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With the NBA Lockout in full swing Thunder star Kevin Durant hit Twitter to find something to do:

Kevin Durant's flag football debut a huge success (NewsOK.com)

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Despite many mock drafts having Kentucky guard Brandon Knight going in the top five picks of Thursday’s NBA draft, the former Wildcat fell to the No. 8 spot and the Detroit Pistons.

Here’s some of the reaction from around the web:

Michael Rosenberg, Detroit Free Press…
Everybody in basketball knew he would be a one-and-done player at Kentucky. His coach, John Calipari, recruited him with that implicit understanding. When Knight got to Kentucky, the NCAA ruled that his freshman teammate, Enes Kanter, was ineligible for the season. A lot of players in Knight's position would have tried to put up big numbers and leave. Knight was clearly invested in Kentucky's success. It showed in his defense and the way he rallied his team. He was the biggest reason Kentucky made the Final Four…MORE

Vince Ellis, Sacarmento Bee...
And while the Pistons like his talent - the character that Knight will bring to Motown is just as attractive to the team. After watching the international big men come off the board in Thursday night's NBA draft, the Pistons used the eighth pick to draft the silky smooth combo guard from Kentucky…MORE

Justin Rogers, MLive.com...
Even though the Pistons' most-pressing need was finding a frontcourt complement to last year's first-round draft pick Greg Monroe, the team had no other option than to select the talented point guard out of Kentucky when the top frontcourt prospects were all selected in the first seven picks. Knight could be a future All-Star. At the very least, he projects to be a quality starter in the NBA...MORE

Jerry Tipton, Lexington Herald Leader…
Though saddled with the expectations that came with being the latest in a line of Calipari point guard sensations, Knight excelled. He averaged 17.3 points and 4.2 assists en route to being named to the Southeastern Conference's second team, a Freshman All-American and the league Freshman of the Year…MORE

OTHER PLAYERS OF LOCAL INTEREST
Round 1, Pick 3 - Enes Kanter, forward, Kentucky (inelgible last season)
Round 1, Pick 22 - Nuggets - Kenneth Faried, forward, Morehead State
Round 2, Pick 45 - Hornets (traded to Knicks) - Josh Harrellson, forward, Kentucky
Round 2, Pick 51 - Trail Blazers - Jon Diebler, forward, Ohio State
ROund 2, Pick 53 - Magic - DeAndre Liggins, guard, Kentucky

COMPLETE DRAFT BOARD (NBA.com)

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It's hard to believe that it was 25 years ago that Len Bias passed was found dead...

MORE ON LEN BIAS (Wikipedia.com)

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The latest issue of ESPN the Magazine includes its ninth annual “Best Franchises In Sports” rankings.

The rankings are determined by a multi-tiered analysis that examines a team’s efficiency in spending fan money as compared to its on-field performance. It also factors in feedback in 21 categories from more than 70,000 fans nationwide, both online at ESPN.com and in polling conducted by both independent third parties.

In all, 122 teams from the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball were ranked in order, based on a weighted average of scores in eight different categories ranging from the quantitative to the emotionally subjective: “bang for the buck” (24.3%), players (16.6%), fan relations (16.5%), affordability (14.1%), stadium experience (9.1%), ownership (9.0%), title track (6.7%), and coaching (3.9%).

Here are some team rankigns of note:

1. Green Bay Packers
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Los Angeles Angels
5. San Antonio Sports
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
14. Indianapolis Colts
15. Cincinnati Reds
53. Cleveland Indians
91. Cleveland Browns
118. Minnesota Timberwolves
119. Sacramento Kings
120. Toronto Maple Leafs
121. Washington Redskins
122. Cincinnati Bengals (DEAD LAST)

COMPLETE RANKINGS

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After 19 years in the NBA, Shaquille O'Neal retired...

MORE LINKS
--Wikipedia Page
--Basketball-Reference.com

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from ESPN.com...

1. Michigan vs. Ohio State
When Ohio Stadium opened in 1922, Michigan spoiled the party with a 22-0 victory. The rivalry was heated in the early days as both have been long-time college football powers. But it got even hotter in 1969, when Bo Schembechler took over as Michigan's coach and upset Woody Hayes' No. 1-ranked, undefeated Buckeyes. Four times in the next six years, both teams were ranked in the top five when they met. In 1970 and 1973, both were undefeated (they tied 10-10 in '73). From 1970 through 1975, Michigan entered without a loss every year. The Wolverines won just once. Ohio State was 9-0-1 in 1993, 11-0 in 1995 and 10-0 in 1996. The Buckeyes lost each time. That is rivalry.

COMPLETE LIST

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While classmate Terrence Jones withdrew his name from the NBA Draft, guard Brandon Knight is officially going pro.

Knight, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., native led the team and ranked fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game. His 4.2 assist average was second in the SEC. He set the UK freshman scoring record, scoring 657 points, and also broke the UK freshman 3-point record with 87 three-point field goals.

“This past year was a great experience for me,” Knight said. “With all of the accomplishments that my teammates and I were able to make, making it to the Final Four, it was a great run for us. … I just want to thank Big Blue Nation for all of the support. I want to thank the coaching staff. The tough times they put me through only made me better as a player. I love playing with my teammates. I have a great group of guys around me. We pulled it together through a lot of tough times. When a lot of people didn’t think we could do certain things, we got stronger as a group.”

The 6-3 guard received All-America honors from FoxSports.com and was named Freshman All-America by several outlets. His efforts in the NCAA Tournament earned him East Region Most Outstanding Player and he was also named SEC Freshman of the Year by several media outlets.

The 2011 NBA Draft will take place on June 23. He is currently projected as the No. 5 overall pick by NBADraft.net.

LATEST MOCK DRAFT

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Official press release…

Xavier University junior guard Tu Holloway, a 2010-11 Associated Press Third Team All-American and the 2011 Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year, announced tonight that he will be returning to Xavier for his senior year. All of the underclassmen who have declared for the draft, but have not hired an agent, have until Sunday to withdraw their names from consideration and retain their eligibility.

“I think I speak for the entire Xavier Community when I say I am excited to have Tu Holloway return for his senior season,” said Xavier head coach Chris Mack “Tu Holloway’s progression as a player over the last three years has been remarkable. Since his first day on the Xavier campus, Tu has set the bar extremely high in terms of the expectations he has placed on himself as a player. He has matched those expectations with a tireless work ethic and a razor sharp focus on his goals. Tu has been a part of three NCAA Tournament teams, three conference championships and truly represents what it means to be a winner. There is no doubt in my mind that Tu will one day follow the same path as David West, Jordan Crawford, James Posey, Derrick Brown and so many others who have transitioned their experience at Xavier into a successful NBA career. Until that time comes, we are excited to have Tu as a part of our program as we point towards what should be a very special year.”

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