people he rubbed elbows with. Though he admits to being lousy with names and couldn't remember everyone, he did say he got to meet U.S. Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas and Willie Robertson of "Duck Dynasty."

Ware also was impressed, he said, with President Obama’s sense of humor -- "I didn't know he was that funny," Ware said -- but left Washington slightly mystified by the number of people who wanted to talk to him.

And more, who knew him.

“I met a lot of famous people, but they were all like, ‘We know you. We want to talk to you,'" Ware said. “I was like, really? That was crazy.’’

That’s really been the wildest part of this entire roller-coaster ride, Ware said -- all of the attention he’s received because of an injury.

“I didn't know how popular I would become just because I broke my leg,’’ he said. “I always wanted to be someone that people would look up to, but I never thought it would happen because I broke my leg.’’

Of course, it’s more than that. The reaction is as much due to how Ware handled himself in the immediate seconds after the injury as it is the horrific injury itself. His strength and resolve to call his teammates over, coupled with the fact that Louisville went on to win the national title, is the sort of story people can wrap their arms around and appreciate.

But now comes the hard part. With no one watching and no one talking about him, it’s up to Ware.

“I’m stronger now,’’ he said. “I can do this.’’

Rick Pitino loves horses. Last season he started a new custom in his hobby of naming horses for his own Louisville players. The honor was first bestowed last summer to Peyton Siva ("Siva") and Gorgui Dieng ("Dieng"), which was followed by "Russdiculous," a colt named after Louisville leading scorer and national player of the year candidate Russ Smith back before Smith was known less for those qualities and more for his quirky, endearing personality.

Now Pitino has apparently added another Cardinal-themed horse to the stable, this one named after the hero of Louisville's two 2013 Final Four wins: Luke Hancock.

As Pitino explained in a pre-Derby news conference this week, the horse's name is "Three-Point Luke." (My editors would quibble with the spelling, as they prefer "3-point." But we'll relitigate that argument another day.) Pitino didn't actually name the horse this time around. The name came from trainer Dennis O'Neill. You can watch the Pitino video here, and it's actually kind of interesting -- he draws parallels between the confidence required to succeed in basketball and in riding horses.

Which brings us, of course, to this weekend, when a horse Pitino partially owns -- Goldencents, won the Santa Anita Derby the same weekend he led his Louisville Cardinals to the national title -- will attempt to capture the most prestigious win in all of horse racing. His jockey, Kevin Krigger, is extremely confident about Goldencents:

"We're not just looking at the Kentucky Derby winner, but a Triple Crown winner," Krigger said. "I've looked at all the Triple Crown threats, and I haven't seen a horse that I'm worried about. I'll tell you what's going to happen. We're going to win the Kentucky Derby, and we'll find out the fractions at the end of the race."

"It's almost like [Brandon] Jennings, who said [the Milwaukee Bucks] were going to beat the Miami Heat in five," Pitino told reporters. "You want your people thinking that way. You want your people thinking as winners."

Pitino also told reporters he'll be watching the Derby while "on his 17th mint julep." As a former attendee of the Derby, let me just say: That's thinking like a winner.

In the moments that followed Louisville’s national championship victory over Michigan earlier this month, Rick Pitino’s players reminded him about the bet.

Prior to their title run, Pitino had promised his team that he would get a tattoo if the Cardinals won the national championship.

His players were quick to offer suggestions in Atlanta when they spoke to reporters from the podium after the game:

Peyton Siva: “You know, get my name. At the beginning of the year, ‘If you guys win, I'll get a tattoo.’ It was crazy to even think about it. But we won. So he's a man of his word. I told some reporters he should get a lower back tattoo. He said, ‘Does it sting?’ I said, ‘I don't know. I don't have any tattoos.’ … I think that was our biggest motivation, was to get Coach P a tattoo.”

Luke Hancock: “I don't have any tattoos, but we have a couple ideas. I don't think he knew what he was getting into when he signed up for that one.”

