However, player-agent Bill Neff said that's a futile exercise, with many in his profession cutting under-the-table deals with players.

The NCAA recently distributed a four-page memo, reminding schools what underclassmen can and cannot do to test their NBA marketability. The memo warns underclassmen not to accept travel expenses from NBA basketball teams, though that's been common practice in the past.

One of the authors of that memo said its purpose is heading off trouble and, potentially, holding rule-breakers accountable.

"It's fair to say we've had multiple student-athletes facing possible violations of NCAA rules," said Rachel Newman Baker, the NCAA's director of agent, gambling and amateurism activities. "We're trying to avoid (those problems), so we're not dealing with it next semester."

The NCAA now requires underclassmen in the draft to sign forms, stating they know the rules and understand the risk to their eligibility.

"We want it very clear up front," Newman Baker said, "if we do get into investigating a case, the `I-didn't-know' answer will not work."

The NCAA dealt with messy situations the past few years, involving former Connecticut forward Charlie Villanueva and current Kentucky center Randolph Morris. Each turned pro and had contact with an agent, only to pull out of the draft and seek to play college basketball.

In both cases, the NCAA ultimately granted eligibility.

The situation is complex. For instance, the NCAA allows the NBA to cover expenses for an underclassman to attend the pre-draft camp. But an individual NBA team cannot pay to fly in an underclassman for a workout without jeopardizing that player's eligibility.

Charlotte Bobcats coach-general manager Bernie Bickerstaff didn't know the NCAA draws that distinction. Jon Fagg, assistant athletics director for compliance services at N.C. State, said that rule is frequently disregarded, similar to how people absent-mindedly exceed the speed limit.

"If you drive to work, I guarantee there's a place where you speed a little every day," Fagg said of athletes accepting expenses they shouldn't. "Do you drive to the police station and turn yourself in? No."

That's why Fagg is glad the NCAA distributed this memo, eliminating any gray areas for underclassmen looking to preserve eligibility. N.C. State has already used it to guide sophomore center Cedric Simmons through the process.

The 7-foot, 260-pound center averaged 13.4 points and 8.3 rebounds last season, helping Bradley to the NCAA (betting) tournament championship round of 16 for the first time since 1955.

O'Bryant has until June 18 to pull his name out of the draft, which will be held June 28. He said he would return to Bradley only if he suffered an injury or wasn't pleased with his draft projection by the deadline.

O'Bryant, the Missouri Valley Conference's defensive player of the year, said Saturday he may enroll in the IMG basketball academy in Sarasota, Fla., a training facility for prospective draftees to improve their stock.

He also might participate in private workouts for NBA teams and hopes to play in the pre-draft camp June 6-12 in Orlando.

O'Bryant averaged 2.9 blocked shots a game last season to lead the conference. His 147 blocks in two seasons rank third on Bradley's all-time list and tenth in conference history.

The Braves were widely thought of as the most athletic team in the Missouri Valley Conference, but Bradley struggled to win on the road and at one point in the season had a 13-9 record. Jim Les' job seemed to be in jeopardy.

But a seven-game winning streak got Bradley to the MVC tournament championship game, and then the Braves showed their stuff with NCAA upsets of Kansas and Pittsburgh.

Now Les is the toast of Peoria and the Braves are the talk of the town. How long will it last?

A lot depends on what Patrick O'Bryant decides about his future. The 7-footer was a difference-maker for the Braves when he was able to stay out of foul trouble. After only two seasons at Bradley, though, the NBA scouts are drooling to get their hands on him, which could be too much for him to turn his back on.

Either way, Bradley will face heightened expectations in 2006-07, and it will be Les' job to get the Braves to live up to them.

After enduring a week filled with speculation and anxiety about the Braves' NCAA tournament fate, Tauai confirmed the week has passed as slowly as he anticipated.

"Wherever you go, everybody wants to know if you're in," he said. "I tell people I don't know more than you know. It's tough watching TV. I don't want to hear what (commentators negative toward BU and the MVC) have to say, but I listen anyway. And if I don't listen, we get an update (from teammates) at practice."

And then there's all the other conference tournaments playing out on the tube with Bradley's fate hanging in the balance. The more favorites win, the better the Braves' odds of boogying to the Big Dance.

"Cheering for a team is a lot more nerve-wracking than coaching or playing a game," said BU coach Jim Les. "The anticipation drives you crazy so I try to keep myself busy. I watch tape of us trying to find ways to improve and I've been on a couple of recruiting trips."

The waiting game ends at 5 p.m. today when CBS-TV reveals the 65-team bracket for the 2006 NCAA tournament, which begins at eight first-round sites next week.

The Braves will practice this afternoon and then gather as a team at a campus location with friends, family, university officials and media - including a CBS camera crew to record the players' reactions during the show.

If BU is selected, Les and his club will head downtown and make an appearance at the NCAA party at the Holiday Inn City Centre.

"I'm trying not to think about it too much, but I do watch a lot of the other games," said BU guard Daniel Ruffin. "If we get in, I hope we go to Florida (Jacksonville) or California (San Diego). I haven't been to either. But I'll take anyplace."

The Valley is hopeful of receiving four at-large bids to go with the Salukis' automatic berth.

But bracketology experts have generally included just four total MVC teams in the field, omitting Missouri State, which inexplicably owns the best RPI rating of any Valley school at 19.

ISU is coming off of a 83-56 blowout at the hands of nationally ranked Northern Iowa and sit at 9-12 (2-11 MVC) on the college basketball season.

Bradley is currently 13-8 (7-6 MVC) and is coming off a 70-62 loss to Missouri State.

The Braves college basketball team are a very weak road team, posting a record of just 2-7 away from Peoria.

The Braves are led by 6-foot-7 senior forward Marcellus Sommerville, who averages 15 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Seven-foot sophomore center Patrick O'Bryant averages 12.2 points and almost eight rebounds per game to go along with three blocked shots per game.

In ISU's last contest against Bradley, the Sycamores blew a 40-35 halftime lead and ended up falling 85-63 in Peoria, Ill.

The Sycamores were paced by freshman Jay Tunnell's 18 points while the Braves also received 18 points from O'Bryant. ISU junior guard Eric Gray chipped in 10 points during his first action of the 2005-06 season.