A secret ballot? Nah, when it comes to college basketball, I’ll shout my opinions and evaluations from the mountain top. I’ve covered a lot of teams both in the Big Ten and the Big East this past season: Illinois, Northwestern, Notre Dame and DePaul, so let’s begin.
We start by choosing my District: V. of course, covering Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Indiana, or as well call it The Sports Bank territory. Here’s who excelled in representing the Great Lakes/Upper Midwest.
By Paul M. Banks
So my all-district team looks like this, in no particular order:
Jon Leuer and Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin
Ben Hansbrough and Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State (who also takes home my vote for District Player of the Year and National Freshman of the Year Award)
E’Twaun Moore and JaJaun Johnson, Purdue
Kalin Lucas, Michigan State
Demetri McCamey, Illinois
Keith Benson, Oakland
Mike Brey, Notre Dame is Coach of the Year, and also get my national coach of the year (Henry Iba Award)
National All-America Team
Johnson and Sullinger make this team
Jimmer Fredette, BYU (National Player of the Year)
Kemba Walker, UConn
Terrence Jones, Kentucky
Talor Battle, Penn State
Marcus Morris, Kansas
Nolan Smith, Duke
Jordan Hamilton, Texas
Derrick Williams, Arizona
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net , a Midwest webzine. He’s also a regular contributor to the Tribune’s Chicago Now network, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker Network, and Fox Sports.com
You can follow him on Twitter @thesportsbank
He also does a regular guest spot each week for Cleveland.com and Chicagoland Sports Radio.com