2011 AP All-America Team

[Mr. McGibblets]

From CBSSports.com

Seniors dominated the Associated Press All-America team for the first time in five years. Brigham Young's Jimmer Fredette, Nolan Smith of Duke and JaJuan Johnson of Purdue, all seniors, were joined on the team by junior Kemba Walker of Connecticut and freshman Jared Sullinger of Ohio State. It's the most seniors since four made the 2006 team.

First Team

Player School Ht Wt Yr Key stats
Jimmer Fredette BYU 6-2 195 Sr. 28.5 ppg, 4.2 apg, 40.4 3-pt fg pct, 89.1 ft pct. (64 first-place votes, 323 points)
Nolan Smith Duke 6-2 185 Sr. 21.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 5.2 apg, 81.6 ft pct. (61, 315)
Jared Sullinger Ohio State 6-9 280 Fr. 17.2 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 53.6 fg pct. (58, 311)
Kemba Walker Connecticut 6-1 172 Jr. 23.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.9 steals, 37.5 minutes (51, 297)
JaJuan Johnson Purdue 6-10 221 Sr. 20.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 81.5 ft pct, 2.3 blocks (44, 277)

Second Team

Player School Ht Wt Yr Key stats
Marcus Morris Kansas 6-9 235 Jr. 17.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 58.7 fg pct. (14, 208)
Derrick Williams Arizona 6-8 241 So. 19.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 61.5 pg pct, 60.3 3-pt fg pct. (16, 205)
Ben Hansbrough Notre Dame 6-3 203 Sr. 18.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.3 apg, 44.1 3-pt fg pct, 81.4 ft pct. (7, 184)
Jordan Taylor Wisconsin 6-1 195 Jr. 18.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.7 apg, 43.3 3-pt fg pct, 84.9 ft pct, 4.2 a/to ratio (2, 122)
Kawhi Leonard San Diego State 6-7 225 So. 15.4 ppg, 10.7 rpg. (2, 107)

Third Team

Player School Ht Wt Yr Key stats
Jordan Hamilton Texas 6-7 220 So. 18.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.1 apg. (1, 84)
Kenneth Faried Morehead State 6-8 228 Sr. 17.6 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 64.4 fg pct, 2.4 blocks, 2.0 steals (2, 72)
Jacob Pullen Kansas State 6-0 200 Sr. 19.5 ppg, 3.7 apg, 1.7 steals. (1, 68)
Tu Holloway Xavier 6-0 185 Jr. 20.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 5.5 apg, 38.4 minutes, 86.9 ft, pct, 1.5 steals (0, 45)
Marshon Brooks Providence 6-5 200 Sr. 24.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.5 steals (1, 32)

Honorable mention

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina; Talor Battle, Penn State; Devon Beitzel, Northern Colorado; Keith Benson, Oakland; Solomon Bozeman, UALR; Alec Burks, Colorado; Gilberto Clavell, Sam Houston State; Norris Cole, Cleveland State; Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech; Austin Freeman, Georgetown.

Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh; Andrew Goudelock, College of Charleston; Justin Greene, Kent State; Dwight Hardy, St. John's; John Holland, Boston U.; Ken Horton, Central Connecticut State; Reggie Jackson, Boston College; Rick Jackson, Syracuse; Charles Jenkins, Hofstra; John Jenkins, Vanderbilt.

Aaron Johnson, UAB; Terrence Jones, Kentucky; Trevele Jones, Texas Southern; Brandon Knight, Kentucky; Jon Leuer, Wisconsin; Mickey McConnell, Saint Mary's; E'Twaun Moore, Purdue; Markieff Morris, Kansas; Mike Muscala, Bucknell; Chandler Parsons, Florida.

C.J. Reed, Bethune-Cookman; Ryan Rossiter, Siena; Jesse Sanders, Liberty; Kyle Singler, Duke; Mike Smith, East Tennessee State; Isaiah Thomas, Washington; Tristan Thompson, Texas; Nikola Vucevic, Southern California; Brad Wanamaker, Pittsburgh; Casper Ware, Long Beach State.

