O’Bannon Likely to Be a Big Winner Again : College basketball: UCLA forward expected to add Wooden Award to title and other honors.

UCLA’s Ed O’Bannon is expected to add to his collection of postseason hardware at today’s 19th annual John R. Wooden Awards presentation at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

The UCLA senior forward, who helped lead the Bruins to a 31-2 record and the NCAA championship, is the favorite for the Wooden Award, given to the nation’s best college player.

O’Bannon joins a list of finalists that includes Wake Forest point guard Randolph Childress, Michigan State guard Shawn Respert, North Carolina forward Jerry Stackhouse and Arkansas forward Corliss Williamson.

Rounding out the top 10 are Connecticut guard Ray Allen, Villanova forward Kerry Kittles, Massachusetts forward Lou Roe, Arizona guard Damon Stoudamire and North Carolina center Rasheed Wallace.

The one glaring omission is Maryland center Joe Smith, who didn’t meet the Wooden Award’s academic qualifications. Neither did Oklahoma State center Bryant Reeves nor Texas Christian center Kurt Thomas.

According to the award organizers, four of the top five finalists and most of their coaches are expected to attend.

Missing will be Williamson and Razorback Coach Nolan Richardson. Arkansas officials told Wooden Award officials that Williamson and Richardson are “emotionally and physically drained.” Instead, a videotaped message from player and coach will be played at the luncheon today.

Also, Jud Heathcote, the recently retired Michigan State coach, will be a no-show because his daughter is getting married. Instead, Tom Izzo, the longtime Spartan assistant who has been named to replace Heathcote as coach, will make the trip.