European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 29, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday March 29 2007 stars and stripes Page 31 Durant Oden Lead Al America i Wisconsin Tucker Law Duclas Afflalo also on first team by Jim Connell the associated press if Kevin Durant and Greg Oden play Only one season of College basketball it will have been As Al americans the freshmen were voted to the associated press Al America team monday the first members of their class so honoured since 1990 the 6foot9 Durant who led Texas to the big 12 title game was a unanimous Choice of the 72member National Media panel that selects the weekly top 25 Oden the 7footer who helped Ohio state to its first no 1 ranking in 45 years was joined on the team by seniors Alando Tucker of wis Consin and Acie Law in of Texas and Junior Arron Afflalo of Urcla the voting was conducted before the Mcaa tournament since freshmen became eligible to play in 1972 the Only ones selected to the first team had been Wayman Tisdale of Oklahoma in 1983 and Chris Jackson of leu in 1990 Durant the first Texas Al american since to Ford in 2003 averaged 256 Points and 113 rebounds but it was his Allaround game and penchant for big shots in the clutch that had people ranking him As one of the Best freshmen Ever theres no question Kevin deserves every individual accolade that he will receive Texas coach Rick Barnes said but the one thing i respect most about Kevin is that he is the ultimate team player he really Doest care about the individual numbers and awards All he cares about is the Success of his team when youre around a Guy like that it makes coaching him a Joy Durant the big 12 player of the year backed up his coach sentiments i am not very big on individual honors but i am very humbled to be included on the associated press Al America team he said when you look at the other four Guys who Are on the team i am honoured to be mentioned with them i have so much respect for How each one of them has led their respective teams and handled themselves both on and off the court i look up to each one of them Oden the first Ohio state Al american since Jim Jackson in 1992 missed the first seven games As he recovered from of season surgery on his right wrist As he rehabilitated from the injury he Learned to shoot free throws left handed and didst miss a beat when he returned to the buckeyes averaging 155 Points 97 rebounds and 35 blocks while shooting 614 percent from the Field in very surprised Oden said of being selected just with How things went i didst re ally play a whole season and i know there Are a lot of other Guys with better numbers than me in just surprised but in honoured and the Best i can do is keep on playing his buckeyes face Georgetown on saturday in the final four to Russell Durant and David j Kevin Durant left of Texas a unanimous Choice and fellow freshman Greg Oden of Ohio state were selected monday to the associated Al american first team their selections Dou bled the number of freshman first Eamen since freshmen became eligible in 1972 Oden had a Quick answer when asked about his Success and that of Durant in their first season its just younger Guys coming in and just playing basketball not worried about age or anything he said both played in College in Large part because of the new Rule that prohibits the Aba from drafting players until they turn 19 and Are out of High school for one year in not sold that the Rule is right or wrong but i think it shows you the Impact and the in flux of How Many great players Are out there Ohio state coach Thad Matta said i think that Why theres so much parity nowadays in College basketball Tucker and Law were Wisconsin and Texas first Al America selections while Afflalo was Duclas first since de Obannon in 1995 the 66 Tucker the big ten player of the year who helped the badgers to their first no 1 ranking averaged 199 Points and 54 re Bounds Law led the aggie resurgence from an 016 big 12 record in 200304 to this season when they ranked As High As sixth in the coun try the 63 guard averaged 179 Points and 53 assists while shooting 51 percent it Doest get any bigger than that As far As individual accolades he said your team can do More but firs team a Al american that unbelievable in very excited and Happy Afflalo submitted his name to the Aba draft last season after leading the Bruins into the National championship game but returned and averaged 167 Points and was selected pac10 player of the year first and Foremost team goals Are always most important but when it comes to the Al America team its a positive thing Afflalo said it shows that other people who know the game of basketball understand my contributions and importance to my team Durant 72 firs team votes gave him 360 Points Tucker received 64 firs team votes and 344 Points followed by Law 59 320 Afflalo and Oden the second team consists of seniors Nick Fazekas of Nevada and Jared Dudley of bos ton College juniors Chris Lofton of Tennessee and Joakim Noah of Florida and Sophomore Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina the third team has seniors Aaron Brooks of Oregon Al Thornton of Florida state and Aaron Gray of Pittsburgh and juniors Jeff Green of Georgetown and Al Hor Ford of Florida the preseason Al America team was Hans Brough Noah Ronald Steele of Alabama Glen Davis of leu and Brandon Rush of Kan Sas last years first team was Ujj re Dickof Duke and Adam Morrison of Gonzaga both unanimous selections Shelden Williams of Duke Randy Foye of Villanova and Brandon Roy of Washington opening round March 13 Niagara 77 Florida 69 East regional first round March 1516 Boston College 84 Texas tech 75 Georgetown 80 Belmont 55 Michigan state 61 Marquette 49 North Carolina 86 Eastern Kentucky 65 Washington state 70 Oral Roberts 54 Vanderbilt 77 George Washington 44 Texas 79 new Mexico state 67 Southern California 77 Arkansas 60 second round March 1718 Georgetown 62 Boston College 55 North Carolina 81 Michigan state 67 Vanderbilt 78 Washington state 7420t Southern California 87 Texas 68 regional semifinals March 23 Georgetown 66 Vanderbilt 65 North Carolina 74 Southern California 64 regional championship March 25 Georgetown 96 North Carolina 84 of South regional first round March 1516 Louisville 78 Stanford 58 Texas 68 Pennsylvania 52 Ohio state 78 Central Conn state 57 Xavier 79 Brigham Young 77 Virginia 84 Albany by 57 Tennessee 121 Long Beach state 86 Memphis 73 North Texas 58 Nevada 77 Creighton 71 of second round March 1718 Ohio state 78 Xavier 71 of Texas 72 Louisville 69 Tennessee 77 Virginia 74 Memphis 78 Nevada 62 regional semifinals March 22 Memphis 65 Texas 64 Ohio state 85 Tennessee 84 regional championship Ohio state 92 Memphis 76 Midwest regional first round March 1516 Maryland 82 Davidson 70 Butler 57 old Dominion 46 univ 67 Georgia tech 63 Wisconsin 76 Texas 63 Winthrop 74 notre Dame 64 Oregon 58 Miami Ohio 56 Purdue 72 Arizona 63 Florida 112 Jackson state 69 second round March 1718 Butler 62 Maryland 59 univ 74 Wisconsin 68 Oregon 75 Winthrop 61 Florida 74 Purdue 67 regional semifinals March 23 Florida 65 Butler 57 Oregon 76 univ 72 regional championship March 25 Florida 85 Oregon 77 West regional first round March 1516 Virginia Commonwealth 79 Duke 77 Pittsburgh 79 Wright state 58 Urcla 70 Weber state 42 Indiana 70 Gonzaga 57 Kansas 107 Niagara 67 Kentucky 67 Villanova 58 Virginia tech 54 Illinois 52 Southern Illinois 61 holy Cross 51 second round March 1718 Pittsburgh 84 a Commonwealth 79 of Urcla 54 Indiana 49 Southern Illinois 63 Virginia tech 48 Kansas 88 Kentucky 76 regional semifinals March 22 Kansas 61 Southern Illinois 58 Urcla 64 Pittsburgh 55 regional championship March 24 Urcla 68 Kansas 55 final four at Atlanta National semifinals saturday March 31 Ohio state 343 is Georgetown 306 Florida 335 is Urcla 305 National championship monday april 2 Ness on the 2007 Edge up to exclusive ends hurry in to Exchange new car sales to take advantage of thes offer ends Ait current As of print Date and Art subject to change without notice All Illust Wions and specifications Are to the Best of  publication they Are sub Jeff to Changnon wite by the manufacturer and the Laws and regulations of any Federal state or local government Agency vehicles shown Are for illustration Only and May contain optional equipment available at additional Cost All programs and guarantees Are subject to terms and conditions visit Wowen Iscom a see your sales express or imply endorsement by the Doo components a me Federal government and k not sponsored by them f Wowen Iscom