Well, Pitino proved that he’s a man of his word when he followed through with his promise.

On Friday morning, Louisville sports information director Kenny Klein tweeted a photo of Pitino with the new tattoo on the left side of his back as he stood next to the Cardinals’ national championship trophy.

It features the Louisville ‘L’ with the words “NCAA Champions 35-5” beneath it.

Per ESPN.com, Louisville tattoo artist Adam Potts completed the design.

"I was a little nervous," Potts said Friday. "I felt like I did when I did my first tattoo 12 years ago."

Now, what does this all mean?

Well, for Louisville, it means its head coach isn’t afraid to have a little fun.

And that’s refreshing.

For six months, we rarely see these guys smile. As reporters, we endure a lot of monotone, rigid news conferences that fail to provide many light moments.

It’s a game. But you wouldn’t know it by the tone of the exchanges between players, coaches, writers and media relations folks in the crux of the season.

Pitino’s tattoo belies that seriousness.

It’s a cool gesture. We can all laugh about it.

But I’m worried that this will become a trend -- or worse.

There are a lot of egos in this game, so Pitino’s peers are probably plotting a way to top him in the coming years.

Will John Calipari get a platinum grill with “We da best” etched into his front teeth if the Wildcats win it all next year? Will Bill Self ask Jacob the Jeweler to craft a basketball-sized charm onto a gold chain if Kansas wins another national title?

What if Josh Pastner leads Memphis to the national title? A Rick Ross track and music video would make sense, right? Mike Brey would probably join 2 Chainz’s tour if the Fighting Irish earned a crown.

Listen, I’m glad Pitino kept his word.

But it’s OK if this is just a one-time thing.

Louisville's Russ Smith and Rick Pitino discuss why Smith decided to stay in school instead of departing for the NBA draft.

The ridiculous thing would have been to go -- to take a media guide-enhanced 6-foot, 165-pound body, toss it into the shark-infested NBA draft waters and pray for the best, when the best looked like the second round.

Turns out, though, that Russ Smith isn’t so ridiculous after all. The Louisville guard announced Wednesday afternoon that he would return to the national champion's roster for his senior season.

It’s the right decision for Smith and a great decision for the Cardinals. The only loser might be Rick Pitino’s hair, which will undoubtedly add more salt to its pepper as he tries to contain the effervescence that is Russ Smith, basketball player.

Jokes aside -- and there were plenty at the news conference starring the touring Smith & Pitino Comedy Troupe -- this is the time of year where we sit back and armchair point guard basketball players’ decisions. Who was wise to stay, who foolishly left too early.

It’s easy for us to pass judgment in front of our laptops and television screens. We aren’t sitting in Smith’s shoes, watching players all over the country declare their intent to realize their dream while he defers his.

Smith said this was hard, that he didn’t know what to do until he woke up Wednesday morning. And I believe him. This isn’t, shouldn’t and can’t be an easy decision for anyone.

But, at least in Smith’s case, it’s the right move for a ton of reasons.

For all the attention he merited thanks to his dynamic (and occasionally disastrous) plays, Smith was still an understudy for the Cardinals. This has been Peyton Siva’s team for two years running, the point guard being the steady-handed leader and personification of what Louisville was about.

Siva is gone now, and while co-captain Luke Hancock returns, Smith will be the offensive focal point. By default, he’ll need to be in charge.

This is his chance to prove he can be more than a scorer, that he can be a complete player and a leader. Russdiculous will have to be tempered if not retired altogether, replaced with Smith 2.0, which comes with smarter shot selection -- one of the things Pitino said the NBA wants to see -- and defter decision-making in general.

Remember, the Smith who walked off the Georgia Dome floor was a champion but by no means the player Louisville will need him to be this season, nor the player the NBA wants to see.

His Final Four box score was a disaster -- 9-of-33 from the floor, 5-of-17 from beyond the arc with eight turnovers -- bad enough that he didn’t even start the second half of the championship game.

