Whether or not he stays to play another one, center Kevin Love continues to make the most of his first season at UCLA.
After helping lead the Bruins to the Final Four and being named both the Pac-10 Player of the Year and the NCAA Tournament West Regional’s Most Outstanding Player, the freshman center picked up another honor Monday: first-team All-American.
Love received 52 of a possible 72 Associated Press first-team votes and 318 of a possible 360 points. Love’s selection makes it the second straight year UCLA has had a player so honored; Arron Afflalo was an All-American last year.
Love is joined on the first team by fellow freshman Michael Beasley of Kansas State and junior Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina, both of whom were unanimous selections at forward. Texas sophomore D.J. Augustin and Memphis junior Chris Douglas-Roberts were named at guard. It was the first time in the 60-year history of The Associated Press naming an All-America team that no senior was tabbed for the first team.
“(It) really points out what an unbelievable year he’s had,” coach Ben Howland said. “He’s averaging a double-double. What’s great (is) he’s playing his best basketball since he’s been at UCLA in the NCAA Tournament. But this last weekend he was unbelievable.”
Junior guard Darren Collison was named to the AP All-America third team.
WOODEN DOING BETTER, CONFIDENT IN BRUINS: John Wooden is at home and recovering from the broken left wrist and collarbone he suffered in February. And while he won’t be joining the Bruins in San Antonio, he likes their chances.
Wooden spoke to The Associated Press by phone Monday. Health reasons will keep him home from the Final Four, and his daughter, Nan Muehlhausen, will present the Wooden Award in his place as she has for the past several seasons.
“(Two) years ago, we were in the Final Four and we finished second,” Wooden said. “Last year, we were third. Seems logical to be first this year, don’t you think?
“Any one of the four could win, but I wouldn’t trade UCLA’s chances for any of the other teams’.”
Wooden also said his decision not to travel with the team is more a function of his age than his recent injuries.
“I’m still having trouble getting around,” he said. “Nothing to do with my fall, but my knees have been very, very bad. I use a walker and a wheelchair. Overall, I’m very fortunate at 97.”
BENNETT SAYS NO TO INDIANA: Washington State coach Tony Bennett, after speaking with Indiana about its vacant head coaching position, has withdrawn his name from consideration.
Indiana has been in the market for a new coach since Kelvin Sampson resigned midseason after a NCAA report was released that said he had committed five major recruiting violations.
Interim coach Dan Dakich finished out the season, guiding the team to a 25-8 record that ended in a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Arkansas.
Indiana appointed a 10-person committee to find a new coach before the NCAA Tournament began, leading to speculation that Dakich will not return. Bennett was believed to be one of the Hoosiers’ top candidates.
In a Washington State press release on Sunday night, Bennett said he had “an exploratory conversation with Indiana,” but that he was “not going to pursue the Indiana job.”
Bennett, 38, is 52-17 in his two years at Washington State and last year signed a seven-year contract that pays him roughly $700,000 a year.
With reports from Bruin wire services.