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Monday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

Check the Quiz Bowl rankings, Harvard. Check 'em and then eat it.

By Mike Rutherford

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I_medium Drew Ellis has been named the National Player of the Month for April by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

I_medium The Houston Rockets announced this morning that Nenê will miss the remainder of the postseason with a left adductor tear. That means Montrezl Harrell is about to get his first significant dose of playoff action. Houston is currently tied 2-2 with San Antonio in the Western Conference semifinals.

I_medium This might be the happiest I've ever seen Rick Pitino.

I_medium The Sporting News ranks Lamar Jackson as the top returning quarterback in college football for 2017.

I_medium Cool story from Baltimore, where former Ravens/current Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith covered the adoption fees of 46 pets at Baltimore animal shelter.

I_medium Good news for horse racing fans.

I_medium The eight counties with the greatest decline in life expectancy since the 1980s are all in Kentucky.

I_medium Louisville baseball stays at No. 2 behind Oregon State in the latest NCAA top 25 rankings. ACC brethren North Carolina is No. 3.

I_medium The latest NBA mock draft from SB Nation has Donovan Mitchell going to the Bulls at pick 16.

16. Chicago Bulls — Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville

The Bulls need to put the ball in Jimmy Butler's hands and surround him with as many athletes and shooters as possible. Mitchell would be a good fit because he could defend point guards and also give Chicago some badly needed athleticism. He's as explosive as anyone in this draft.

I_medium Brazilian soccer club Chapecoense won their state championship last weekend just months after most of their team died in a plane crash. That's pretty cool.

I_medium If you're interested in purchasing some game-used Louisville football pants and jerseys, there are a few auctions going on. They ain't cheap.

I_medium Samardo steals the show, in my opinion.

I_medium Pat Forde looks at Always Dreaming, whose Derby win made his famously stoic trainer cry.

I_medium Cool story from Jason Riley at WDRB about the 94-year-old World War II captain who loves attending the Derby.

I_medium Corey Ray is still doing Corey Ray things.

I_medium The Tampa Bay Rays promoted former Cardinal pitcher Justin Marks from Triple-A Durham on Friday.

I_medium Dolphins offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen is predicting a monster 2017 season from DeVante Parker.

"I really think the lifestyle and routine is better," Christensen told reporters of Parker's off-field situation, per the Palm Beach Post. "Sometimes when those young guys come into this thing, it takes them a while to fall into the routine of what it takes to put your body in position, sleep, eating, practicing and being able to make it through a 16-game season, especially for a receiver where you're just running so much.

"All those things have gotten better for him, and I think they'll all combine for him having a great year this year. I really think he'll have a great, big year -- a gigantic year for us. That would be huge."

Parker was Miami's second-leading receiver in 2016, tallying 56 catches on 87 targets for 744 yards and four touchdowns. The wideout's production through two seasons hasn't yet validated his status as a first-round pick in 2015, but might a second year in Adam Gase's system open up some opportunities for the big-bodied receiver?

I_medium The Bucks are taking Donovan Mitchell with pick No. 17 according to the latest mock draft from CBS.

I_medium Brendan McKay appears on the MLB Pipeline podcast.

I_medium I needed this on post-Derby Monday.

I_medium Terry Rozier has put himself in a position to look like he belongs during the Celtics' postseason run.

I_medium Former U of L walk-on Tyler Sharpe is transferring to Northern Kentucky.

"I'm excited for the opportunity (NKU coach John Brannen) and the staff is giving me and I look forward to getting there this summer to get ready for next year," Sharpe said.

Sharpe scored two points in seven games this past season for the Cards. He played a season-high five minutes in Louisville's 55-point win at Pittsburgh.

He averaged 19.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists as a high school senior and originally chose to walk-on at Louisville after considering scholarship offers from IU Southeast, Kentucky State and Pikeville.

I_medium Louisville will participate in the ACC rowing championship this weekend. Here's a preview.

I_medium NYC Buckets has launched a fun theoretical conference realignment project.

I_medium Kyle Kuric continues to do big things in Spain.

I_medium The Louisville softball team swept NC State over the weekend and will now face the Wolfpack again in the first round of this week's ACC tournament. The Cards will be the No. 2 seed in said tournament, where they'll open play Thursday at 5 p.m.

I_medium Pro Football Focus has both Lamar Jackson and Jaire Alexander going in the first round of its first mock NFL draft for 2018.

12. Washington Redskins

Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

If Washington does not re-up QB Kirk Cousins, they may be tapping into the deep quarterback market a year from now. Jackson is an elite runner who continues to improve as a passer where he'll miss his fair share of throws, but he'll also sprinkle in enough tight window throws to show his potential. Jackson has some similarities to Michael Vick as they both have angle-changing speed and they're both inconsistent passers, but the league may be more conducive for Jackson's game than ever before.

...

29. Pittsburgh Steelers

Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

Alexander burst onto the scene last year with five interceptions and nine pass breakups (tied for seventh in the nation) while finishing seventh among cornerbacks at 87.4 overall. He adds a playmaker on the back end for Pittsburgh as they still have work to do to get the defense back to its desired form.

I_medium Jaylen Johnson caused a bit of a stir over the weekend when he said he hadn't yet hired an agent and could theoretically return to Louisville, but his mother says that professional basketball is still her son's next step.

I_medium And finally, Brendan McKay has been named ACC Pitcher of the Week and in the process set a new league record with seven weekly player of the week honors in a single season.

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