“If I had left, I think I would have been shooting myself in the foot," Smith said. “I don’t think I was mature enough."

Part of Smith’s charm, of course, is his immaturity. He fearlessly and endlessly banters with his Hall of Fame coach. At one point Wednesday, he interrupted Pitino to ask, “What conference are we in again?” (A legitimate question since the answer last season was the Big East, this season will be the AAC, and the following season will be the ACC).

But there is playfulness off the court and immaturity on it.

It’s the second that Smith still has to master. He has come miles in his three years at UL, and Pitino isn’t merely blowing smoke when he says the Cards don't win the title without him.

They absolutely do not. Still, Smith remains an unfinished product, a star that needs a little more buffing. He can do that as a senior.

Of course, if we’re going to be honest, the other reason we applaud Smith’s decision is purely selfish. For one, he’s fun, and sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that this is a game that's meant to be entertaining.

More though, his return makes the defending national champions mighty good and, just two weeks removed from the national championship game, writes a storyline for the 2013-14 season:

Louisville or Kentucky: Which of the commonwealth’s team has the better chance to win the title?

The always fiercely drawn battle lines between the two hated rivals now resemble a statewide anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better contest. UK wins a title; UL wins a title. UK attracts the nation’s best class; UL keeps the better part of its title-winning roster together.

Somewhere in Lexington, John Calipari is probably searching for a thoroughbred for next year’s Kentucky Derby.

What makes this two-horse race in the horse-mad state even more interesting is that the two offer diabolically different how-to guides for college basketball success. Kentucky won its title with heavy reliance on freshmen and will try to replicate that next season, making room for an incoming crew already being hailed as the best ever assembled (replacing the best ever assembled two years ago by Calipari).

Louisville, meanwhile, goes back to its drawing board, incorporating three talented freshmen and one junior college transfer but counting more on six players returning from that title-winning team (seniors-to-be Hancock and Smith, future juniors Wayne Blackshear, Kevin Ware and Chane Behanan and sophomore Montrezl Harrell).

The Wildcats and the Cardinals already have proved both means can lead to a championship, but don’t think that their side-by-side methods won’t be considered a college basketball litmus test next season.

“I was thinking about all the new guys and the jokes I’ll have for them," Smith said at his news conference.

And everyone laughed, because that’s what you do when Smith cracks a joke.

You laugh at the ridiculousness of his candor and brashness.

His return, though, is no joke.

1. A number of college stars still have major decisions to make this week on their NBA draft plans and, according to either coaches or family members, the decisions are down to 50-50 for Miami's Shane Larkin, Michigan State's Adreian Payne, Creighton's Doug McDermott, Louisville's Russ Smith and Baylor's Isaiah Austin and Cory Jefferson. You can probably add Syracuse's C.J. Fair to this list of players still undecided as Sunday's NBA early-entry deadline looms. Miami and Creighton desperately need their All-Americans to return. If the Baylor players decide to stay, the Bears could be the third-best team in the Big 12. If they do not, Baylor might be lucky to be in the NIT.

2. The one-and-done rule gets all the headlines, but the number of transfers is what is stunting team growth and winning with consistency in a number of spots. Alabama had a chance to be a top-four SEC team, but that became much more difficult with the decision of Trevor Lacey to transfer. Tony Chennault wasn't a major contributor for Villanova after transferring from Wake Forest -- but he's on the move again in search of more playing time, while possibly sacrificing a chance to win. Players transfer for a host of reasons. But impatience is usually high on the list.

3. Pac-12 officials meets next week in Phoenix and, according to the league office, commissioner Larry Scott might not address the Ed Rush resignation in any great detail, nor will he get into the tension between the league and Arizona over the $25,000 fine levied against head coach Sean Miller. The league office contends that the Miller fine had nothing to do with the "jokes" Rush made at an officials meeting in which incentives were said to be offered for calling a technical against Miller; Rush has said he was joking, but wanted officials to enforce the rules on the court and in bench decorum. The league is conducting an internal investigation into the incident and how it was handled; a finding is due in June. Arizona wants Miller's fine rescinded, but there has been no indication that will occur.

