COLLEGE BASKETBALL / DAILY REPORT : MEN’S FINAL FOUR : Keady: Robinson Still Considering NBA

Glenn Robinson has indicated that he will return for his senior season at Purdue, but his coach, Gene Keady, said Friday that Robinson might still declare for the NBA draft.

Keady, who accepted the Associated Press’ player of the year award for Robinson at a Final Four press conference in Charlotte, N.C., said that Robinson still is undecided.

“He’s going through a lot of soul searching now,” Keady said of the 6-foot-8 junior who passed on accepting the award in person because of academic commitments. “The only thing I know is that he said that if he was going to the NBA, he would have a press conference. So, if you hear of a press conference out of West Lafayette (Ind.) the next couple of days, you’ll know that Gene Keady will be someplace crying.”

Robinson, expected to arrive in Charlotte Sunday, was a runaway winner with 218 votes. Donyell Marshall of Connecticut finished second with 21 votes, with Jason Kidd of Cal and Grant Hill of Duke tied for third with 16 each.

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The day before the Final Four semifinals is always a circus for the teams involved as they arrange their practices around interview sessions. Each team worked out for an hour Friday in front of an estimated crowd of 12,000 at the Charlotte Coliseum and then answered reporters’ questions. Some highlights:

--Most intense practice: Arkansas. The Razorbacks gave fans a show with 60 minutes of fast-paced action that was capped off by five powerful dunks by reserve 6-6 forward Ken Biley.

--Most organized practice: Florida. With sharp passing and shooting, the Gators displayed the type of teamwork that has made them the Cinderella team of the Final Four.

--Best dunker: Brian Thompson of Florida. The 6-6 sophomore guard from Atlanta brought the fans to their feet with several spectacular one-handed twisting dunks. Runner-up was Reggie Geary of Arizona.

--Most composed player: Hill. The 6-8 senior handled Duke’s news conference like the veteran he is, with three Final Four appearances in four years.

--Best answer: Geary, after talking about his role in Arizona’s offense instead of replying to a question asked about the Wildcats’ feelings as an underdog against Arkansas: “(That might not have been the answer you wanted), but that’s the answer I’m giving.”

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Scalpers’ tickets for today’s games are at a premium. Courtside seats are priced as high as $6,000 a pair. To help stop illegal scalping, police have undercover officers walking around downtown Charlotte, trying to buy tickets. On Thursday, the first person arrested was an attorney from Charlotte.

“In my 31 years of going to the Final Four, I can’t remember a time when tickets were this hot,” USC Coach George Raveling said. “The prices they are going for are astonishing.”

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When Hill speaks to his younger Duke teammates, they listen. So, when Hill saw sophomore Chris Collins and freshman Jeff Capel looking nervous before Friday’s practice, he took them aside and gave them some advice.

“I tried to communicate with the younger guys about what to expect,” Hill said. “You’re going to be excited, anxious and nervous, but you have to relax and have fun. They have to maintain the tradition.”