And on the 26th day (of June), Luke Ridnour will relax. At least he will kick back as much as one can, knowing the end of the day will bring events that will determine the future.

Golf? That's out. He couldn't, even if he were inclined. A week ago, he pulled a stomach muscle during a workout for the Milwaukee Bucks, so he'll simply be lying low up in the little town, Blaine, that spawned a cinch NBA first-round draft pick.

Ridnour, the Pac-10 player of the year from Oregon, has been enduring the repetitive grind of working out for 10 NBA teams in recent weeks, hopping on and off cross-country flights, trying to ease the doubts that would prevent him from being a lottery pick.

"I don't know if I'd recommend it to too many people in their lifetime," his father, Rob, said yesterday. "I can't imagine what he's going through. I'm a nervous wreck.

"It's not as much fun as I thought."