Bogut joins Paul, Redick, Simien, May as All-Americans
March 4, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY - Utah center Andrew Bogut was named ESPN.com's Men's Basketball National Player of the Year today, as selected by ESPN's panel of analysts. Bogut was joined by Chris Paul (Wake Forest), J.J. Redick (Duke), Wayne Simien (Kansas) and Sean May (North Carolina) on the ESPN.com All-America team.
A 7-0, 245-pound sophomore from Melbourne, Australia, Bogut has led the Utes (24-4, 12-1) to the Mountain West Conference regular season title and a No. 15 national ranking this week by ESPN/USA Today. The national leader in double-doubles with 19 in 28 games this year, Bogut is also among the national leaders for scoring (15th at 20.6 ppg) and rebounding (3rd at 11.9 rpg).
Bogut led the Utes to an 18-game win streak this season, which is tied for the second-best in school history, while scoring in double figures in every game. Bogut is one of only five players currently leading their respective conference in scoring and rebounding (Simien-Kansas, Taylor Coppenrath-Vermont, Mike Bell-Florida Atlantic, Ike Diogu-Arizona State), and could become the first player in MWC history to accomplish the feat.
Bogut is a candidate for the John R. Wooden and Naismith national player of the year awards, and has already been named NABC first-team All-District 13 this season. He needs just 13 points to become the 31st player in Utah history to score 1,000 points--he would be just the third Ute to do it in two seasons.
The Utes, riding a 16-game homecourt winning streak that ranks seventh-best in the nation, close out the regular season against San Diego State on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Huntsman Center.
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