College Basketball 2001

1. Shane Battier: Had one of the great all around seasons in modern college basketball. He won nearly every player of the year award.

 

He also the national defensive player of the year for the 3^rd straight year.

He was the Final Four, ACC tournament MVP, and co-ACC POY.

Battier averaged 20 ppg 7.3 rpg 2.3 bpg 2.1 spg and shot 42% on 3s.

The Duke senior led the ACC in minutes per game (35), was 3rd in scoring, steals and blocks, and 8^th in rebounds.

He averaged 23-11 2.7 blks and two steals per game in six NCAA tourney contests.

At #6 UNC Battier put up 25-11-5blk in 39 min in 95-81 win.

He had 20-13 a week later vs. the Tar Heels in the ACC tournament final, a 26 point rout.

In the tournament wins over Missouri, #14 UCLA and #25 USC he had at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and played 119 of 120 minutes.

In the national semis vs. #9 Maryland he had 25 points including four 3s, eight rebounds, and four blocks.

Battier had 18-11-6 in the finals vs. #4 Arizona. His signature play was this block that led to a transition three and a ten point Duke lead.

Duke finished #1, won the ACC tournament and won its 3^rd national title. They were 35-4, including four epics games vs. Maryland.

2. Jason Williams: NABC Player of the Year and consensus 1^st team All American.

He was also all-Final Four, All-ACC tourney, and the East Regional MVP.

He had his Reggie Milleresque moment in January vs. Maryland.

J-Will led NCAA tourney in total pts FGs, 3FG, and assists. He was the first player since 1996 (Allen Iverson) to score 100 tournament points before the Final Four.

Williams led the ACC in scoring 21.6 (15^th in NCAA), FG, 3FG, 2^nd apg (19^th in NCAA), and 5^th in spg. He had 24 games with 20+ points.

In NCAA tournament play he put up 25.7 points and 5.2 assists per game.

He had 31 and 9 ast., in round two vs. Missouri.

Williams had 34 pts and six 3s vs. UCLA, and 28-7-6 in reg. final vs. USC.

Duke became the 2^nd team in the NCAA tournament expansion era (since 1985) to win all six games by at least 10 points. (Michigan St. 2000).

They finished their 3^rd straight regular season ranked #1 while setting a NCAA record for most three pointers made in a season.

3. Tayshaun Prince: Was the regular season and SEC conference tournament MVP.

He had 26-12 with 6 3s (title game record) over #14 Mississippi.

He was a consensus second team All-American.

Prince put up 17-6-3 with 50% FG.

He led the SEC with 84 FT%; he was 2^nd in mins (33), 4^th in scoring, and 6^th in blocks.

He led Kentucky to the Sweet 16 with 31-7 assists in 2^nd rd. vs. #24 Iowa.

Tayshaun averaged 21-5-5 54%FG in three tourney games.

Kentucky finished 24-10, #9 in the polls and were SEC champions.