Butler’s Shelvin Mack (1) drives to the basket between Michigan State’s Raymar Morgan (2) and Garrick Sherman (41) during the first half of a men’s NCAA Final Four semifinal college basketball game Saturday, April 3, 2010, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)HOUSTON – Two seconds ahead of the halftime horn at Monday night’s NCAA championship game, Butler junior Shelvin Mack rose up and buried the kind of 3-pointer that makes NBA scouts drool.
It was yet another example of why Mack, Connecticut’s Kemba Walker and Kentucky freshmen Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones all left the Final Four with the option of becoming first-round draft choices in this summer’s NBA draft.
But should they enter a draft in which the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement between the players’ union and the owners could lead to a lockout and a possible shortened 2011-12 NBA season?
“I know there’s been talk about it,” said Butler coach Brad Stevens, who is aware that Mack, a physical junior guard, could go among the top 20 selections. “I don’t think anybody can stand in my shoes and say exactly how long it’s going to last. But certainly it’s a factor.”
Here’s another factor: Underclassmen must declare by April 24. They must then remove their names by May 8 to return to school.