White, Wright Earn Honors
3/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 8, 2005
Bloomington, Ind. - Junior guard Bracey Wright and freshman forward D.J. White were each honored by the Big Ten, the league office announced on Tuesday. Wright, the Big Ten's leading scorer, received first team accolades by the media and second team honors by the coaches. White was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, as well as earned an honorable mention selection by both the media and coaches. Wright's first team selection marked the 53rd time in IU's history that a Hoosier has been named to the first team, which is the most honorees from any one school in league history. Additionally, freshman Robert Vaden was named to the All-Freshman team along with White, while senior Mike Roberts was the Sportsmanship Award recipient for the Hoosiers. In addition to White's league honors, he also was tabbed a freshman All-American by Rivals.com on Monday and College Insiders.com on Tuesday. White has proven his worth all season long, as he and Vaden are the only two IU players to start all 27 games this season. Entering Big Ten Tournament play, White leads all freshmen in the league in points (13.3), field goal percentage (.583) and blocked shots (2.1). He also has been ranked among the league leaders in scoring, rebounding (4.7), field goal percentage and blocks throughout the season. White also has etched his name in the Indiana record books. His 57 blocks on the campaign ranks as the top mark by a freshman and is eighth on the single season blocks list. Furthermore, his .583 percentage from the floor is the best by a Hoosier since Alan Henderson shot .597 in 1994-95. He also had a 12-game double-figure scoring streak during the season, which was the fifth-best streak by a freshman in school history. White becomes just the seventh Indiana player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in the program's history, and the first since Jared Jeffries received the honor after his rookie year in 2001. Wright was named to the Big Ten's top team for the first time in his three-year career, and is the first Hoosier to earn the honor since Jeffries did so in 2002. His second-team award from the coaches is his second in as many years. The Colony, Texas, native leads the Big Ten with 18.5 points per game and leads IU with 4.8 rebounds. He also ranks second on the squad with 68 assists and 28 steals, despite missing three games due to an ankle injury. Currently, Wright has accumulated 1,467 points during his career, which places him 15th among Indiana's all-time leading scorers. This season, he has tallied 445 points and is on pace to become just the fifth player in school history to score at least 490 points per season in each of his first three years. His 180 career three pointers rank fourth in school history, while his six Big Ten Player of the Week honors are the most of any active player and rank among the top seven in league history. Wright was also named to the NABC First Team All-District earlier this season. As Selected By Big Ten Coaches (players names in ALL CAPS have 2005-06 eligibility) VINCENT GRIER, Minnesota Luther Head, Illinois Mike Wilkinson, Wisconsin* DERON WILLIAMS, Illinois GREG BRUNNER, Iowa TERENCE DIALS, Ohio State CARL LANDRY, Purdue JAMES AUGUSTINE, Illinois PAUL DAVIS, Michigan State ALANDO TUCKER, Wisconsin VEDRAN VUKUSIC, Northwestern Jeff Hagen, Minnesota ADAM HALUSKA, Iowa DION HARRIS, Michigan JEFF HORNER, Iowa Roger Powell, Jr., Illinois DAN COLEMAN, Minnesota DREW NEITZEL, Michigan State D.J. White, Indiana (players names in ALL CAPS have 2005-06 eligibility) Luther Head, Illinois Mike Wilkinson, Wisconsin DERON WILLIAMS, Illinois GREG BRUNNER, Iowa TERENCE DIALS, Ohio State VINCENT GRIER, Minnesota CARL LANDRY, Purdue JAMES AUGUSTINE, Illinois PAUL DAVIS, Michigan State ALANDO TUCKER, Wisconsin VEDRAN VUKUSIC, Northwestern ADAM HALUSKA, Iowa DION HARRIS, Michigan JEFF HORNER, Iowa AARON JOHNSON, Penn State Roger Powell, Jr., Illinois
2004-05 All-Big Ten Men's Basketball Team
FIRST TEAM
DEE BROWN, Illinois*
SECOND TEAM
MAURICE AGER, Michigan State
BRACEY WRIGHT, Indiana
THIRD TEAM
Alan Anderson, Michigan State
HONORABLE MENTION
SHANNON BROWN, Michigan St.
D.J. White, Indiana
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
GEARY CLAXTON, Penn State
Robert Vaden, Indiana
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DEE BROWN, Illinois
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DEE BROWN, Illinois
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: D.J. White, Indiana
As Selected By Media
FIRST TEAM
DEE BROWN, Illinois
BRACEY WRIGHT, Indiana
SECOND TEAM
Alan Anderson, Michigan State
THIRD TEAM
MAURICE AGER, Michigan State
HONORABLE MENTION
Jeff Hagen, Minnesota
D.J. White, Indiana
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DEE BROWN, Illinois
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: D.J. White, Indiana
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bruce Weber, Illinois
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Roger Powell, Jr., Illinois; Mike Roberts, Indiana; Greg Brunner, Iowa; Graham Brown, Michigan; Chris Hill, Michigan State; Brent Lawson, Minnesota; Davor Duvancic, Northwestern; Matt Marinchick, Ohio State; Kevin Fellows, Penn State; Andrew Ford, Purdue; Mike Wilkinson, Wisconsin.