Luke Hancock was the biggest story of the Final Four, and not just because he played outside of his cranium in the most important moments of Louisville's title run. The story of Hancock's father, who was seriously ailing with an undisclosed illness but made the trip to see his son play the biggest and best games of his life, was the most emotionally resonant arc of the postseason.

Now Hancock and teammate Stephen Van Treese doing a little offseason health prevention charity work -- for the benefit of cancer research and the American Cancer Society, specifically -- in one of the simplest ways possible: shaving.

Per the Relay for Life page set up here, you can donate to Hancock, Van Treese and the rest of the Cardinals in advance of Wednesday afternoon's "Shave For Life" event, which will begin at 5 p.m. ET, following guard Russ Smith's announcement on his NBA decision. Kentucky's WAVE TV caught up with Hancock and got visual of the beard pre-shearing, which Hancock has been growing out all April. I must say, it is looking rather ... questionable. Then again, as someone who convinces himself his neck beard looks good just so he can be really lazy about shaving, I wouldn't dare criticize.

(Hat tip: Le /r/CollegeBasketball)

On Monday, WDRB's Eric Crawford reported via Twitter that Louisville guard Russ Smith was hoping to make his NBA draft decision by Wednesday. Immediately following Louisville's national title win, Smith's father told media his son's title was the right way to "go out." Louisville coach Rick Pitino soon after stated that Smith was more up in the air than his father let on. The decision doesn't appear to be any more settled as of late. Smith told Crawford he's been "losing sleep" over it. Understandably so.

But if Smith truly is 50-50 at this (relatively) late date, you can hardly blame him. Indeed, I'm not sure I can remember a more balanced and obvious set of pros and cons for a draft prospect in recent seasons.

Consider the pros of staying: Smith could come back and play for a national title contender. He could possibly round some of the things in his game (outside shooting) that continue to hold him back as a prospect. He could boost his status, which right now remains meager. And he could do all of this by setting the historical record straight, because Smith was pretty underrated this season. It's not hard to figure out why: A good portion of his value came on the defensive end, which is less gaudy to casual national player of the year voters than offensive statistics, particularly for perimeter players. Plus, he had a knack for playing his worst (and his most Russdiculous) when the lights were brightest -- during the Final Four and five overtimes against Notre Dame, in particular.

He could also come back and take on Kentucky's insanely talented group, which sounds like the kind of competitive challenge a guy like Smith might relish. If he plays like the best player in the country -- which he was this season, per Ken Pomeroy's metrics -- and more people spend less time noticing the outlier crazy decisions and more time noticing a 109 offensive rating on 32 percent usage (with a low turnover rate to boot!) ... well, why can't Smith be a first-round pick? When's the last time a college POY didn't go in the first round?

The cons, of course, are just as obvious. Smith just won the national title, so there's no unfinished business to speak of. He isn't guaranteed to improve his draft stock, because he isn't guaranteed to improve enough to improve perception, or merely improve the perception itself (which, let's just avoid that philosophical path altogether). And also, you know, next year's draft is crazy. Smith could have a really great year and still look less tantalizing when viewed in comparison to Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker and Kentucky's eight McDonald's All-Americans.

And then there are all the personal reasons on both sides of the ledger. Pressure from friends and family? Pressure from coaches? Teammates? Desire to fulfill a dream? It all plays a role.

As of right now, Smith is widely considered a fringe first-round pick. If the draft were held 100 times today, I bet he'd split the difference between "late first" and "early second" something close to 50 times apiece. As someone who can barely decide what to eat for lunch, I empathize deeply. No wonder the kid can't sleep.

I had doubts when I heard the first report.

Minutes after his son had won the national championship in Atlanta on Monday night, the father of Louisville star Russ Smith announced that the junior would turn pro.

