College basketball odds: Heels will be preseason No. 1

In what must be thrilling news to North Carolina fans and bettors on the Tar Heels, three key players from last year's squad announced on Monday that they were pulling their names out of the NBA draft and returning to Chapel Hill - thus making the Heels locks as preseason No. 1 in the polls and the overwhelming WagerWeb.com favorites to win the 2008-09 national title.

Starting point guard Ty Lawson, starting guard Wayne Ellington and swingman Danny Green all pulled out Monday, with Lawson's being the biggest surprise as he was almost assured of going in the first round of the draft - although he was recently arrested on an alcohol-related charge.

"The process of 'testing the waters' has given me valuable information about my draft status, and I have decided it would be better to return to school," Lawson said in a UNC press release. "I love school, my teammates and coaching staff. I look forward to playing next season and trying to win a national championship."

Lawson, who will be a junior, has averaged 11.3 points and 5.4 assists in his first two seasons at the school. He led the Heels to the nation's best second-best scoring average last season.Ellington, an undersized wing, was generally touted as a contender for the second round in the June 26 draft. Green, a sixth man, was nothing more than a marginal free-agent hopeful who likely would have to spend a good deal of time in the minor leagues, and/or Europe.

Ellington, who completed his sophomore season in 2007-08, has scored 1,092 points and was a second-team All-ACC selection last season. Green, who will be a senior next season, has compiled 871 points and 412 rebounds in three seasons, averaging 8.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

The three returnees, plus senior frontcourt players Tyler Hansbrough (the reigning national player of the year), Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard, will give coach Roy Williams' team a huge national edge in talent and experience. It is basically the same group that keyed North Carolina to a 36-3 record, the ACC championship and a Final Four appearance in '07-08.

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