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NEW ORLEANS — LSU intends to hire Stanford’s Trent Johnson, who led the Cardinal to the round of 16 in this year’s NCAA tournament, as its new coach.

Several people at LSU familiar with the selection process said a formal announcement was expected by Thursday. The people asked to remain anonymous because the hiring was not yet official.

Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby said in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Wednesday afternoon that Johnson was given permission to talk to LSU but had not yet resigned.

“LSU notified me that they wanted to talk with him this morning as I was leaving Tampa” following the women’s Final Four, Bowlsby said. “The position probably pays twice what ours does so I expect he feels he has to listen. Trent has not informed me that he has accepted another position.”

Johnson has been at Stanford for four seasons, compiling an 80-48 record.

He had said recently he hoped to remain at Stanford, and had been slated to meet with Bowlsby on Thursday to discuss a new contract.

Stanford hired Johnson in 2004 to replace Mike Montgomery, who left for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors for two seasons and last week was hired by Bay Area rival California.

Johnson was an assistant at Stanford before going to Nevada and then returning to the Cardinal.

Stanford lost to Texas in the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament.

Stanford’s twin 7-footers, Brook and Robin Lopez, announced last week they would hire agents and enter the NBA draft, forgoing their final two seasons of eligibility.

LSU went to the Final Four only three seasons ago, but failed to make the NCAA tournament in each of the last two years. The Tigers went 13-18 this season, and former coach John Brady was fired during the year.

Assistant Butch Pierre took over on Feb. 8 and led LSU to victories in five of its last nine contests, but the Tigers lost in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

This week, LSU also likely lost one of its best players when 6-foot-10 freshman forward Anthony Randolph announced he intended to enter the NBA draft. Randolph did not immediately hire an agent, however, leaving a slim possibility he could return for his sophomore season.

LSU considered a range of candidates, including Travis Ford at Massachusetts, Anthony Grant at Virginia Commonwealth and Oliver Purnell at Clemson. Ford and Purnell both withdrew from consideration Tuesday.

© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.