NBA Draft Time!

The NFL Draft has come and gone with the Ravens picking some QB out of Delaware in the first round after trading approximately seven different times in the first round alone. But I don't care about that. The NFL Draft is boring. No one will admit it because of this country's love affair with the NFL, but the NBA Draft is better. Two rounds on one night is much easier to digest than seven rounds spread over two grueling days. The NBA Draft also isn't the subject of three months of the ESPN Hype Machine (patent pending) or seven billion appearances from Mel Kiper's Hair on the WorldWide Leader. And finally, I've heard of all the (non-foreign) guys in the NBA Draft. Does anyone know anything about some OL from Ole Miss drafted in the 6th round? (Warning: this player may not exist).

This is the first in a series of articles about this year's NBA Draft. The series will end when I feel like not writing anymore. The series may be only one entry long. The series may eventually be released as a TV miniseries and entitled Ken Burns' Baseball. No one knows (good song).

This entry looks at each of the major conferences and the early entrants whose (potential) departure most heavily impacts next years' conference races.

ACC: Tywon Lawson. Even with Tyler Hansbrough returning for his senior season, whether or not Tywon Lawson remains in the draft will be critical for North Carolina. With Quentin Thomas graduating, Lawson's departure would mean that point guard responsibilities would be divided between senior Bobby Frasor, who was limited by injury to just twelve games last season, along with incoming freshman Larry Drew of California. Frasor is a competent backup with some starting experience and Drew is a well-regarded, if not elite, prospect, but there has to be major questions about whether either player could play well enough next season for a team that will contend for a National Championship once again if Ellington and Green make their way back to Chapel Hill. Lawson's speed in the open court is perfect for the Tar Heels run and gun offense and his impact on the team likely goes beyond his raw scoring and assist averages.

SEC: Jamont Gordon. Mississippi State recovered from a slow start this season to win 23 games and make it to the second round of the tournament. While the Bulldogs lost two key contributors from a 12 win SEC team (Charles Rhodes to graduation and Ben Hansbrough to transfer), the return of Gordon, who averaged a Vasquezian 17.5-6-6-4.9-4.1 (pts, rebs, ast, to) line last season, could make them the early favorite in the SEC West for next season. Without Gordon, they'll have to duke it out with the rest of the pack that includes Ole Miss, Alabama and Arkansas. Gordon, much like Vasquez, lacks the scoring efficiency and outside shooting to make him NBA-ready so he would be wise to return for his senior season.

Big XII: Darrell Arthur. The sophomore big man somewhat quietly led eventual National Champion Kansas in scoring in the regular season before finishing second to Brandon Rush. His 12.8 ppg average may not seem gaudy, but considering how balanced the Jayhawks were and that the average was compiled in just under 25 minutes per game at 54% shooting and it's easy to see how valuable Arthur was. If both Arthur and Mario Chalmers leave, Sherron Collins would be the only player in the team's top eight to return to Kansas. While the Jayhawks program is one that typically reloads rather than rebuilds, losing seven contributors is a tough hit to take. If Arthur returns he would provide a much needed inside complement to Collins and possibly Chalmers on the outside. If Arthur leaves, the expectations at Kansas should not include a return trip to the Final Four.

Big Ten: Kosta Koufos. Ohio State head coach Thad Matta might be the best recruiter in college basketball right now, but even his skills couldn't prevent the loss of Greg Oden, Mike Conley, and Daequan Cook from taking the Buckeyes from National Runner-up to NIT Champions. While Ohio State disappointed, one time Maryland recruit Kosta Koufos did not. The seven footer with range out to the three point line lived up to his billing as a freshman by averaging 14.4 points per game. If he leaves, along with seniors Jamar Butler and Othello Hunter, the Buckeyes will lose their best scorers from a team that struggled to put the ball in the hoop. Koufos needs to become a better rebounder and a more physical player before he makes an impact in the NBA, but it's a near certainty that he'll be a lottery pick this offseason if he chooses to stay in the draft. If that happens, not even a recruiting class that includes the #1 prospect in the country according to some may be able to prevent another bubble season.

Pac Ten: Kevin Love. It's a virtual certainty that Love will stay in the draft, but the big man from Oregon has yet to hire an agent and has retained his eligibility so far. Needless to say this would be a big coup for the Bruins if Love returns given that he was, statistically, one of the top two players in the country alongside Michael Beasley of Kansas State. Given that teammates Russell Westbrook, Josh Shipp, and Luc Richard Mbah-a-Moute have also declared for the draft, but if Love were to come back that would certainly mitigate the pain of losing any of those three.

Big East: Joe Alexander. While a potential return by Syracuse frosh Donte Greene might have more impact, there's little chance of that. Alexander is projected to be a first round pick, but if the athletic small forward from Mount Airy were to return to West Virginia the Mountaineers would lose only Darris Nicholls and could stand to improve on last season's Sweet 16 finish. Alexander gained most of his national notoriety in his team's upset of Duke in the NCAA Tournament, but he could stand to come back to school for his final season in order to improve his offensive game. If he does, Bob Huggins will do big things in his second season in Morgantown.