HoopsHype.com Rumors

Gery Woelfel: Can't have enough bigs: Louisville's Gorgui Dieng said he will work out for Bucks. Twitter @GeryWoelfel

Milwaukee Bucks, Draft, Gorgui Dieng 

Scott Howard-Cooper: Louisville C Gorgui Dieng in a walking boot and out of drills at pre-draft camp because of sprained right ankle. Nothing serious, he says. Twitter @SHowardCooper

Draft, Injuries, Gorgui Dieng 

Eric Crawford: Gorgui Dieng says he has chosen an agent. Not yet announcing who it is. Will train in Louisville until after Derby. Then head out. Twitter

Draft, Gorgui Dieng 

Eric Crawford: Dieng says his advice to Russ Smith: "No one can tell you you are ready for the NBA. You have to decide for yourself." Twitter

Draft, Gorgui Dieng, Russ Smith 

Jeff Goodman: Rick Pitino told @cbssports that Louisville junior big man Gorgui Dieng is definitely headed to the NBA. Previously had said "98 percent." Twitter

Draft, Rick Pitino, Gorgui Dieng 

"Pitino has squeezed the hell out of those guys," said one NBA player personnel director, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because league rules prohibit discussing underclassmen. "I don't see any of them being consistently in a (NBA) rotation. I'm not even sold on Dieng." Two other league executives - one in both the Eastern and Western Conferences - shared that view of the Louisville roster, projecting Dieng as a late first-round pick and junior guard Russ Smith as a possibility in the second round. And though several other Cardinals will be on the NBA's radar including senior point guard Peyton Siva, sophomore forward Chane Behanan and freshman forward Montrezl Harrell (who might be the best long-term prospect of the group), it is atypical for such a powerful college basketball team to draw so little excitement from NBA scouts. Detroit Free Press

Draft, Rick Pitino, Gorgui Dieng 

Peyton Siva, Mike Marra and Dieng will be recognized before the game at 3:45 p.m. as part of Senior Day activities. U of L coach Rick Pitino encouraged Dieng to participate because he anticipates that he will be a first-round NBA draft pick and forgo his final year of eligibility. Dieng has already grown a bit weary of being asked about going pro. “I’m the only one people ask, NBA, NBA,” Dieng said. “It cannot make me distracted. but I just want to focus on my main goal – things that make me better and things that make my teammates look better.” Courier-Journal

Draft, Gorgui Dieng 

Rick Pitino said the best thing for Gorgui Dieng would be to go to the NBA after this season. He didn't say that because he wants the junior for Senegal out the door. He likes Dieng so much he named a horse after him. But Pitino is looking at the realities. Dieng turned 23 in January, and professionally speaking, if he could get into the first round of the NBA Draft, now is the time for Dieng to try to strike. WDRB

Draft, Rick Pitino, Gorgui Dieng 

Dieng, of course, has his own way of looking at things. I asked him what he thought when Pitino made those comments. (And Pitino, for the record, noted that if Dieng isn't a sure first-round pick, he definitely should return). Dieng's response, as always, was thoughtful. "I'm not worried about the NBA right now," Dieng said. ". . . I'm worried about the next game. When the season is over I'll sit down with coach and talk. But I consider myself that I still have a four-year scholarship, and I feel I am a student-athlete, so I'm not just trying to jump ahead of anything." WDRB

Draft, Rick Pitino, Gorgui Dieng