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From the moment Derrick Caracter made his bizarrely timed announcement (the eve of the Sweet 16) and questionable decision to turn pro, there was little angst from Louisville Coach Rick Pitino.

With good reason. Caracter has been nothing but a problem since he arrived in Louisville. In his two years there he has been suspended multiple times for disciplinary reasons. He has had a questionable work ethic and desire (to be kind). Despite talent and size that would make NBA scouts drool, the production has never matched.

Well, Caracter made his decision and then had reality slap him in the face -- hard. He has found out how little interest there is in him. That the NBA isn't going to be looking to snatch him up. That at best, he is staring at the NBDL or playing somewhere overseas.

That had Caracter looking to scramble back to Louisville. That's not going to happen.

He hasn't hired an agent, still is attending classes at the University of Louisville and sends coach Rick Pitino text messages almost every day. Advertisement

But Pitino said yesterday that it's in the best interests of both Caracter and the program for the enigmatic 6-foot-9 center to move on.

"My plan is to see him get on to the NBA or get on to Europe and get on with his life," Pitino said. "He has a change of heart right now, but he's had two years to show he wants to be a student, he's had two years to show he wants to be an integral part of college life, and he has not shown that."

This can fairly considered addition by subtraction for Louisville.