The regular season is over, conference tournaments are upon us and the NCAA Tournament bracket is going to be unveiled to the world on March 16.
So, is there a better time than now to reveal my Scout.com All-American choices?
I didn’t think so.
Here are my five, five-player teams. Each team is made up of two posts, two wings and a point guard (in that order).
I’ll hold off on picking a National Player of the Year until after the national champion has been crowned.
The race is too close to call right now . . .
Frank Burlison’s
2007-08 All-Americans
FIRST TEAM
Michael Beasley (6-9, Fr., Kansas State)
His stats: 26.5 points/12.5 rebounds/1.2 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game/.537 FG
Frank says: He’s had the greatest regular-season ever by a college freshman. What else more needs to be written?
Tyler Hansbrough (6-9, Jr., North Carolina)
His stats: 23.1 points/10.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game/.543 FG
Frank says: Could lead the Tar Heels to overall No. 1 seed.
Shan Foster (6-6, Sr., Vanderbilt)
His stats: 20.6 points/4.9 rebounds/1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game/.525 FG
Frank says: The Senior of the Year.
Chris Douglas-Roberts (6-6, Jr., Memphis)
His stats: 17.3 points/4.3 rebounds/1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game/.547
Frank says: Wants something beyond a third consecutive Elite Eight appearance.
D.J. Augustin (6-0, So., Texas)
His stats: 19.8 points/2.9 rebounds/5.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game/.447 FG
Frank says: Gets the first team, but barely, over Douglas-Roberts’ freshman teammate.
SECOND TEAM
Luke Harangody (6-8, So., Notre Dame)
His stats: 21.0 points/10.3 rebounds/1.8 assists/.517 FG
Frank says: Who could have seen this kind of sophomore season coming from him?
Kevin Love (6-9, Fr., UCLA)
His stats: 17.4 points/10.9 rebounds/1.8 assists and 1.1 blocks per game/.570 FG
Frank says: It was made official Monday – he’s the Pac-10’s Player of the Year.
Jamont Gordon (6-4, Jr., Mississippi State)
His stats: 17.5 points/6.3 rebounds/4.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game/.428 FG
Frank says: One of the more under-appreciated players in the country.
Brandon Rush (6-6, Jr., Kansas)
His stats: 12.3 points/5.0 rebounds/2.1 assists and 1.0 steals per game/.413 FG
Frank says: Extremely unselfish and has bounced back nicely from ACL tear last spring.
Derrick Rose (6-3, Fr., Memphis)
His stats: 14.1 points/4.2 rebounds/4.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game/.468 FG
Frank says: Without the fellow from Kansas State around, he and Love would be in a tight battle for Freshman of the Year honors.
THIRD TEAM
His stats: 13.6 points/6.4 rebounds/2.0 assists and 2.4 blocked shots per game/.600 FG
Frank says: His impact on the outcome of a game is a lot more impressive than are his numbers.
D.J. White (6-9, Jr., Indiana)
His stats: 17.1 points/10.3 rebounds/and 1.6 blocked shots per game/.610 FG
Frank says: Even with the nearly season-long turmoil in Bloomington, White has been the best player in the Big Ten since November.
Stephen Curry (6-1, So., Davidson)
His stats: 25.2 points/4.7 rebounds/2.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game/.487 FG
Frank says: He could lead team to the second week of the NCAA Tournament.
O.J. Mayo (6-4, Fr., USC)
His stats: 20.9 points/4.7 rebounds/3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game/.446 FG
Frank says: Despite what any national or local pundits might think, he has had a terrific season and is a tremendous player.
A.J. Price (6-2, Jr., Connecticut)
His stats: 14.7 points/3.6 rebounds/6.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game/.440 FG
Frank says: He has finally fulfilled the immense expectations that existed before he came to Storrs what seems like to many years ago.
FOURTH TEAM
Brook Lopez (7-0, So., Stanford)
His stats: 18.9 points/8.2 rebounds/1.3 assists and 1.7 blocks per game/.478
Frank says: Missed the first semester and but didn’t miss a beat once he got on the court.
Tyler Smith (6-7, So., Tennessee)
His stats: 13.3 points/6.8 rebounds/3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game/.533 FG
Frank says: The Volunteers’ best player over the course of the season.
Gary Forbes (6-6, Sr., Massachusetts)
His stats: 20.3 points/7.9 rebounds/and 3.1 assists per game/.416
Frank says: The one-time Virginia player just picked up the top honors from the Atlantic 10 Conference.
DeMarcus Nelson (6-3, Sr., Duke)
His stats: 15.2 points/5.8 rebounds/3.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game/.506 FG
Frank says: He should be the runner-up to Hansbrough for ACC POY honors.
Mike Green (6-1, Sr., Butler)
His stats: 14.6 points/6.4 rebounds/5.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game/.442
Frank says: He and the rest of the Bulldogs have another Sweet 16 run in them this month.
FIFTH TEAM
Brian Butch (6-11, Sr, Wisconsin)
His stats: 12.0 points and 7.0 assists per game/.458 FG
Frank says: One of the more underrated and, and most skilled, big men in the country.
Jason Thompson (6-10, Sr., Rider)
His stats: 20.5 points/12.0 rebounds/2.8 assists and 2.7 blocks per game/.590 FG
Frank says: The best of the NBA prospects on the “mid-major” this season.
Jaycee Carroll (6-3, Sr., Utah State)
His stats: 22.7 points/6.1 rebounds/2.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game/.532 FG
Frank says: The truth to be told, the WAC Player of the Year could be the best jump shooter in college basketball.
James Harden (6-5, Fr., Arizona State)
His stats: 17.7 points/5.1 rebounds/3.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game/.531 FG
Frank says: Joined Love and Mayo as freshmen members of the Pac-10’s first-team (five players) all-conference squad Monday..
Jeremy Pargo (6-3, Jr., Gonzaga)
His stats: 11.5 points/3.6 rebounds/6.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game/.459 FG
Frank says: The Bulldogs get plenty of national attention but the WCC POY is still underrated, nationally and regionally.
Inducted into the USBWA Hall of
Fame in April, 2005, Frank Burlison is Scout.com’s national basketball expert and is
also a columnist for the Long Beach (Calif.) Press-Telegram. He can be reached at
frank.burlison@presstelegram.com. Read more of Burlison’s pieces at
www.frankhoops.com