Well today the 2006-07 AP All-American teams were announced. No real surprises here, but certainly some arguments could be made. None of these guys were on the preseason All-American list. I'll take you through the first teamers with some observations of each guy.
The players (in order of first-place votes):
Kevin Durant- Texas, (72 first-place votes) Fresh., 25.6 ppg, 11.3 rpg.
Unbelievable talent. He's been stealing the headlines all season long from Greg Oden. Out of all the tremendous freshmen playing this year, he was the best. Look at the numbers he put up, and remember he did this on a Texas team that somehow got him the ball even less than they should have. He was the only guy selected unanimously, and his mom got to sit next to Danny Ainge during the Big 12 Championship game. So that's fun. She didn't even know who he was, but he certainly paid for it. He wasn't alone either as a number of NBA higher ups have been fined for discussing Durant. I think we learned the first rule about Kevin Durant... you do not talk about Kevin Durant. But people have been all season long, and it is well deserved. Unfortunately for the fans his Longhorns were upset in just the second round of the tourney to Tim Floyd's USC squad, robbing everyone a chance to watch this guy play on the main stage. I don't even have to say it but he will be either the first or second pick in this year's draft... if he declares. Come on, like he's staying?
Alando Tucker- Wisconsin, (64) Senior, 19.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg.
Tucker doesn't exactly wow you, but he had a great senior season and led his Badgers to a #2 seen in the dance. Were they seeded too high? Maybe as they lost in the second round to 7th seeded UNLV, who haven't won a second round game since Grand Mama was playing for them. He was on the second best team in a weak conference, but they would have been much lower if not for his play. Tucker had a huge game against Pitt this year posting a 32-10 night, but had only 10 points in a tough loss to rival Ohio State back on March 11. 6'6'' but doesn't shoot the 3 ball well, and not sure what position he will be in the pros. A good college basketball player in the Big 10, so was Shawn Respert. Both deserved to be All-Americans, but an NBA game... we know about Respet, we will see with Tucker. For some reason he has "last guy left in the green room," written all over him. But he did receive the 2nd most first place AP votes! (Morrison and Reddick were unanimous... really? Well it's hard to be a good college basketball player.)
Acie Law IV- Texas A&M, (59) Senior, 18.1 ppg, 5 apg.
Law had been a good player in hist first three season with the Aggies, but this year he became a great player. With a number of solid point guards, Law has cemented himself in the top tier. In early February during just a three day span A&M defeated both Kansas and Texas. Law hit for 23 points and 7 assists AT Kansas followed by a 21 point 15 assist night against Texas. Fun to watch, and hit countless big shots. How bout that double OT game against Texas where he went off for 33, and single handedly kept the game going. Depending on what other point guards enter the draft (i.e. Conley, Lawson, Collison...) Law should be a middle of the first round draft choice, and I was surprised he didn't get more first place vote than Tucker. Of course I don't get a vote, and just write a blog that no one will read... so take it or leave it.
Aaron Afflalo- UCLA, (52) Junior, 16.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 37.7 3pt %.
Afflalo declared himself for last years draft, but ultimately decided to come back to UCLA after the team made it all the way to the championship game, where the Bruins took a dump to the Gators. (So did Afflalo going 3-10 from the field with just 10 points.) His back court partner and classmate Jordan Farmer remained in the draft and went to the Lakers. Afflalo came back to school and is now playing in consecutive final fours. Solid shooter, better scorer, but maybe a step slow for the NBA. Has a decision to make of whether to comeback for his final season of eligibility or forgo it for a shot at the league. Afflalo struggled towards the end of the year with his shot, but looked good against Kansas. Two more solid games would certainly help his draft stock, which remains to be seen. Plus the dude is from Compton, so you know he's badass. Not sure if that will help his draft status.
Greg Oden- "The" Ohio State, (34) Fresh., 15.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.3 bpg.
You've heard it all before. This guy can dominate the game on the defensive end, he was playing with one hand for most of the season, and his kids swear he's only 19. Undoubtedly he will, along with Durant, be a top 2 pick in this years draft, assuming he's leaving school. Oden and Durant were the first freshmen since Chris Jackson in 1990 to be named AP first team All-Americans. (How sick was Chris Jackson? Changed his name and the whole thing went down hill, but that's a whole other topic right there.) The question is does Oden really deserve this honor. We can all agree this guy will be a great pro player, and everyone wants him to save their team, but if his name wasn't Greg Oden would he be on this list? The numbers are good, but not amazing. I wouldn't say they're first team All-American good. Maybe the AP voters wanted people to be able to look back on their selections and see some decent pros making the list. I don't know. Morrison, Reddick, Sheldon Williams were all great college players, there is nothing wrong with that. Oden a great college player?
Here's some players who could make an argument to be on this list, in Oden's place or anyone not named Durant and Law, in my opinion.
Nick Fazekas- Nevada, Sr., 20.4 ppg, 11.1 rpg.
Had to be a little steamed being left off the first team list. He did make the second, but playing the WAC couldn't have hurt him as much as you might think. Both Morrison and Dan Dickau from Gonzaga were both first teamers, and even Blake Stepp made a second playing in the WCC. Will Fazekas be a better NBA player than Oden? Please. Fazekas will be lucky to be picked in the 2nd round, but 20 and 11 on an NCAA tournament team, not bad.
Jared Dudley- Boston College, Sr., 19 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3 apg.
ACC player of the year, Dudley led his team into the 2nd round of the tourney despite their best NBA prospect getting kicked of the squad. Dudley did a little of everything, was fun to watch, and put up numbers. Again not sure how his game will translate to the next level, but that's not the point when selecting the All-American team.
Jeff Green- Georgetown, Jr., 14.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.2 apg.
Big East player of the year, Green's NBA stock has gone up and up. Has led his team to both a Big East regular season and tournament title, and they're playing in the Final 4 this weekend. Stats don't do him justice, maybe that's the same thing you can say about Oden, but Green does deserve first team consideration.
Chris Lofton- Tennessee, Jr., 20.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 41.9 3pt %.
Afflalo is better than him? Oden had a better season? Lofton brought his team to the Sweet 16 even with a body painting coach. (I'm a huge fan of Bruce Pearl actually.) When Tennessee beat Texas back in late December, Lofton lit it up with 7 threes and 35 points 11 rebounds. Damn. In a game @ Vandy he went 11 for 15 from the floor including 6-7 threes en route to 29 points. He went for 25-20-24 in their three NCAA tournament games. Big fan of this guy. Just 6'2'' and more of a shooting/scoring guard, but again their NBA potential shouldn't be considered when selecting your All- American team.
For the record the guys I mentioned that did not make the 1st team still were recognized by the AP. Fazekas, Dudley, and Lofton were on the 2nd team. (Joined by Noah and Hansbrough.) While Green got 3rd team honors with Aaron Brooks, Al Thornton, Aaron Gray, and Al Hortford.
My first team All-Americans? Tough choices but I'd have to go with Durant, Law, Lofton, Dudley, Fazekas. You ask 10 people and they might have 10 different combinations. Just another reason college hoops is so great. Final 4 weekend coming up. I had Georgetown winning the whole thing from the beginning so I got to stick with that. Don't think Jeff Green will mind he didn't make the AP's first team if the Hoyas cut the nets down.
-Keefe
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