Kyle Weems, Missouri State; Taj Wesley, Utah State; Jordan Williams, Maryland; Isiah Williams, Utah Valley; Keith Wright, Harvard.

 

[Mr. McGibblets]

I wonder if Post-season play factors into these selections.

Additionally, Brey got CBS Sports Coach of the Year.

By Gary Parrish

National Coach of the Year

Winner: Mike Brey (Notre Dame)

Reason: Notre Dame's starting lineup consists of a player who began his career at Mississippi State, a player who began his career at Purdue, two three-star recruits and one two-star recruit. On the surface, that's not the stuff of a Big East power, but Mike Brey has taken this experienced group and turned it into exactly that. The Irish finished the regular season 25-5 and ranked fourth in the Associated Press poll despite receiving zero AP votes in the preseason. They're clearly better than the sum of their parts, which is why Brey edged Purdue's Matt Painter in the voting.

 

[BeauBenken]

I wonder if Post-season play factors into these selections.

There can be no doubt, can there? I don't honestly know though...

 

[Mr. McGibblets]

There can be no doubt, can there? I don't honestly know though...

I would have assumed so too, but questioning Derrick Williams on the 2nd Team.

 

[IrishLax]

I would have assumed so too, but questioning Derrick Williams on the 2nd Team.

Yeah, I've heard it doesn't, but does look at conference tournies. Bottom line is Kemba Walker dominated every time he was on a national stage (Maui and MSG) whereas Williams plays on the west coast. This is all just a popularity contest.

What I will say is that Kemba Walker, for what he did at the beginning of the season when the pieces around him sucked AND what he did in 5 games in 5 days, should be the overall POY. Weird to say that when he wasn't even a unanimous BE 1st teamer and Ben Hansbrough really did kick his butt throughout the course of BE play, but when you compare him to Nolan Smith, Jimmer Ferdette, JaJuan Johnson and Jared Sullinger it's not even close... except maybe with Jimmer.

Nolan Smith was second fiddle to Kyrie Irving when it came crunch time. And had tons of talent around him. And is just a plain-old above average point guard.
JaJuan Johnson... pretty good player but what did he really accomplish besides a good stat line? His team actually played better and got its only quality wins when he had off games (seriously, go look at his stat line from when he beat Ohio St.)
Jared Sullinger? A very overrated frosh with a great supporting cast. Benefited from a lot of good senior play around him. No way this guy was the best or most important player in the NCAAs.

Jimmer... well, Jimmer carried an otherwise pretty untalented team to a #3 seed and was huge in their two big time wins over SDSU in the regular season. You've got to give it to Jimmer or Kemba... but one guy is still playing, plays a more complete game (see: actually defends, rebounds and hustles) and refuse to be denied whenever there is a championship of some sort on the line. My POY is Kemba... even if he has had as many choke moments and bad shooting nights to cost his team the game as he has had glorious moments... his glory comes when it matters most.

 

[Ironman8]

I'm a die hard Providence fan but even I don't think Marshon deserved 3rd team over Goudelock, Hardy, and Knight.

 

[Freeman Ara]

Yeah, I've heard it doesn't, but does look at conference tournies. Bottom line is Kemba Walker dominated every time he was on a national stage (Maui and MSG) whereas Williams plays on the west coast. This is all just a popularity contest.

What I will say is that Kemba Walker, for what he did at the beginning of the season when the pieces around him sucked AND what he did in 5 games in 5 days, should be the overall POY. Weird to say that when he wasn't even a unanimous BE 1st teamer and Ben Hansbrough really did kick his butt throughout the course of BE play, but when you compare him to Nolan Smith, Jimmer Ferdette, JaJuan Johnson and Jared Sullinger it's not even close... except maybe with Jimmer.

