North Carolina and Arizona had good days.
Alabama and UCLA, not so much.
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Those are the main storylines from Monday, otherwise known as the deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the NBA Draft. The highlight has North Carolina now virtually guaranteed to be everybody's favorite to win the national title based upon Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green all deciding to join Tyler Hansbrough back in school.
The Tar Heels will now return the top six scorers from a 36-win team.
"After a long and exhaustive process of gathering information and sharing it with these youngsters, I stepped back and asked them to make their own decisions," UNC coach Roy Williams said in a released statement. "I'm very pleased with their decisions because I get to coach them for another year. I'm also pleased that they went through the process and gained valuable information. It was reassuring that the feedback they got from the NBA teams is the same type of feedback our coaching staff has been giving them."
The biggest surprise was Chase Budinger opting to go back to Arizona, this despite him being projected as a first-round pick by most industry insiders. Consequently, Lute Olson will have a key veteran to build around as he returns to the sidelines, and assuming incoming freshman Brandon Jennings gains his eligibility, it appears the Wildcats will have a roster capable of competing for a Pac-10 title -- particularly now that UCLA will be down three starters.
"Luc (Richard Mbah a Moute) is staying in the draft," UCLA Ben Howland wrote in a text message to CBSSports.com. A 6-foot-7 forward, Mbah a Moute joined fellow UCLA starters Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook in the draft, only difference being that he is not projected as a lottery pick like his former teammates. In fact, it's doubtful Mbah a Moute will be selected in the first round at all.
Richard Hendrix is another forward projected in the second round who decided to gamble rather than return to school. The Alabama junior will remain in the draft despite the possibility of slipping, hope being that even if he falls to the second round he can make a roster like another former SEC star, namely LSU's Glen Davis.
Here's a breakdown of the key decisions from around the nation:
Staying in draft
• Joe Alexander (West Virginia) • Ryan Anderson (California) • Mario Chalmers (Kansas) • Jamont Gordon (Mississippi State) • Richard Hendrix (Alabama) • J.J. Hickson (N.C. State) • George Hill (IUPUI) • Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (UCLA) • Bill Walker (Kansas State)
Returning to school
• A.J. Abrams (Texas) • Chase Budinger (Arizona) • Lee Cummard (BYU) • Robert Dozier (Memphis) • Wayne Ellington (North Carolina) • Danny Green (North Carolina) • Ty Lawson (North Carolina) • Jeremy Pargo (Gonzaga) • Ron Steele (Alabama) • Robert Vaden (UAB)
