1998 College Basketball

1.       Antwan Jamison: Was the consensus national player of year.  He also a consensus All-American.

He earned numerous awards in the ACC including Player of Year, a record setting seven times Player of the Week. He was also named the ACC Male Athlete of the Year.

He led the conference in scoring (22.2) and rebounding (10.4). He also led the ACC in field goals (316) and free throws (184). Jamison was 2^nd in the league shooting 57.9% from the field.

In a #1 vs. #2 match up, North Carolina soared past the top ranked Blue Devils of Duke behind 35 points and 11 rebounds from Jamison.

The Tar Heels' star forward put up 36-16 vs. #20 Maryland in an 85-67 win to avenge a previous loss to the Terrapins.

Jamison earned ACC tournament MVP with a 22-18 performance in the Final win over #3 Duke.

In the NCAA tournament he 20 points and 14 boards in a Sweet 16 victory over #16 Michigan St.

He followed that up with a 20 point effort in a 75-64 regional final win over #6 UConn. Jamison would be named the MVP of the East Region.

North Carolina would fall to #7 Utah 65-59 in the Final Four.

The Tar Heels would return to the Final Four for the second straight year.

They won the ACC tournament and finished the season ranked #1 in the polls. UNC was 34-4, #1 seed in the East in the NCAA tournament and averaged almost 82 points per game.

2.       Raef LaFrenz: Was a consensus All-American for the second straight year and was second in the Player of the Year voting (Wooden award).

He was the 3^rd player in the 1990s to be a consensus All-American twice, joining Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan.

He was also named Big 12 Player of the Year for the second straight season and All-Big 12 for a third time.

He posted 19 double doubles including seven straight.

LaFrentz was 5^th in the Big 12 in scoring (19.8), 3^rd in FGs (232), and 8^th in blocks (1.5).

He led the league in rebound and was 14^th nationally averaging 11.4 boards per game.

The senior’s top performance came against the defending champions Arizona. He scored a career high 32 points on 12-17 shooting and all eight free throws.

In the NCAA tourney he averaged 21 ppg, 14.5 rpg and shot 74% in two games.

The top seed Kansas was upset by Rhode Island in the second round.

Kansas won the Big 12 regular and tournament crowns. They were 35-4 and #2 in the final poll. The Jayhawks went 15-1 in league play including 12-0 with LaFrentz in the lineup.

3.       Andre Miller:  Was the West Regional MVP. He was All-Final Four.

He put up the fourth triple double (18-14-13) in NCAA history as Utah routed the defending national champions Arizona 76-51 in the regional final.

He was 1^st team All-WAC, 3^rd team All-American by the U.S Basketball Writers, and honorable mention by the AP.

Miller averaged 14.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 34 games.

He was 5^th in the WAC  in shooting at 54.9%, 4^th in steals (2.15), and 6^th in ast. (5.2).

In six NCAA tournament games, he averaged 16.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 6.8 apg, and two steals.

In the 2^nd round against #17 Arkansas he had 28 points on 9-14 shooting. He added seven rebounds and six assists.

He was the catalyst to another upset in the Final Four over #1 North Carolina with 16-14-7.

Miller guided the Utes to a 41-31 lead in the National Championship at the half. Utah would eventually fall to #5 Kentucky 78-69 in the title game despite 16-6-5 from Miller.

In the summer, Miller won gold with at the Goodwill Games playing with top returning college players against international senior national teams. He led the U.S squad in assists and was third in scoring.

Utah finished the season #7 in the polls and was the WAC regular season champions. They were 30-4.