European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 10, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 22 the stars and stripes Friday april 10,1992college bask Etbel laettner voted wooden award los Angeles a Christian laettner completed a sweep of College basketball a major awards on wednesday when he was honoured As Winner of the 16th annual John r. Wooden award. Laettner appeared at a press conference at the los Angeles athletic club to accept the award less than 48 hours after scoring 19 Points to Lead Duke to a 71-51 Victory Over Michigan in the Mcaa championship game at the metronome. Laettner a 6-foot-ll senior also recently received the Adolph f. Rupp trophy the award named Tor the late University of Kentucky coach As associated press player of the year and the Naismith award named for the inventor of basketball. Laettner easily beat Shaquille of Neal of Louisiana state in the nationwide voting of 984 sports writers and broadcasters for the wooden award receiving 4,560 Points to 3,964 for of Neal a Junior who entered the Aba draft last week. Quot its something that goes along with being on a great team for four years a laettner said of the wooden award. A definitely the most meaningful thing is the championship. But awards Are very Nice. They re something that come about because of your Ohio state Junior Jimmy Jackson finished third with 3,381 Points followed by Southern Cal. Junior Harold Miner with 2,916 and Georgetown senior Alonzo mourning with 2,710. Laettner averaged 21.9 Points and 7.9 rebounds while making 57.8 percent of his Field goal attempts this season. Laettner is the first player from Duke to win the award. In Lvi a Larry Johnson was the Winner last year. Among other past winners Are Larry Bird Michael Jordan Chris Mullen Ana David Robinson. Christian laettner won the John wooden award on wednesday his fourth Mjor award. Villanova interviews Penn state s Parkhill by the associated press Villanova a. Penn state basketball coach Bruce Parkhill a scheduled interview thursday was the first for at least four candidates to replace Rollie Massimino As Villanova a head coach. The others Are Mike Jarvis of George Washington Nick Macarchuk of Fordham and Steve Lap Pas of Manhattan. Mass coach gets raise Amherst mass. A John Calipari was Given a hefty raise wednesday along with another four year contract to coach Massachusetts. Knights son suspended Bloomington ind. Pat Knight Redshirt Sophomore son of coach Bob Knight was kicked off the Indiana team after being arrested on Public intoxication and disorderly conduct charges. Knight was dropped from the team wednesday night his father said. Brown says of Neal exaggerates new Orleans Louisiana state basketball coach Dale Brown denies reports that he said Shaquille of Neal had been offered a $100 million shoe endorsement contract. Brown said wednesday he was Quot totally speechless Quot when he first heard that of Neal a father army sgt. Phillip Harrison had accused him of lying about of Neal a business dealings. Quot i told someone that Shaquille probably would get several million spread Over several years but i did not say he had a contract or an offer Quot the times Picayune quoted has the tools to make it three straight by Gene Wojciehowski los Angeles times Only eight More months until Michigan travels to Duke for yet another try at the Blue devils. Until then we can Ponder 1. Did the Best team win the National College basketball championship monday evening Well lets see Forward Brian Davis Dukes Best defender and perhaps its inspirational Center played on one ankle lasted nine minutes and did no to score a Point or grab a rebound. Christian Zettner committed seven turnovers and missed 6 of 8 shots in the first half. The Blue devils had 12 turnovers in the first 20 minutes and trailed at intermission 31-30. And still Duke Defeated the wolverines by 20 Points. You Only get so Many chances to beat the Blue devils. Michigan had its Opportunity with Davis Hurt laettner struggling and Duke in apparent Early trouble. But the wolverines allowed Duke a second life. They never exploited Davis absence. They could t Cope with the Blue devils defense. They keep the pressure on laettner. And they never commentary could figure out a Way to guard Grant Hill our personal Choice As final four outstanding player a Point guard Bobby Hurley won the award a or protect the Baseline. In Short the Wolverine starting five played like freshmen which is of since Well they Are freshmen 2. Is there life after laettner by beating Indiana the supposed Chic Ere Toum Ament pick in the semifinal it Uke provided doubters with a revealing glimpse of what can be done without laettner. Laettner scored Only eight Points against the hoosiers but it did no to seem to matter. Then the Blue devils beat Michigan on a night that laettner had the worst first half performance of his season. As for laettner a replacement Cherokee Parks the news is encouraging. So thoroughly intimidated and unnerved by laettner in practice through the first 15 games or so Parks recovered in time to earn the Trust of coach Mike Krzyzewski when it mattered most a in the tournament. Parks played 13 Quality minutes against Michigan and did Well a four Points three rebounds and decent defense against the likes of Chris Webber and Juwan Howard. Against Indiana he had eight Points in nine minutes. Parks does no to have laettner a versatility outside shooting touch or degree of intensity a who does a but he could develop into a better Low Post player. 3. Can Duke win a third consecutive National championship Only if laettner decides to forgo the Aba draft returns to Duke for graduate studies and is granted a fifth year of eligibility by the Mcaa. On second thought. Hurley whose Duke Jersey will one Day be retired returns for his senior season. So does swing Man Thomas Hill one of the underrated players in the game. Grant Hill who has two Mcaa titles in two years is Back As a Junior As is Forward Antonio Lang. That a four 1991-92 starters a if you include Grant Hill a and Parks who no doubt will find a regular place in the Duke lineup. And poor Krzyzewski probably wont have his pick of More than 25 of the Best remaining High school seniors in the country when it comes to recruiting. 4. What is Michigan a Fate not to worry. The wolverines Are looking peachy keen. In fact a few predictions it a by the end of the 1992-93 season you will knowingly say Quot a Jimmy King. I knew he was going to be a Star Quot you will say this because you noticed he was the Only Wolverine who played the entire 40 minutes against Duke. You will also remember that Hurley later said he was exhausted after being guarded by King. You will also recall his game against Cincinnati in the semifinal when he scored 17 Points and added five rebounds. At the moment Michigan a pecking order begins with Webber goes next to Jalen Rose then to Juwan Howard and then to everyone else. By this time next season King will be in the top three. A Webber a devastating Talent when positioned near the Basket will at last realize the need to occasionally shoot a jump shot. If nothing else it will keep teams from surrounding him with defenders. A the wolverines will return to the final four next year
