Three Honored by Big Ten

March 11, 2003

Bloomington, Ind. - For the fourth straight season, an Indiana basketball player has been named First-Team All-Big Ten. Senior forward Jeff Newton, the only Big Ten player ranked among the league's top seven (league games only) in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, was selected First-Team All-Big Ten by the league's media on Tuesday. Newton, a Second-Team selection by the Big Ten coaches, was one of three Hoosiers honored. Freshman Bracey Wright was tabbed to the coaches and media Third Team and the All-Freshman squad, while senior Tom Coverdale was a coaches' and media Honorable Mention pick.

After recording just one double-double in his first three seasons combined, Newton led the Big Ten with 11 double-doubles during the 2002-03 regular season, twice as many as any other league player. Indiana's career blocked shots leader (220) is also on pace to become the first IU player since Alan Henderson (1993-94) to lead the league in rebounding (8.6 rpg). Newton's 11 double-doubles are the most by an Indiana player since Kirk Haston had 14 such efforts in 2000-01, and Newton's five 20-plus point, 10-plus rebound outings are the most since Haston had eight in 2000-01. Newton leads the Hoosiers with 24 double figure scoring performances this season. Newton is the 14th player in Indiana history with 700 career boards. He had a string of six straight double-doubles from Dec. 1-21. During this six-game double-double stretch - the best by a Hoosier since Alan Henderson had seven straight from Jan. 31-Feb. 25, 1995 and eight straight to open the 1993-94 campaign - Newton averaged 17.1 points and 11.3 rebounds. The 6-9 forward has dished out at least four assists on seven separate occasions this season.

Despite missing four games from Jan. 15 through Jan. 25 with a pinched nerve in his lower back, Wright is the fourth-leading overall and top freshman scorer in the Big Ten (17.1 ppg). He is also 20th in rebounding (5.1 rpg), eighth in three-point field goal percentage (.385) and fourth in three-point field goals made (2.40). With a career-high six three-pointers against Minnesota on March 4, Wright became IU's freshman single season three-point leader with 60 treys. Wright is tied with Calbert Cheaney for second on IU's career list of 20-plus point performances by a freshman (10). He has a three-game 20-plus point game scoring streak, the first such streak of his career. Wright and Syracuse's Carmelo Anthony are the only two freshmen among the Midseason Top 30 candidates for The Wooden Award, and Wright is the first Indiana freshman since A.J. Guyton and the third overall to record multiple 30-plus point games in a season. Wright's career-high of 31 came against Vanderbilt and at Ball State. Mike Woodson is the other Hoosier freshman to post multiple 30-plus point games in a season. His 14 straight double-digit scoring performances breaks the freshman debut record set by Calbert Cheaney (1989-90).

In overall Big Ten statistics through March 9, Coverdale is 24th in scoring (11.3 ppg), fifth in assists (4.38), eighth in free throw percentage (68-of-87, .810), 15th in three-point field goal percentage (.339), three-point field goals made (seventh, 2.10) and third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.15). Coverdale is the only player in Indiana history to reach these career milestones - 1,000 career points, 450 career assists and 175 career three-pointers. Coverdale ranks among Indiana's all-time top seven in assists (third 475), three-pointers (tied for second with 186) and steals (tied for seventh with 135). Currently 29th in school history with 1,129 points, Coverdale has dished out at least six assists in 10 games this season, and the Hoosiers are 8-2 in such contests. Indiana is 11-4 this season when Coverdale scores in double figures. The 6-2 senior guard was a Second-Team All-Big Ten pick last season.

2002-03 All-Big Ten Men's Basketball Team

As selected by Big Ten coaches
(players names in ALL CAPS have 2003-04 eligibility)

FIRST TEAM
LaVell Blanchard, Michigan
Brian Cook, Illinois*
Willie Deane, Purdue
Kirk Penney, Wisconsin*
RICK RICKERT, Minnesota

SECOND TEAM
Brent Darby, Ohio State
DEVIN HARRIS, Wisconsin
CHRIS HILL, Michigan State
DANIEL HORTON, Michigan
Jeff Newton, Indiana

THIRD TEAM
DEE BROWN, Illinois
KENNETH LOWE, Purdue
BERNARD ROBINSON JR., Michigan
BRACEY WRIGHT, Indiana
JITIM YOUNG, Northwestern

HONORABLE MENTION
CHRIS BOOKER, Purdue
MICHAEL BAUER, Minnesota
Tom Coverdale, Indiana
MAURICE HARGROW, Minnesota
Jerry Holman, Minnesota
Chauncey Leslie, Iowa
JARED REINER, Iowa
GLEN WORLEY, Iowa

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
JAMES AUGUSTINE, Illinois
DEE BROWN, Illinois
DANIEL HORTON, Michigan
ALANDO TUCKER, Wisconsin
BRACEY WRIGHT, Indiana

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Brian Cook, Illinois

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:
DANIEL HORTON, Michigan

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
KENNETH LOWE, Purdue

As selected by Big Ten media
(players names in ALL CAPS have 2003-04 eligibility)

FIRST TEAM
LaVell Blanchard, Michigan
Brian Cook, Illinois*
Willie Deane, Purdue
Jeff Newton, Indiana
Kirk Penney, Wisconsin*

SECOND TEAM
DEE BROWN, Illinois
Brent Darby, Ohio State
CHRIS HILL, Michigan State
DANIEL HORTON, Michigan
RICK RICKERT, Minnesota

THIRD TEAM
DEVIN HARRIS, Wisconsin
Chauncey Leslie, Iowa
KENNETH LOWE, Purdue
BERNARD ROBINSON JR., Michigan
BRACEY WRIGHT, Indiana

HONORABLE MENTION
ALAN ANDERSON, Michigan St.
MICHAEL BAUER, Minnesota
SHARIF CHAMBLISS, Penn St.
Tom Coverdale, Indiana
JEFF HORNER, Iowa
JARED REINER, Iowa
ALANDO TUCKER, Wisconsin
Brandon Watkins, Penn State
JITIM YOUNG, Northwestern

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Brian Cook, Illinois

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:
DANIEL HORTON, Michigan

COACH OF THE YEAR:
Bo Ryan, Wisconsin

Indiana University Athletics

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