ATLANTA - Ben Howland doesn't like the NBA rule prohibiting a high school player from entering the draft until a year after his graduation.

But the UCLA coach has a novel idea on how to keep some of the most talented players in the college game a bit longer.

"I don't think it's fair to not allow a kid to go straight from high school to the NBA," he said as he prepared his Bruins for their Final Four semifinal game against Florida today. "They can go in the armed services when they're age 18. You can vote at a young age. You should be able to make that choice.

"What I like is the idea that if you do elect to go to college, then it should be a two-year commitment. It's somewhat what they do in college baseball. You can go right out of high school to the pros, as many do. But if you actually go to college, you have to stay (more than one year)."

Meanwhile, Ohio State freshman point guard Mike Conley Jr. said Friday he will be back for at least one more college season. Conley's star has risen so quickly that many figured he would be heading off to the NBA after only one year along with Buckeyes star center Greg Oden, his high school teammate.

"Yes, definitely," Conley said when asked if he will be back. "I haven't even thought about (the NBA) at all. I'm stuck on college right now. I want to be a college student. It's a fun thing to be around."

BLUEGRASS CAN WAIT: Rampant speculation has Florida coach Billy Donovan in line to replace Tubby Smith at Kentucky, but that's the last thing on his mind right now.

"I haven't even thought about any of that stuff," Donovan said. "My total focus is really on

UCLA. That's the most important thing. . . . I've talked to nobody (representing Kentucky).

"All I have, to be honest with you, is got a lot of bloodshot eyes right now from watching a lot of tape. That's all I do."

UNDER THE SCOPE: Florida's Joakim Noah is known for speaking his mind. Friday, he spoke of the critics who doubted the Gators' ability to motivate themselves after winning the 2006 NCAA title.

"There have been a lot of doubters this year," said Noah, who came back to college despite his status as a projected NBA lottery pick after winning last year's title. "A lot of people said the Gators lost three in a row (actually three of four in February), and they're going to be out of the (NCAA) Tournament in the first week, baby.

"But you know what? We kept our focus. Every move that we make was talked about and critiqued because we were under this microscope. None of us has gone through what we've gone through this year."

SUPERSTITIOUS: Ohio State coach Thad Matta amuses his players with his myriad superstitions, which include having his daughter pick out his game- day tie and insisting each player sit in the same seat on the team bus before each game.

"We all notice it," Buckeyes forward Ivan Harris said. "He does a bunch of things because of his superstitions, but we're all used to it by now."

SWEET HOME GEORGIA: Patrick Ewing Jr., a key reserve for Georgetown and the son of the former star Georgetown and NBA center, grew up just outside Atlanta, in Marietta, Ga.

Ewing, a junior forward who transferred from Indiana, said playing in the Final Four in his hometown makes the event even more special.

"From the first day I found out it would be in Atlanta, I wanted to be here," Ewing said. "This is where I grew up. This is where all of my family is, and to win it here would be a great feeling for me."

Ewing has tried to keep a low profile and concentrate on the Hoyas' business at hand.

"I turned my phone off. Too many phone calls and too many distractions. I just try to keep it simple, contact my friends and family and don't get bothered by too many other things."

ETC.: Georgetown never has lost a national semifinal game, the Hoyas advancing to the title game each of the four times they have reached the Final Four. . . . Each of the four teams in the Final Four have won at least one NCAA title, with UCLA leading all teams in the nation, with 11. . . . The father of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA's sophomore starting forward, was planning to come to Atlanta to watch his son play, but his trip from Cameroon was canceled when he had to undergo eye surgery.