Emmett, Simien get unanimous approval

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Texas Tech's Andre Emmett, the conference's all-time scoring leader, and Kansas junior Wayne Simien are unanimous choices to The Associated Press All-Big 12 team for 2003-2004.

Joining them on the first team are Tony Allen and point guard John Lucas, the key members of Oklahoma State's first conference champion since 1965, and Brandon Mouton, the top scorer on one of the best senior classes in Texas history.

The team was picked by a panel of media representatives who regularly cover the Big 12.

Colorado 7-footer David Harrison and Missouri seniors Rickey Paulding and Arthur Johnson -- the Tigers' career leader in rebounds and blocked shots -- head the second team.

Emmett, a 6-foot-5 native of Dallas, broke the Big 12 career scoring record of former Kansas star Nick Collison this year and goes into the conference tournament with 2,179 total points.

Able to battle with the musclemen underneath as well as drill baseline jumpers, the rugged senior has led the Red Raiders to three straight 20-win seasons for the first time in their history.

His 14 field goals against Southern Methodist were the most by any Big 12 player this year. Another league best was his 20.8 points per game scoring average.

The 5-11 Lucas is the smallest man on the first, second or third team. Allowed to transfer from scandal-plagued Baylor without sitting out a year, his impact was immediate and dramatic.

"He's very unselfish. He's a team player," said coach Eddie Sutton. "His teammates recognized that from the start."

The son of former NBA star John Lucas II averaged almost 15 points and was second in the league in assists.

The 6-9 Simien was second in the Big 12 in both scoring (17.6 points) and rebounding (nine). He and Harrison were the only players to rank in the top five in both.

Many believe the hoopla surrounding Lucas during Oklahoma State's storybook season unfairly stole much of the spotlight from Allen. The 6-4 senior was the AP newcomer of the year last season after averaging almost 15 points a game, and this year he improved to 16.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. He led the conference in steals and there may not be a better perimeter defender in the Big 12.

The 6-4 Mouton averaged a team-high 13.4 points this year and goes into his final postseason tenth on the Texas all-time scoring list.