Entries Tagged 'National news' ↓

Kentucky big man Patrick Patterson was named to The Associated Press pre-season All-American team, the wire service announced Monday.

Other members of the team were Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody, Duke’s Kyle Singler and Kansas teammates Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins.

Florida Coach Billy Donovan will receive the John R. Wooden “Legends of Coaching” Award in 2010, Wooden Award chairman Duke Llewellyn announced on Wednesday, which happened to be Wooden’s 99th birthday.

Donovan will follow such previous award winners as Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Lute Olson, Roy Williams and Denny Crum.

The award winners exemplify Wooden’s coaching success and personal integrity, the award announcement said. The award is based on victories, graduation rate of players and coaching philosophy.

Donovan has compiled a 13-season record at Florida of 310-126. He’s amassed 11 straight 20-victory seasons, plus became the first coach in 15 seasons to win back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007.

The NCAA is considering rule changes that could significantly alter college basketball.

One change is to incorporate a block/charge arc near the basket that the NBA uses to prevent players from simply standing near the hoop in hopes of taking a charge.

Another proposed change would have opposing coaches picking who shoots a free throw if the fouled player is incapacitated.

Here’s the release from the NCAA:

The committee made two significant alterations. After discussing adding a restricted area arc at length, the committee instead decided to define the area under the basket and prohibit a secondary defender from establishing guarding position in that area. In the rules proposal, a secondary defender must establish position outside the area from the front of the rim to the front of the backboard.

“In our surveys and rules forums, the coaches wanted the committee to address the increasing contact that seems to occur under the basket,” said Ed Bilik, secretary-editor of the men’s committee. “Instead of an experimental rule, this clarifies how officials are to call this play throughout the season.”

The men’s committee also approved a proposal dealing with a free throw shooter that is injured. In the proposal, if a student-athlete is fouled (without the foul being flagrant or intentional) and unable to attempt the free throws, the opposing coach will choose the player to attempt the free throws from the four remaining players on the court.

“This rule change is intended to eliminate a team that is fouled from gaining an advantage that it does not deserve,” said Hack. “We believe this is a solid proposal that will not unduly penalize the team that was fouled.”

All potential changes must be forwarded to NCAA schools and the Playing Oversight Panel for consideration before being enacted.

Kentucky’s basketball program was among schools recognized by the NCAA on Wednesday for academic success.

The NCAA announced the programs that finished in the top 10 in each sport for Academic Progress Rate. The APR measures classroom achievement through eligibility standards, retention of athletes and graduation rates.

The time frame involved begins with the 2004-05 school year and runs through 2007-08.

The NCAA requires a APR of 925. The top 10 programs had a APR of anywhere from 976 to a perfect 1000.

Kentucky was not the only traditional basketball power to be listed by the NCAA. Other schools include three of this year’s Final Four participants (North Carolina, Michigan State and Villanova), plus Duke and Kansas.

Here’s the list of the top basketball programs in terms of academic performance:

Not wasting any time, New York Times sportswriter Pete Thamel put Kentuckyin his pre-season top 10 for 2009-10.

“This all depends on which recruits John Calipari lures to Lexington,” Thamel wrote of his No. 5 designation for UK. “If Jodie Meeks and Patrick Pattersonn return, expect a top 10 team.”

Of course, we learned Tuesday that Meeks will test the NBA waters. It would be no surprise if Patterson does the same.

Other teams in Thamel’s pre-season top 10 are, in order: 1. North Carolina, 2. Michigan State, 3. Purdue, 4. Louisville, 6. Wake Forest, 7. Southern California, 8. Syracuse, 9. Xavier and 10. Kansas.

Much will depend on recruiting, transfers and early entries in the NBA (think Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn as well as Meeks and Patterson).

Players from Pittsburgh, Oklahoma and North Carolina were named finalists for the Wooden Player of the Year.

Here’s a listing of the finalists for the men’s and women’s awards.

Men’s 2009 Wooden Award Finalists
Players listed Alphabetically

! Indicates player was 2008 Wooden Award Winner

Women’s 2009 Wooden Award Finalists
Players listed Alphabetically

* Indicates player was a 2008 Wooden Award All American
% Indicates player was a 2007 Wooden Award All American
# Indicates player was a 2006 Wooden Award All American

Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks was named to the NABC State Farm Coaches’ All-America team as announced on Saturday in Detroit at the 2009 Final Four.

Meeks, who has also received All-America honors from the Associated Press (2nd Team), USBWA (2nd Team) and The Sporting News (2nd Team), FoxSports.com (4th Team), lead the SEC and ranks eighth in the country in scoring averaging 23.7 ppg. He set the school record for points in a game (54 at Tennessee) and three-pointers in a season (108) while also shooting 90.2 percent from the free throw line.

In addition, UK head coach John Calipari received the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award, for his work at Memphis this season. Calipari led the Tigers to a 33-4 record and an appearance the Sweet 16.

Memphis’ 33-4 record marks the four-consecutive year Calipari has directed his squad to a 30-win campaign. He is the first coach in NCAA Division I history to have four-straight 30-win seasons.

Neither Jodie Meeks nor Patrick Patterson made the John Wooden All-American team. The 11-man team was announced on Thursday.

Meeks and Patterson led Kentucky this past season. Kentucky played against four of the players this past season.

Here’s that Wooden team:

2008-2009 Wooden Award All American Team

Top 11* players listed alphabetically

! 2008 Wooden Award Winner
# 2008 Wooden All American Team

* 11 players selected due to tie for 10th plac

The United States Basketball Writers Association named its all-district teams on Tuesday. Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks made the all-District IV team, but big man Patrick Patterson did not.

Meeks was named District IV Player of the Year.

A vote of sportswriters in each district decides who makes the team. District IV covers Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

John Calipari of Memphis was named District IV Coach of the Year.

Other members of the all-District IV team were Nick Calathes of Florida, Toney Douglas of Florida State, Tyreke Evans of Memphis, Lester Hudson of UT-Martin, Jack McClinton of Miami, Tyler Smith of Tennessee, Jermaine Taylor of Central Florida, Jarvis Varnado of Mississippi State and Terrence Williams of Louisville.

Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks is a finalist for the Oscar Robertson trophy, which the United States Basketball Writers Association presents to its national Player of the Year. The winner will receive the trophy during the Final Four.

Here are the other finalists: