European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 1, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 42 stars a no stripes sunday april 1 2007 freshmen sweep a postseason awards Texas Durant is player of the year Zazzu Rookie Bennett is Best coach Jim Oconnell the associated press Atlanta a couple of Rook ies swept the National College basketball awards freshman Kevin Durant of Texas and firs year coach Tony Bennett of Washington state were named player and coach of the year Friday by the associated press Durant the smooth 6foot9 swing Man who finished fourth in the country in scoring and rebounding is the first freshman to win the award since it was created in 1961 Bennett who succeeded his father at Washington state for his first head coaching Job led the cougars to a 268 record match ing the most victories in school history and to their first Mcaa tournament bid since 1994 i just Hope in paving the Way for other freshmen to let them know you can Durant said Durant was a unanimous pick for the a Al America team and he and Ohio state Center Greg Oden were just the third and fourth freshmen to be selected firs team Durant the big 12 player and freshman of the year shot 47 per cent from the Field 40 percent from three Point Range and 82 percent from the free throw line he averaged 36 minutes per game and also led the longhorns in steals and blocked shots he had 20 double doubles and scored at least 30 Points a big 12record 11 times Durant received All but two votes for player of the year from the 72member National Media panel the 37yearold Bennett laughed when asked what it meant to be selected coach of the year after his first season in that Ochoa in prime position for run at Lygas no 1 ranking the associated press Rancho Mirage Calif Lorena Ochoa took her first step toward overtaking Annika Soren Stam at no 1 in the world even though her putting want up to her standards Ochoa hit it close enough thursday in the Kraft Nabisco championship to make five birdies and open with a 3under 69 in Tough conditions leaving her one shot behind Shi Hyun Ahn in the first major of the year the 25yearold mexican Star needs a Victory this week to be come no 1 unlike a year ago when Ochoa tied an Lyga major record with a 62 at Mission Hills the greens were too firm and the rough too thick to allow for that kind of scor ing and As hard As she tried de fending Karrie Webb re peat her 18th Hole magic Webb holed a pitching wedge from 116 Yards for Eagle on the final Hole of the fourth round last year to make up a seven shot Defi Cit eventually beating Ochoa in a playoff she was Only 82 Yards away thursday hit a full Sand wedge that Rode the slope and flirted with going into the Hole it stopped a few inches away Webb feigned disgust slam Ming her Sand wedge to the turf with a smile on her face the Tapin Birdie gave her a 70 put Ting her in a group that included Maria Hjorth and Catriona mat thew Morenstam meanwhile struggled even after finishing with a Birdie she jammed her Putter into the bag with disgust then stood be Hind the ninth Green with hands on her hips after her worst Start in a major in seven years she opened with a 3over 75 a score that could have been higher if not for a few Par saves pea tour Stuart Appleby was Back on top in the Houston open at Humble Texas with the same first round score that propelled him to a six shot Victory last year the australian shot a 6under 66 for a share of the Lead with Kevin Sutherland and Rookie Johnson Wagner like Appleby they teed off in the morning be fore Gusty wind kicked up and made the tournament course at Redstone More challenging texans Justin Leonard Jeff Maggert and Bob Estes were in a group of six players one shot Back after 67s Estes had the lowest round of the afternoon starters Appleby Hast won since hous ton last year and has Only one top30 finish in seven starts in 2007 european tour England Ross Mcgowan shot his second straight 3under 68 on Friday to move into the Lead in the Estoril open at Cascais Portugal Mcgowan had four birdies in the second round and is at 136 fellow englishman Nick Dougherty had a 69 and is two strokes Back of Mcgowan England Benn Barnham was at 3under 139 with scotsman Stephen Gallacher Frenchman Raphael Alexander Noren of Sweden and Graeme storm of England defending Champion Paul Broadhurst followed his first round 69 with an even Par 71 and is tied for fourth first round Leader Simon Dyson of England had a 74 in the second round and trailed Mcgow an by five a College basketball coach of the year Bennett takes top coaching Honor Tony Bennett who Ted Washington state to Only their fifth tournament appearance in school history was named the associated in College basketball coach of the year season highlight led cougars to their Best season in 60 years 268 coach team votes Billy Gillispie Texas 10 Thad Matta Ortto state 10 to Ryan Wisconsin 7 1 Ernie Kent Oregon 1 Todd Lickliter Butler 1 John Thompson in Georgetown i position what do you do from Here he asked having grown up with a father who was a coach and spending my life in this game i know How fleeting things can be so i will enjoy this and remember that it is a privilege to the cougars who were picked ninth or 10th in pac10 preseason polls finished second to Urcla in the conference and lost in the Sec Ond round of the Mcaa Tournai a ment it was the fifth tournament appearance in school history the cougars reached As High As ninth in the rankings this sea son and were 13th in the final poll Bennett is the second coach to win the award after his first sea son As a head coach joining Bill Hodges of Indiana state in 1979 the award was first presented in 1967 when they picked Kevin for a player of the year setting the bar Texas longhorns Forward Kevin Durant became the first freshman to be selected As the associated press College basketball player of the year Durant average per game 200607 pts Reb ast Fig it 473 816 player votes Durant 70 2 season highlights big 12 player of the year fourth in the country in scoring and rebounding led longhorns in steals and blocked shots of scored 30 Points 11 times a big 12 record source Mcaa a the award maybe they Felt sorry for me and decided to give it to an other Bennett said it is such a tremendous Honor to win this with so Many Guys who Are deserving of it and to share this with another firs year Guy is earn a free online or classroom 100 funding of net4 Reber optic Muse is acc classes worldwide or ext 260 or 220 voucher toward the Purchase of a computer subscriber appreciation Coupon just hand this form to your Carrier before april 10 2007 to enjoy immediate savings Nam email delivery address Billing address prepay save up to payment options Check one 3 month save 6 month save 12 month save your Carrier is an Independent business person please Reward Good service of base delivery charges May apply Dod and sofa Home delivery Only your Hometown newspaper signature total i
