Gooden wins Big 12's top award

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas' Drew Gooden, an All-Big 12 first-team member on the nation's top-ranked team, is the unanimous choice as The Associated Press Big 12 Player of the Year.

It would be a scandal if he weren't.

The 6-10 junior -- widely expected to depart Kansas a year early for the NBA -- topped all other Big 12 players in points (20.6 per game) and rebounds (11.1).

With Gooden leading what is perhaps the best team in Roy Williams' 14 years as coach, the top-ranked Jayhawks tore unbeaten through the 16-game conference schedule, making history for a program already drenched in it.

His quick hands and long arms even gave opponents fits on defense. Only one Big 12 player exceeded his 58 steals.

One who came close was sensational Texas freshman T.J. Ford, with 57. Even more impressively, the 5-11 point guard became the first freshman to lead the nation in assists, leading the 24-member media panel to give Ford every vote but one as AP Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

The same panel named Oklahoma's Ebi Ere Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

Contrary to widespread opinion, Gooden was not a McDonald's high school All-American. Williams even had to pull a few strings to get the Richmond, Calif., native invited to high school all-star games.

As a freshman, he was skittish and mistake-prone, but obviously full of promise. This year as a junior, he blossomed into one of the greatest players in the country.

"He had a phenomenal year," said Williams. "During a couple of stretches he played as well, if not better, than any player I've ever had."

A big sign held up by students at Kansas' last regular season home game summed up the entire year the Jayhawks and their best-known player have had:

"Unstoppable, unbelievable, unforgettable," it read.

And Gooden and the Jayhawks were. He had 20 games with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds. He dazzled defenders with a variety of low post moves and also showed he could hit the medium-range shot.

"When you say leading the league in scoring and rebounding, but doing that in addition to leading your team to an undefeated conference season, he just had a great, great year and is very deserving of all the honors that he's beginning to get," Williams said.

"I guess the biggest thing is, as I sit back and remember the frustrations that he felt at some point during his freshman year, how all of it has come together and now he truly is a total and complete basketball player.

"He just understands the game so much better now."

With 243 assists, averaging 8.68 per game, Ford also made a little history since no freshman had ever led the nation in assists. A deadly shooter from the foul line, he averaged 10.5 points and saved the Longhorns' season when star player Chris Owens went out for the year with an injury.

In a 72-70 victory over Missouri, Ford had 18 points, 12 assists and five steals. He also hit a pair of clinching free throws with 5.1 seconds left.

"I wouldn't trade him for anybody in the country," coach Rick Barnes said. "T.J. told me before that last inbounds that he wanted the ball, that he wanted the game in his hands. He did great with it."

Era, a Tulsa native who transferred from Barton County (Kan.) Community College, got off to a scorching start for the Sooners. He turned out to be a main reason Oklahoma is ranked No. 4 in the country and going into the Big 12 tournament in line for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

The 6-5, 215-pounder averaged 14.5 points and almost six rebounds and two assists.

He had 29 points in a victory over Arkansas on Nov. 29 and started 23 straight games before hitting a slump toward the end.

"He hit the ground running," said Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson. "Yeah, he dropped off. But maybe that drop-off should have happened earlier. He started so well and created such high expectations for himself, he was due for a drop-off."

Jeffries named Big Ten player of the year

PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Indiana sophomore Jared Jeffries was named the Big Ten player of the year Tuesday by both conference coaches and media members.

Wisconsin's Bo Ryan was named coach of the year after leading the Badgers to a share of their first Big Ten title in 55 years in his first season. Ryan is the first Badgers coach to win the award.

Jeffries, the Big Ten's rookie of the year last season, was the only unanimous choice for the All-Big Ten's first team. He's the second sophomore in a row to win league MVP honors, and the second Hoosier in three years.

Jeffries averaged 15.1 points and 7.9 rebounds and led the Big Ten with 2.13 blocked shots per game. He also was sixth in the league with 1.5 steals.

Joining Jeffries on both the coaches and media's All-Big Ten first team were: Frank Williams of Illinois, last year's player of the year; Brian Brown of Ohio State; Kirk Penney of Wisconsin; and Marcus Taylor of Michigan State.

Minnesota's Rick Rickert was named freshman of the year after leading all Big Ten freshmen in scoring (14.1 points). He's the first Gopher to win freshman honors.

Minnesota's Travarus Bennett shared defensive player of the year honors with Indiana's Dane Fife.

Arkansas to respond to Richardson's letter

LITTLE ROCK -- The University of Arkansas said Tuesday it will respond to Nolan Richardson's letter seeking an explanation of why he won't coach the basketball team next season.

"There will be a response," said Fred Harrison, the university system's chief lawyer.

Since Chancellor John White announced Friday that Richardson was out, Arkansas has offered no explanation beyond citing a no-excuses-necessary clause under the "Termination at Convenience of the University" section of Richardson's seven-year, $1.03 million-a-year contract.

Richardson intends to ask Arkansas system President Alan Sugg to review White's decision, the coach's lawyer said. First, however, the coach wants to know the reasons White wanted to buy out the six remaining years of the pact at $500,000 a year.