8B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY MARCH 29 2007
》 NCAA TOURNAMEN1
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Big men, like Georgetowns Roy Hibbert, center, are likely to be key in the Final Four this weekend. In one national semifinal Saturday night, Hibbert will match on against Ohio's All-American Geno Green.
Final Four features big men
BY MARK LONG ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Final Four is big, really big,
this year.
With Ohio State's Greg Oden, Georgetown's Roy Hibbert and Floridas loakim Noah and Al Horton convening in Atlanta this weekend, college basketball's signature event has become a showcase for the country's best big men.
It could result in more post action at the Final Four than anyone has seen since Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olaiuwon shared the stage in 1984.
"I think it's going to get the game back to where it used to be in having that low-post threat." Ohio State coach Thad Matta said Wednesday. "The size of the guys (in this Final Four) is truly amazing."
Florida (33-5) has made the most of its size advantage the last two seasons. Noah and Horford helped the defending national champions win 16 consecutive postseason games and advance to Saturday's semifinal
game against UCLA — a rematch of last year's title game.
Although the Bruins (30-5) boast two of the best big men in the history of college basketball — Kareem Abdul-labbar and Bill Walton — they are considered undersized in this year's Final Four.
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is the team's top post player, but at 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, he's petite compared to Oden, Hibbert, Noah and Horford.
"We are by far the smallest team in this Final Four," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "But I think it's great to see the big man in college basketball."
Noah and Horford outwork most opponents down low, getting easy buckets and creating open shots for everyone around them.
The Florida duo came up huge in last year's title game against UCLA, finishing with a combined 30 points, 16 rebounds and eight blocks.
Noah, a 6-11 forward and the son of tennis star Yannick Noah, was the catalyst for the team's title run
in 2006, blocking a tournament record 29 shots.
He probably could have been the No.1 pick in last year's NBA draft, but decided to return in hopes Florida would become the first team since Duke in 1992 to repeat as national champions.
Horford came back, too. The 6-10 center and son of former NBA player Tito Horford has improved his game significantly, developing post moves and an outside jumper — making himself Florida's No. 1 player to try to defend.
Ohio State's top threat also happens to be a center.
Oden, a 7-foot freshman sensation; propelled the Buckeyes (34-3) into Saturday's seminal match against Georgetown (30-6).
He blocked the final shot against Tennessee in the regional semifinals to secure an 85-84 victory, then had 17 points and nine rebounds in only 24 minutes against Memphis to lift Ohio State to a spot in the Final Four.
SPECTACULAR SUMMER SESSIONS
CHOOSE FROM MORE THAN THAN 300 SUMMER COURSES
Oden has proven he's ready for the next level and even said last week that "everything is easy about college." He's averaging 15.4 points and 9.5 rebounds. He's shooting 61 percent from the field and has 100 blocked shots.
》 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Hibbert could prove to be a challenge for Oden.
The 7-2 junior has played well in the tournament, averaging 13 points and 11.5 rebounds. He also has 11 blocked shots, nine assists and just four turnovers.
"I think we'll see Saturday how they match up." Georgetown coach John Thompson III said. "I think they're both very good players and something that people are talking about because it's not too often you have two low-post centers going against each other, particularly this late in the tournament."
All-America team announced Team selection fulfills Oklahoma player's childhood goal
BY DOUG FEINBERG ASSOCIATED PRESS
www.washburn.edu/schedule/summer
Courtney Paris has been the model of consistency in her college career. It's something she learned growing up.
"Ever since eighth grade, I was always annoyed when a girl would score five points one game and then 20 the next," Paris said. "I always wanted to be consistent, so when I got to Oklahoma, I considered it my job."
The Oklahoma center has done just that, racking up 61 straight games with double figure scoring and rebounding and becoming the first player selected her first two years for The Associated Press All-America team in women's basketball.
"It's a big honor to me," said Paris, the 6-foot-4 daughter of former NFL lineman Bubba Paris. "I'm really excited. When you're younger you dream of getting to college and becoming an All-American. To know people voted you in is really special."
North Carolina senior Ivory Latta also was a first-team repeater from last year.
"It definitely a tremendous honor to be a part of the All-America team again this season," Latta said. "To be considered among the best players in the nation is an exciting privilege, and I'm glad I have been able represent my team and my school well."
a perfect 29-0 record in the regular season, and Ohio State senior Jessica Davenport.
