Joakim Noah, now a projected lottery pick, is gearing up for this weekend's Final Four and is deflecting the talk that he might bolt for the NBA early.

"I'm having the time of my life," Noah said. "Right now, I'm loving this. This is what it's all about. I know that people dream about going to the NBA, but it's a little different for me because I'm not one of those people who didn't have food on the table (growing up).

"The refrigerator was always full when I went home. I mean, I understand why people talk about it and that's my dream, but at the same time, is that what it's all about? I love my life right now and I love playing for Florida."

"It's definitely something you consider; that's a lot of hamburgers right there," Noah confessed. "But right now, if anybody on this team thought about the NBA at this point right now, that would be the most selfish and disappointing thing. I think it's something that I'll definitely talk about with my family and my coaches, but money doesn't buy happiness. That's the truth."

ESPN News Services are reporting that Duke's J.J. Redick and Gonzaga's Adam Morrison were selected co-players of the year Thursday, the first time in the 50-year history of the United States Basketball Writers Association that two players have received the honor.

"About once in a generation, we see a situation where there are two extraordinary players who separate themselves from the rest of college basketball and clearly stand together as the best in the game," USBWA president Tony Barnhart said in a statement Thursday.

"It happened in 1979 with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson and the USBWA feels it has happened again with Adam Morrison and J.J. Redick. Our organization has never voted for co-players of the year but on this, the 50th anniversary of the USBWA, it seems entirely appropriate to break with precedent in order to honor two equally deserving young men," he said.

Redick and Morrison will be presented with the Oscar Robertson Trophy during an awards ceremony at Conseco Fieldhouse on Friday.

San Diego State junior basketball player Marcus Slaughter told Mighty XX Radio that he has called a news conference for Tuesday, and all indications are that he has signed with an agent and will enter the NBA draft.

Slaughter, a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection this season, also entered the draft early following last season.

After leading his team in scoring the last two seasons, Miami Hurricanes' junior guard Guillermo Diaz will skip his senior season and enter the NBA Draft, the Associated Press is reporting.

Diaz signed Wednesday with agent Jason Levien, meaning he cannot change his mind and return for his final year with the Hurricanes.

"I would like to acknowledge coach Frank Haith, all the coaches, and my teammates for their support, guidance and friendship," Diaz said. "Coach Haith is a special person, and he has helped me to improve as a basketball player and to mature as a man."

Underclassmen have until April 29 to announce their eligibility for the June 28 draft.

Popular draft site nbadraft.net have Diaz projected to go in the second round, 38th overall, as of March 29.

University of North Carolina All-America forward Tyler Hansbrough will return to school to play for the Tar Heels in 2006-07, Hansbrough and UNC head coach Roy Williams announced today. Hansbrough earned first-team All-America honors this year from The Sporting News and the Commonwealth Club of Kentucky (Rupp Awards) and was a third-team All-America selection by The Associated Press and National Association of Basketball Coaches.

He is the first Tar Heel freshman ever to earn All-America honors. The Poplar Bluff, Mo., native also was the first freshman to ever be a unanimous first-team All-ACC selection and the ACC Rookie of the Year.

"I never really considered leaving for the NBA after this season," says Hansbrough. "However, Coach Williams still provided me information he learned from his contacts in the league and after listening to that information I still think it is best for me to come back and be with my teammates again and hopefully have another fantastic season."

Indiana University is expected to hire Oklahoma's Kelvin Sampson as head basketball coach, ESPN.com reported this afternoon.

The Indianapolis Star has not confirmed the report, which is based on unidentified sources.

Sampson would replace Mike Davis, who resigned earlier this month. Davis succeeded Bob Knight in 2000.

Sources tell DraftExpress that Tyler Hansbrough is exploring his NBA draft stock to find out where he stands and how much he has to lose by coming back next year to a loaded UNC team with less shots and production, openly wondering how much higher his stock can get after an outstanding freshman season.

Below are the 2005-06 AP All-America first and second teams.

Adam Morrison, Gonzaga, 6-8, 205, junior, Spokane, Wash., 28.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 49.8 fg pct, 43.7 3-pt fg pct, 36.5 minutes (72 first-place votes, 360 points).

J.J. Redick, Duke, 6-4, 190, senior, Roanoke, Va., 27.4 ppg, 42.1 3-pt fg pct, 87.7 ft pct, 37.2 minutes (72, 360).

Randy Foye, Villanova, 6-4, 205, senior, Newark, N.J., 20.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.2 apg (55, 311).

Shelden Williams, Duke, 6-9, 250, senior, Forest Park, Okla., 18.4 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 58.4 fg pct, 3.7 blocks, 1.8 blocks (49, 305).

Brandon Roy, Washington, 6-6, 210, senior, Seattle, 19.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.1 apg, 51.1 fg pct, 81.4 ft pct (20, 235).

SECOND TEAM

Dee Brown, Illinois, 6-0, 185, senior, Maywood, Ill., 14.4 ppg, 5.6 apg, 1.5 steals, 35.6 minutes (10, 162).

Rodney Carney, Memphis, 6-7, 205, senior, Indianapolis, 17.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 39.9 3-pt fg pct (13, 157).

Rudy Gay, Connecticut, 6-9, 220, sophomore, Baltimore, 15.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.7 blocks, 1.8 steals (8, 154).

P.J. Tucker, Texas, 6-5, 225, junior, Raleigh, N.C., 16.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.8 apg, 51.9 fg pct, 1.8 steals (10, 127).

Leon Powe, California, 6-8, 240, sophomore, Oakland, Calif., 20.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 50.0 fg pct (4, 121).

Jim Calhoun has said that Gay probably needs another season in college but doesn't expect it to happen.

NBA scouts continue to say Gay will be selected with one of the first five picks if he enters the draft, which would almost certainly force his hand.

"That's a ways away," Gay said. "We just lost, not even an hour ago. We're still feeling that. In the future, whatever happens, happens."

UConn's Marcus Williams is almost certain to turn pro and is being touted as the best pure point guard in the draft, "a left-handed Mark Jackson" in the estimation of one Eastern Conference scout. But his lack of quickness at the defensive end is going to cost him some money. He's expected to go no higher than 15th overall.