Smith essentially backed his father’s statement on Tuesday when he told Sirius XM College Sports Nation radio hosts Mark Packer and Bruce Pearl that “this is the right time.”

Just one problem.

He’s in his early 20s.

And he’s charged with making the biggest professional decision of his life days after the conclusion of the 2012-13 season (non-seniors must withdraw by an April 16 deadline mandated by the NCAA to preserve their eligibility, although the NBA draft entry deadline is April 28). Wavering should be expected.

So it’s not surprising that he’s reportedly uncertain now. According to Rick Pitino, who discussed the situation on a Louisville radio show on Thursday morning, Smith did not want his father to say what he said about his draft status because he’s "confused." Pitino, who’d also previously stated that Smith would leave, now says the guard is “50/50.”

Oh boy. Here we go again.

This happens every season, it seems, and it has to stop.

Yes, the NCAA’s deadline -- one that’s clearly designed to help the kids and not coaches, right? -- is silly, especially for prospects whose squads make deep runs in the NCAA tournament. They have only days to decide after the Big Dance ends. And it’s just not right.

That’s a separate post, though. Smith and his peers can’t control the folks in Indianapolis.

But the parents, posse members, cousins, high school/AAU coaches and everyone else speaking prematurely on behalf of these young men need to cool it.

Smith barely had time to breathe before was faced with the question about his future. He’s not alone.

Talented players will always be asked to answer those queries about the next level. That’s fine.

But Smith, and others in his situation, deserves the right to control the message. And the Louisville guard couldn’t do that. As soon as his father made the announcement, it became news. News that he obviously felt pressured to confirm.

I’m not suggesting that Smith’s father meant any harm. It’s a very complicated process for everyone involved. I’m sure he wants his son to make the best decision, and turning pro -- something they clearly discussed prior to the title game -- probably appeared to be the right call for the speedy guard.

Plus, the energy and excitement surrounding the national championship victory could have been factors. In those moments, we all say things we might regret after a night’s rest.

The last thing these players need, however, is more angst as they gather information and assess their situation.

Early statements on behalf of players who aren’t sure don’t help anyone involved.

Smith’s case proves as much.

1. New American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco relished the moment Monday night as one of his teams -- for this season and, yes, for next -- won a national title. He was guaranteed of another heading into the women's final Tuesday night, which featured American-bound current Big East teams Louisville and Connecticut. It is true that Louisville is heading to the ACC in the fall of 2014. But that won't keep the league from celebrating the titles this fall. The old Big East guard is trying to brand the new league as the American rather than as the AAC. Aresco doesn't want the acronym used if possible.

2. Memphis coach Josh Pastner said he gave Tarik Black a Tuesday deadline to decide if he wanted to stay with the Tigers. He did not, even though he was graduating. "I want guys to be here with enthusiasm to be here,'' said Pastner. Black will transfer and try to play immediately next season. The Tigers also lost Adonis Thomas, who is declaring for the NBA draft. But the American-bound Tigers have one of the top recruiting classes in the country. "(Black) is a good guy and I wish him the very best. He graduated," Pastner said. "But we'll be fine. We're still really talented. We've got the main corps and we've got the No. 2 recruiting class.''

3. I had new Minnesota coach Richard Pitino on "Katz Korner" on Tuesday and I was struck by his confidence. Pitino is just like his father in that regard. Pitino had no hesitation in taking the Minnesota job once offered. Now, one would assume that no one coaching at Florida International would turn that down. But Pitino definitely has the confidence that he will win. Pitino's hire was overshadowed by the events of last week; now he's got to get into the grind of the new job. He was on the Georgia Dome floor Monday night after the NCAA title game, spent the post-game hours with his dad -- Rick, head coach of the champion Louisville Cardinals -- and said they didn't get to bed until 5 a.m. before Richard was up at 7 a.m. Richard Pitino now must spend his time wisely, re-recruiting the local players and trying to make inroads with a stellar underclassman crew in the state of Minnesota.