Monday, November 1, 2010

Duke's Singler, UNC's Barnes headline AP preseason All-America team

Duke senior Kyle Singler was the leading vote-getter - and only repeat selection - on the Associated Press preseason men's basketball All-America team, announced Monday.

Meanwhile, North Carolina's Harrison Barnes is the first freshman to make the list since voting began before the 1986-87 season.

"This is indicative of the great respect that Harrison has nationally, and it's an unbelievable accomplishment for a freshman," UNC coach Roy Williams told the AP. "I know Harrison would agree, however, that it would be even more exciting to make the All-America team that's picked after the season.

"So far in practice, he has shown the ability to grasp things that we are teaching very quickly, he has tremendous concentration and I fully expect that is he going to be a very important player for us from day one."

Singler, who helped lead his team to the NCAA title last season, was listed on 62 of the 65 ballots of the 65-member national media panel. He was on the pre-season first team last season and finished with an honorable mention postseason selection.

"Someone asked me if we don't win a national championship, will it ruin the year? You just never know what to expect in the year and toward the end of the year. We're not worried about that right now," Singler told the AP. "There's so much we can accomplish, especially at the beginning of the year and the middle of the year. There's so much to learn and experience."

Joining Singler and Barnes on the team were Jacob Pullen of Kansas State with 53 votes, Jimmer Fredette of BYU, who received 49 votes, and JaJuan Johnson of Purdue, who got 46. Barnes received the lowest vote total of the starters with 17.

-- Robbi Pickeral

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not that I blame the AP because money is money, but pre-season All-American teams are so uncomfortably silly. I'm a Heel, but Harrison Barnes has played zero college games, how reliable could such a team really be?

Anonymous said...

A preseason All America - LOL

Kinda like picking a spouse you've never met.

Anonymous said...

Singler was picked last year - how'd that work out? He wasn't even the best or second best on his team last year. Barnes? You're kidding, right? OK, let's lace'em up.

Anonymous said...

i would say a national championship and tournament MVP are pretty good consolation honors.

Anonymous said...

Singler not even 2nd best on the team???? What Final Four were you watching buddy?

Anonymous said...

0/13 against Minnesota

He certainly looked deserving of that pre season All-American honor, I'm sure lots of former pre season All Americans have 0/13 shooting performances

Anonymous said...

HAHA.Another loss for the tarholes in the ACC/BIG 10 challenge.Looks like another NIT trip for the bleached blue.Thanks for representing the ACC tarholes!!