Florida Sophomores Say They’ll Return in 2006-07

Florida Coach Billy Donovan passed the national championship trophy to his players, then stepped to the back of the stage.

He wanted this night to be all about them.

Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer -- three sophomores who had been projected as first-round NBA draft picks this summer -- disclosed in a choreographed skit that they intend to return for another season.

“We’re back baby,” Noah screamed into a microphone during the team’s celebration Friday night at a packed O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla.

Donovan confirmed the news, saying he met with the three players Friday afternoon and they told him they wanted to try to repeat.

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Duke’s J.J. Redick and Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison are two of five finalists for the Wooden Award, which will be announced today in Los Angeles. Villanova’s Randy Foye, Washington’s Brandon Roy and Duke’s Shelden Williams are also finalists for the award given annually to the nation’s top player.

The women’s award will also be announced today. The five finalists are Louisiana State’s Seimone Augustus, last year’s Wooden Award winner, Duke’s Monique Currie, North Carolina’s Ivory Latta, Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris and Rutgers’ Cappie Pondexter.

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Connecticut junior forward Josh Boone said he would make himself eligible for the NBA draft. The 6-foot-10 Boone hasn’t hired an agent, giving him the option of returning for his senior season.... UCLA women’s sophomore guard Lauren Pederson has decided to transfer and was granted her release, school officials said.

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Montana Coach Larry Krystkowiak and Fresno City College Coach Vance Walberg have surfaced as two other finalists for the men’s head coaching position at Pepperdine.... Bobby Gonzalez, 43, who coached Manhattan to a 129-77 record in seven seasons, was introduced as the new coach at Seton Hall, replacing the fired Louis Orr.

TENNIS

Top-Seeded Petrova Wins; Schnyder Loses

Top-seeded Nadia Petrova easily advanced to the semifinals of the Bausch & Lomb Championships at Amelia Island, Fla., and second-seeded Patty Schnyder was upset in the clay-court event.

Petrova, No. 7 in the world, beat Virginia Ruano Pascual, 6-3, 6-0, and fifth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova routed Schnyder, 6-3, 6-1.

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Serena and Venus Williams have withdrawn from next week’s Family Circle Cup at Charleston, S.C., because of injuries, organizers said.

SOCCER

Brazilian Star Romario Joins USL’s Miami Team

Soccer star Romario, 40, who helped lead Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title, joined Miami FC of the 12-team United Soccer League’s first division.

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Jens Lehmann was picked by Germany Coach Juergen Klinsmann over Oliver Kahn to be the starting goalkeeper at this year’s World Cup.

MOTOR RACING

Kahne Wins Pole for Second Time This Year

Kasey Kahne qualified first for the Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Fort Worth with a fast lap of 190.315 mph to win his second Nextel Cup pole of the season.

Rookie J.J. Yeley qualified second with a lap at 189.374 mph in a Chevrolet to earn a spot on the front row for Sunday’s race.

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Tony Stewart won his third career International Race of Champions event and won his first race of any kind at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth in the 100-mile race.

MISCELLANY

Packers’ Favre Expected to Reveal Plans Today

Quarterback Brett Favre has scheduled a news conference for this morning, when he is expected to announce whether he’ll return to play for the Green Bay Packers this season.

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American Ryan Lochte set a world record in the men’s 200-meter individual medley at the FINA World Championships at Shanghai, China, finishing in 1 minute 53.31 seconds.

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Matt Carle, a defenseman who played at the University of Denver and now plays for the San Jose Sharks, won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top college hockey player.

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Several Olympians and former Bruin standouts will compete today in the final day of the fourth annual Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational at UCLA’s Drake Stadium.

Among them: Monique Henderson, 2005 NCAA 400-meter champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400 relay; Jon Rankin, the UCLA record-holder in the mile and 1,500 meters; and Felix Sanchez, 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the 400.

Field events begin at 11:30 a.m. and invitational running events are scheduled to start at 12:15 p.m.