VIRGINIA ICON BENNETT HIRED TO HELP NBA LAKERS WITH DRAFT
Some opinion, mostly fact The Los Angeles Lakers have hired TONY BENNETT as advisor for the 2026 NBA draft in June. He will report directly to GM ROB PELINKA , and already there is speculation UVA’s all-time winner (364-136) “is going to stick around for more than just the draft.” You will recall he quit just prior to the start of the 2024-25 season, saying he couldn’t coach college hoops any more. IT HAS BECOME almost too easy for Duke, which led 47-30 at halftime Monday night at N.C. State which opened in a zone defense, something the Blue Devils haven’t seen very often and reacted with a customary ho- hum … no big deal It was tied at 18 midway through the opening 20 minutes. “This is the first time State has used the zone and, to this point, you have to say it has been successful,” said BOB CARPENTER , working the game on ESPN with former UVA standout CORY ALEXANDER . So...