Also chosen were Tennessee sophomore Candace Parker, who was a second team selection last season; Duke senior Lindsey Harding, who helped lead the Blue Devils to
"I wouldn't want to play against them," Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said. "Across the spectrum you got your guards, a swing, your posts, that team would be fantastic."
Tommy Deas in Tuscaloosa, Ala,
was the lone voter not to select the
Tennessee star.
"It's a huge honor," Parker said. "I wouldn't be where I am right now without my tremendous teammates."
Paris had 46 first-team votes and
242 points, while Harding had 44 and
234. Latta 38 and 218 and Davenport
20 and 188.
"She is a very good player and was one of several I considered for first team," Deas said. "I chose by position and although she is very versatile, I couldn't pick her."
"It's a goal I've always had from day one, of being an All-American and making that team," Harding said. "I've worked so hard to get there."
Harding's college career ended when she missed two free throws last Saturday with 0.1 seconds left with Duke trailing Rutgers by a point in the Greensboro Regional semifinals. Her coach quickly put into perspective the impact of her star guard.
"She's carried us all year long," Blue Devils coach Gail Goostenkens said. "I've watched her grow as a player, she deserves every award. She
was a consummate leader for us and I know she'll use the misses as motivation."
Parker, who played on the U.S. team that won a bronze medal last year at the world championships, will be joined in the national pool by Harding, Davenport and Paris.
"It bodes well for the USA," said Goenkesten, an assistant on the national team. "We're really trying to prepare these young players so we can get them ready."
The four players will spend time in Italy in April when the U.S. team heads there for a training trip.
"It's going to be a great experience," Harding said. "It's going to be a huge wake-up call from college to the next level. I'm playing with some of the most experienced players and coaches. I'm going to be a sponge. I have a lot to learn."
Maryland's Crystal Langhorne led a trio of juniors on the second team, along with Stanford's Candice Wiggins and LSU's Sylvia Fowles. Middle Tennessee senior Chrissy Givens and Louisville sophomore Angel McCoughtry rounded out the second team.
The third team included Purdue's Katie Gearlds, North Carolina's Erlana Larkins, Duke's Alison Bales, Mississippi's Arminite Price and Georgia's Tasha Humphrey.
The preseason All-America team was Paris, Parker, Latta, Wiggins and Langhorne.
Joining Paris and Latta on last year's first team was Seimone Augustus of LSU — a unanimous selection, Cappie Pondexeter of Rutgers and Sophia Young of Baylor.
Parker
Paris
ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Harding
Davenport
MLB
SURPRISE. Ariz. — David Wells was sharp in his final spring training outing, but Gil Meche was not.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wells, who was making his fourth San Diego start, limited the Kansas City Royals to two runs and six hits over six innings in the Padres' 7-6 victory Wednesday. He walked none and struck out three.
Latta
Mche, signed by the Royals to a five year, $55 million contract in the offseason, was rouged up in his final appearance before his opening day start on Monday against the Red Sox. Meche allowed seven runs on 10 hits and two walks, while walking three in taking the loss.
Wells, who gave up seven runs on
Royals lose last preseason game to Padres
"I'm ready," Wells said. "I've never been big on a lot of innings in spring training. I basically know what it takes to get ready."
Russell Branyan hit two home runs, including a three-run shot in the fifth, and drove in four runs off Meche. In his past two games, Branyan has four home runs and nine RBIs.
10 hits in three innings in his previous start against the Chicago White Sox, has pitched just 13 2-3 innings in March.
"I think he was having trouble getting his fastball down," Royals manager Buddy Bell said of Meche. "I think he's ready to go and that's the main thing. He has good stuff, but at times he was a little erratic with his
Mark Grudzielanek started at second base for his first major league action since having arthropocious surgery on his left knee March 5. He played the previous two days in Royals minor leagues games, going 0-for-3 with two assists in five innings.
Marcus Giles and Brian Giles each went 2-for-3 for the Padres. Mike Sweeney went 2-for-3 for the Royals with a double, while Ross Gload went 2-for-2 with an RBI and scored a run.
Bell said Gload, who is hitting 392, would start in left field for the season opener, instead of Emil Brown, who led the club in RBIs the past two years.
command."