But it didn't turn out quite right.

Richard Jefferson did his part by going 13th to Houston.

And Olson talked. Then he sat.

Eventually Olson had to leave because of a prior engagement and TNT's Ernie Johnson showed he is just a script reader when he didn't even bother asking Olson what happened to the Wildcats. It was one of the key questions of the draft.

Finally, off guard Gilbert Arenas was taken in the early second round by Golden State with the 31st pick. Power forward Michael Wright went 39th to New York and big Loren Woods, who most mock drafts had in the top 20, wound up falling all the way to Minnesota at 46th.

The question is, why?

Certainly Arenas' lack of height at the off-guard slot (6-foot-3) didn't help. And Wright was shackled by the unfortunate "tweener" label. Which isn't as bad as being called "soft," which along with a history of injuries, might have ruined Woods' status, despite his obvious shot-blocking skill, athleticism and 7-1 frame.

So what was supposed to be a night of celebration for the program, turned into something else entirely. Not that it is fair to call it an embarrassment, it's not like any other team had four draft picks.

What it really says is that either the NBA scouts completely misread the Wildcats or Lute Olson really deserved to get into the Hall of Fame this year, if only for taking this crew to the NCAA Finals and almost knocking off ultra-talented Duke.

Other tough nights

Plenty of underclassmen who thought running headlong into the league was a good idea, might want to think about spending next winter in Europe, the IBL or the Developmental League. Campus life might not seem so bad after a month or two in Minot, N.D.

With second-round picks not guaranteed contracts, underclassmen picked late face a tough road. Guys going 44 or up, the second part of the second round, have it even tougher. The collegiate underclassmen that went so late include:

• Alton Ford, Houston -- 51 to Phoenix
• Kenny Satterfield, Cincinnati -- 54 to Dallas

That isn't exactly what those players were dreaming of when they awoke this morning, but is a better deal than the following underclassmen ended up with. They weren't drafted at all.

• Malcolm Battles, New Mexico
• Tavorris Bell, Rhode Island
• Preston Bennett, Grayson C.C. (Texas)
• SirValiant Brown, George Washington
• Nick Burwell, Orange Coast College (Calif.)
• Edwin Daniels, Texas Christian
• Maurice Evans, Texas
• Benjamin Eze, Southern Idaho
• Jerry Green, Cal-Irvine
• Rob Griffin, Iowa
• Rashid Hardwick, Eastern Oklahoma State
• Draper Housley, Lee College (Texas)
• D.A. Layne, Georgia
• Zach Marbury, Rhode Island
• Jamario Moon, Meridian C.C. (Miss.)
• Clifton Terry, Kennedy-King College (Ill.)

Some of these players might actually benefit by not getting picked. Despite the obvious initial disappointment, it allows the player to select the team he wants to attend training camp for in the fall. That allows the player to weigh his options and seek his best opportunity to sneak on a roster.

Still, the odds do not favor any of them, especially with equally hungry four-year players, minor-leaguers and foreigners seeking the same route to the league.

Then, of course, there was Compton high schooler Tony Key, who wasn't selected at all. Alabama prep star Ousmane Cisse went 47th to Denver, amazing considering how convinced his advisor, Don Jackson, was that he had a lottery pick (ticket) in his possession and pushed the kid into the draft despite a blown ACL.

The Jamal Crawford award

Goes to Steven Hunter of DePaul, who like Crawford in 2000, came out of nowhere and deep into the first round with an inspired performance at the Chicago pre-draft camp. After two listless years in college, Hunter played with great effort and wound up the 15th pick to Orlando.

What you have to wonder was whether Hunter's performance was about getting a job or whether this is a change of heart. And, by the way, it's not like Crawford has done much of anything since that pre-draft camp.

Maybe Bob Knight was right

Actually, Indiana junior Kirk Haston says his former coach never told him to go pro, but after discussing the decision with the current Texas Tech headman and others, Haston made the move.

When Charlotte grabbed the 6-10 forward, once slated as an early second-rounder, at 16, it looked like someone knew what they were speaking of.

Haston showed his shooting range at the Chicago pre-draft camp, and that certainly aided his cause. And at 6-10, with great knowledge of the game and good scoring ability, he was what the Hornets decided they needed.

Bayou blues

You can hardly blame Louisiana State coach John Brady if he wishes the NBA folded. Last year he lost star Stromile Swift to the league after his sophomore season, even though Swift was ill-prepared to make any kind of impact in the NBA.

On Wednesday, he watched as Boston selected his star recruit, Kedrick Brown of Okaloosa-Walton Community College in Florida, with the 11th pick. It was the highest a junior college player has ever gone.

Celtics coach Jim O'Brien called him a diamond in the rough and general manager Chris Wallace is being heralded for his hard work and eye for talent in finding Brown before the rest of the league.

Brady must know the feeling.

Bull trade

The Clippers look like they made out in getting a proven offensive player in Elton Brand for high schooler Tyson Chandler. Brand was a 20 and 10 man in Chicago, but the Bulls weren't sure if that was because they had no other offensive options or because he was truly a talented player.

The Bulls are obviously banking on the combo of Eddy Curry and Marcus Fizer to carry the load on the blocks. In the meantime, in bringing in two McDonald's All-Americans in Curry and Chandler, this is the greatest recruiting class longtime college coach Tim Floyd has ever been a part of.

Not much Pitino

Louisville coach Rick Pitino had the plum assignment getting all that face time on TNT with just about every young (and recruitable) player watching on TV. But Pitino hardly got a word in edgewise on an overcrowded stage that included the always-hilarious Charles Barkley and the basketball savvy Hubie Brown.

Pitino was limited to speaking about his old team, the Celtics, and players he recruited, such as Villanova's Michael Bradley.

No rivalry

You know Michael Jordan -- not to mention Matt Doherty -- didn't appreciate it when Charles Barkley corrected former Tar Heel Kenny Smith about the state of the UNC-Duke rivalry. "It's not a rivalry anymore," said Barkley, "Duke is a lot better now."

Guarantee?

Auburn's Jamie Brewer knew he wouldn't be a first-round pick, but his camp said they were promised a guaranteed contract by a number of teams that would select him in the second round. So maybe Indiana is willing to make that commitment on the 6-5 point with great potential.

But, then again, why did the Pacers trade for Iowa State point guard Jamaal Tinsley if they were going to make a long-term commitment to Brewer? Indiana also already has veteran point guard Travis Best.

Which makes Brewer's decision to go, shaky before hand, still very much up in the air.

Experience paid

This was certainly a draft dominated by high school players, but late in the first round it was four-year guys who got the nod and surprised most mock drafts with their selections.

Orlando grabbing Southern Methodist's lanky point Jeryl Sasser and Houston taking Pepperdine's Brandon Armstrong (who had a year of eligibility remaining due to a season as Prop 48) pushed a couple guys out of the first round and the guaranteed money that is so desperately sought.

Steal of the draft

Hard to argue with Minnesota getting Loren Woods with the 46th pick. But how about Philadelphia getting Georgia Tech's Alvin Jones Jr. at No. 57? He was only a first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference center a season ago.