Redick, Morrison Are Top Choices

J.J. Redick of Duke and Adam Morrison of Gonzaga spent all season locked in a scoring race. Fittingly, they ended it as the only unanimous selections for this season’s Associated Press’ All-American men’s basketball team.

Redick, the most prolific three-point scorer in college history, was a repeat choice.

He and Morrison were joined on the first team Monday by Redick’s teammate Shelden Williams, Randy Foye of Villanova and Brandon Roy, Washington’s first All-American in 53 years.

Redick and Morrison gave fans a “Can you top this?” scoring competition that ended with each receiving all 72 first-team votes from members of the national media panel that selects the weekly top 25. The voting took place before the NCAA tournament.

Morrison, the only junior on an otherwise all-senior first team, won the scoring title with a 28.4 average, just ahead of Redick’s 27.4.

“It is a testament to the type of season each of us has had,” Redick said. “Adam is certainly a great player and it is an honor to be a unanimous pick along with him.”

Morrison said being an All-American isn’t “something you think about receiving when you start your collegiate career, but to be associated with some of the great names of college basketball is an honor.”

Roy, who was the Pacific 10 Conference player of the year, is Washington’s first All-American since Bob Houbregs in 1953.

Dee Brown of Illinois was the leading vote-getter on the second team and was joined by fellow senior Rodney Carney of Memphis, junior P.J. Tucker of Texas and sophomores Rudy Gay of Connecticut and Leon Powe of California.

The third team includes seniors Craig Smith of Boston College and Allan Ray of Villanova, junior Nick Fazekas of Nevada, sophomore Glen Davis of LSU and freshman Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina.

Arron Afflalo and Jordan Farmar of UCLA were honorable mentions.

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Houston gave men’s Coach Tom Penders a new five-year contract, adding one year to his current deal.... Albany men’s Coach Will Brown was given a five-year contract extension, nine days after his Great Danes nearly upset Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA tournament.... Utah promoted director of basketball operations Chris Jones to assistant coach.... Old Dominion plays Michigan and Louisville takes on South Carolina in the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament tonight at Madison Square Garden.

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Freshman Krystal Ellis scored 18 points to lead Marquette to a 77-64 victory over Pittsburgh in the semifinals of the Women’s NIT at Milwaukee.

The Golden Eagles (22-10) advance to the title game against the winner of tonight’s game between Western Kentucky (27-6) and Kansas State (22-10).