John Clay's Sidelines

(AP photo)

Some daily randoms from an Easter Sunday at the Final Four:

To me, anyway, it’s not too hard to figure out what’s going on with Daniel Orton. He’s going into the draft. He may be dropping out of school, or finishing school in California — how exactly do you do that? — or training for the draft in California. He may love John Calipari, or hate John Calipari. None of that seems to matter. What matters is that Larry Orton said his son is testing the NBA draft waters, so Daniel will test the waters. But if you really are going to California to train, chances are you are doing more than testing. And in speaking with Calipari here in Indianapolis on Thursday, the guess here is that Cal’s guess is that Orton will not be a Wildcat next year.

If you’re a Kentucky fan, the only thing worse than watching you team make just four of 32 three-pointers against West Virginia in a regional final is to see Duke make 13 of 25 threes against West Virginia in the Final Four. Duke shot lights out, but then the Blue Devils own better shooters than did this year’s Kentucky. Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and even Nolan Smith can light it up, as they say. They lit up the ‘Neers.

Afterward, Bob Huggins lamented his switch to a 1-3-1 zone without using a dead ball situation first, but that didn’t make any real difference. Duke was on fire. West Virginia left its game up in Syracuse.

Speaking of West Virginia, got some flak for tweeting that Huggins’ emotional on-the-floor hug of De’Sean Bryant Butler after the Mountaineer tore up his knee was “weird.” Was accused of being a cynic, and mean, and sarcastic. I admit, poor choice of words, or word. Just not sure that I’d ever seen anything quite like that before. Not saying it was bad, or wrong. And from what I hear, on television it certainly looked powerful, what with the coach right up in Bryant’s face, trying to get him to calm down. But you have to admit, it was unusual.

Huggy-ologist Paul Daugherty writes about the Huggy/Bryant Butler moment here.

And if Duke shoots like that against Butler, the Bulldogs’ charming (and important) story comes to a jarring halt on Monday night. But the guess here is that Duke will not shoot like that. Butler is a better fundamental team than West Virginia. I think the Bulldogs can give the Dookies fit. Not saying they will win. Haven’t made up my mind. Subject needs more investigation. Check back tomorrow.

Kentucky has lost its last four Elite Eight appearances. All four of the teams that beat Kentucky turned around and lost in the national semifinals:

• In 1999, Michigan State beat Kentucky, then lost to Duke 68-62 in the Final Four.

• In 2003, Marquette beat Kentucky, then lost to Kansas 91-64 in the Final Four.

• In 2005, Michigan State beat Kentucky, then lost to North Carolina 87-71 in the Final Four.

• In 2010, West Virginia beat Kentucky, then lost to Duke 78-57 in the Final Four.

Seems the NCAA’s new ticket sale program didn’t quite work out the way it had planned. Fans complained about long lines, disorganization and that the NCAA was doing what it was keeping the general public from doing:

RazorGator was buying tickets on the 100-level for $135.

It was selling them, six feet away, for $400, according to people who emerged from the buying line.

While that was going on, security personnel were breaking up private transactions, saying they weren’t allowed inside or near the stadium.

Burke Chaegar, Fishers, Ind., said he saw officers “ticketing people for exactly what’s going on here (scalping). It feels a little wrong.”

Butler coach Brad Stevens on the last time he was carded: “I don’t have time to go to anyplace that cards you.”

Congrats to Lexington’s own Austin Kearns, who made the Cleveland Indians’ 25-man roster. Kearns had a horrible 2009, which caused the Washington Nationals to forego picking up his option. The former Lafayette star hit .300 in 50 at-bats this spring. He hit two homers, and drove in nine.

As for the Reds, I am cautiously optimistic heading into opening day on Monday. No Willy Taveras is a good thing. No Edwin Encarnacion on opening day is a good thing. I like the fact they’re rolling the dice on rookie Mike Leake as the fifth starter. The Reds will succeed if . . . Jay Bruce becomes a bonafide star.

Best of all, I’m ready for another summer of Marty.

Curtis Shaw had to get that last technical in last night, whistling Duke for hanging on the rim. After all, Shaw will be the Big 12′s director of officials next year.

Duke had 20 assists and just six turnovers against West Virginia. Scheyer and Smith combined for 12 assists without a turnover. Now they face a Butler team that caused Michigan State to turn it over on 27 percent of the Spartans’ possessions. Something’s got to give.

Huggins made a good point late Saturday night. When you try to defend Scheyer, Smith and Singler on the perimeter you leave Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek to hit the boards. And both those guys can hit the boards.

West Virginia’s Joe Mazzulla became a Mountaineer hero by scoring 17 points against Kentucky. He scored four against Duke.

Last but certainly not least, here’s an excellent Rick Bozich column on Duke’s Nolan Smith, who on Monday night will try to follow in the footsteps of his late father. In 1980, Derek Smith starred on the Louisville team that beat UCLA for the national championship in Indianapolis.