Duke star Bagley bound for NBA draft

Duke freshman Marvin Bagley III is entering the NBA draft. He announced his decision Wednesday. Bagley is expected to be a high lottery pick. The AP All-American and ACC player and rookie of the year led the conference in scoring and rebounding (21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds).

Bagley broke nine program records for freshmen, including points (694), scoring average, rebounds (366), rebounding average and double-doubles (22). Only three other players in Division I also averaged at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Bagley is the first player from this group of Blue Devils to announce his draft decision, and the 12th Duke freshman to declare for the draft. Each of the previous 11 were taken in the first round, and nine were lottery picks.

■ Michigan State star Miles Bridges is skipping his final two seasons of eligibility and entering the NBA draft. It came as no surprise after a fine season in which he was named a second-team AllAmerican by The Associated Press. Bridges weighed the idea of going pro last year as well, but decided to stay in school, turning this season’s team into a national title contender.

■ Chris Mack understands he has big shoes to fill as Louisville’s new coach. He also knows he has some turbulent times to overcome. It’s on his shoulders to lead the Cardinals back to prominence in the wake of several scandal-marred seasons featuring a federal investigation, sex scandal and two absences from the NCAA Tournament. “I know these past few months have been unbelievably difficult,” said Mack, who gets a seven-year contract, leaving Xavier to take over the Cardinals. “They say the darkest clouds, you miss it, the brightest lightning bolt. That lightning bolt is coming.”

Mack spent the last nine seasons at Xavier. He takes over a team that went 22-14 under interim coach David Padgett during a season in which Louisville became part of a federal corruption probe and missed the NCAA Tournament.

■ Auburn coach Bruce Pearl received a vote of confidence from new Athletic Director Allen Greene, who said it’s “absolutely” his intention to stand by Pearl barring further develop- ments from the FBI or NCAA. Auburn hired a law firm to review Pearl’s program after last year’s arrest of then-associate head coach Chuck Person on federal corruption charges.

■ DePaul says star guard Max Strus intends to declare for the draft, though he’ll remain eligible for his senior season by not hiring an agent.

■ Texas junior guard Eric Davis Jr. decided to turn pro. He was held out several games late in the season after reports raised allegations that he’d taken money from an agent representative.

■ Penn State (25-13) and Utah (23-11) play in the NIT final tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York.