Louisville planning for life without Caracter

4/23/2008 3:42 PM

By WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -Rick Pitino said Wednesday it's unlikely forward Derrick Caracter will return to the Cardinals after declaring for the NBA draft.

Caracter announced his intention to enter the draft following Louisville's loss to North Carolina in the NCAA tournament last month, but has since approached Pitino about staying in school.

Pitino told Caracter, who averaged 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds this season, his game wasn't NBA ready.

``I think he's been looking in the mirror and conning himself for a long, long time,'' Pitino said. ``Now he's got to go and find out what the real world is like.''

Caracter is enrolled at Louisville and has yet to hire an agent, leaving open the possibility of his return in the fall. Pitino however, doesn't think Caracter will be back in the fall.

``That's not in the cards for him right now,'' Pitino said. ``It's not in his best interest as well as our best interest. Our best interest and his best interest right now is to try to become a second-round draft pick. Too much has happened for him to turn around now.''