Nolan Smith was second fiddle to Kyrie Irving when it came crunch time. And had tons of talent around him. And is just a plain-old above average point guard.
JaJuan Johnson... pretty good player but what did he really accomplish besides a good stat line? His team actually played better and got its only quality wins when he had off games (seriously, go look at his stat line from when he beat Ohio St.)
Jared Sullinger? A very overrated frosh with a great supporting cast. Benefited from a lot of good senior play around him. No way this guy was the best or most important player in the NCAAs.

Jimmer... well, Jimmer carried an otherwise pretty untalented team to a #3 seed and was huge in their two big time wins over SDSU in the regular season. You've got to give it to Jimmer or Kemba... but one guy is still playing, plays a more complete game (see: actually defends, rebounds and hustles) and refuse to be denied whenever there is a championship of some sort on the line. My POY is Kemba... even if he has had as many choke moments and bad shooting nights to cost his team the game as he has had glorious moments... his glory comes when it matters most.

I'm not saying that K. Walker doesn't deserve player of the year, what he has done for the last 9 games is pretty incredible.

But to say that Nolan Smith was second fiddle to Irving, when Irving played all of 11 games this season, is pretty weak. Add in the fact that Smith basically carried that team to an ACC Tournament title and a 1 seed and led the ACC in scoring he easily belongs in the conversation. Smith is the player that made Dook go this year once Irving went down, without him they likely don't get in the NCAA tourney. Never thought I would defend a Dook guy....

 

[IrishLax]

I'm not saying that K. Walker doesn't deserve player of the year, what he has done for the last 9 games is pretty incredible.

But to say that Nolan Smith was second fiddle to Irving, when Irving played all of 11 games this season, is pretty weak. Add in the fact that Smith basically carried that team to an ACC Tournament title and a 1 seed and led the ACC in scoring he easily belongs in the conversation. Smith is the player that made Dook go this year once Irving went down, without him they likely don't get in the NCAA tourney. Never thought I would defend a Dook guy....

Just said he played second fiddle in crunch time (aka the Arizona game). He had a great regular season but he clearly wasn't the best player on his team at his position when everyone is healthy... then again neither was Golden Tate and he won the Biletnekoff (sp?)... so who knows.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

If Brad Stevens doesn't win coach of the year every award in the world is invalid forever. Your move, NCAA.

 

[IrishLax]

If Brad Stevens doesn't win coach of the year every award in the world is invalid forever. Your move, NCAA.

By that logic you're considering post-season play. In which case I give it to Shaka Smart 10/10 times.

 

[InKellyITrust]

If Brad Stevens doesn't win coach of the year every award in the world is invalid forever. Your move, NCAA.

Don't see how he'd win it. Painter, Matta, Brey, etc.

 

[BeauBenken]

Don't see how he'd win it. Painter, Matta, Brey, etc.

Matta? I don't think Ohio State's success can necessarily be considered surprising...Coach of the Year goes to the guy who did the most with the least. And as for Shaka Smart getting it...idk, he has a few pretty legit guys (not saying his team's run isn't incredible) but he arguably has better players than Brad Stevens who has done as much (and if including last year, more).

 

[NCDomer]

Matta? I don't think Ohio State's success can necessarily be considered surprising...Coach of the Year goes to the guy who did the most with the least. And as for Shaka Smart getting it...idk, he has a few pretty legit guys (not saying his team's run isn't incredible) but he arguably has better players than Brad Stevens who has done as much (and if including last year, more).

Brad Stevens is doing it largely with the same group of players who went to the Championship game last year. Howard and Mack were their 2nd and 3rd best players on the team. Retaining your star PG is usually more important than a F. Butler's recruits tend to be

That's not saying VCU doesn't have some players. Skeen transferred from Wake Forest and Scout had him listed at the 15th best PF recruit. He's also basically a 5th year senior because he sat out a year from transferring.

Both teams largely land 2- and 3-star recruits. So it's kind of a wash.