As the college basketball season comes to a close, top teams compete for a spot in the Final Four. Top players vie for spots on the prestigious Associated Press All-America team.

Many of these players go on to become superstars in the NBA, and others simply remain legends at their respective schools.

Schools covet the attention an All-American honor brings to their programs and actively court voters with letters, posters, e-mails and free stuff. They send the voters items ranging from notepads to mouse pads to sway opinion.

This season, the race for the top lineup is crowded because no single player has distinguished himself. Here are the leading candidates by position for first team All-America honors.

Guards: T.J. Ford (Texas), Ruben Douglas (New Mexico), Dwyane Wade (Marquette)

Ford, the group’s lone point guard, has excelled as a sophomore. Ford has led Texas to the top of the Big 12 with his clutch shooting and creative passing. He ranks sixth in the nation in assists with 7.1 per game.

Though relatively unknown, Douglas leads the nation in scoring average at 28.8, but plays for the weak Lobos (10-16) in the often-ignored Mountain West Conference. The lack of quality wins for his team — and a lack of face time on “SportsCenter” — hinders his chance of receiving All-America honors.

Wade is the scoring force behind a Marquette team that has surpassed Louisville as the top team in Conference USA. Wade, who’s averaging 21.7 points, has helped put the Golden Eagles in line for a top four seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Forwards: Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse), David West (Xavier), Josh Howard (Wake Forest)

As the most highly touted freshman in the nation, Anthony has lived up to his billing, nearly averaging a double-double (22.2 points, 9.8 rebounds) while leading the Orangemen to a 22-4 record. His ability to perform in the clutch makes him worthy of All-American status, even as a freshman.

West has been the Musketeers’ leading scorer in all but four games. His 47 points in an 85-77 win Feb. 8 against conference-rival Dayton was the most in the nation against a Top-25 opponent this season. His combination of size and quickness makes him unique.

In the disappointing ACC, Howard has been the shining star, elevating the Demon Deacons into the top 10. An unknown player nationally until this season, Howard has averaged nearly 20 points and is a near lock for ACC Player of the Year.

Centers: Nick Collison (Kansas), Emeka Okafor (Connecticut), Mike Sweetney (Georgetown)

Collison cemented his spot as one of the top centers in the nation with a 24-point, 23-rebound performance in a 90-87 win over Texas on Jan. 27. He is the top center in the top conference, the Big 12.

Okafor leads the nation in shot-blocking with 4.8 per game. He’s the most athletic center in the nation, and he carried the Huskies to several upset victories throughout the year (Syracuse and Notre Dame).

Sweetney is a dominating force on an underachieving team. He averages 22.6 points and 10.4 rebounds even while enduring constant double- and triple-teams. His touch inside is unmatched.

NO. 2 KENTUCKY (+1.5) AT NO 3. FLORIDA

SATURDAY, 2 P.M., CBS

Before Florida’s upset loss to Georgia on Tuesday, 82-81, this game was probably for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Now, Florida needs to defend its home court against the Wildcats or risk losing a No. 2 seed.

David Lee and Matt Bonner should be able to control the middle against the Wildcats, and the home-court advantage will send the Gators to the victory.

PICK: FLORIDA 78, KENTUCKY 74

CONNECTICUT (+2.5) AT BOSTON COLLEGE

SATURDAY, 2 P.M., ESPN

Boston College point guard Troy Bell has carried the Eagles as of late, as they have crept back onto the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. BC needs this victory to improve its RPI enough to guarantee an at-large bid.

UConn is fresh off an 87-79 upset victory over Notre Dame on Feb. 24. With Jim Calhoun back behind the bench, the Huskies are rolling toward the Big East tournament.

PICK: CONNECTICUT 76, BOSTON COLLEGE 72

NO. 16 NOTRE DAME (-3.5) AT GEORGETOWN

SATURDAY, 4 P.M., CBS

The Irish have lost three in a row — to Connecticut, Rutgers and Syracuse — and need this victory to stop the slide. Chris Thomas’ shooting has been cold recently, and Matt Carroll will need help to beat Georgetown.

The first game between these two teams Feb. 1 resulted in a 93-92 double-overtime Irish win.

PICK: NOTRE DAME 75, GEORGETOWN 73

NO. 4 TEXAS (+2.5) AT NO. 5 OKLAHOMA

SATURDAY, 3:30 P.M., ABC

These two teams face off to decide the winner of the Big 12’s South Division.

Senior Hollis Price and the Sooners need a big victory to offset their Feb. 26 loss, 67-52, to Missouri at home.

A road victory of this stature will probably give Texas a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament barring a collapse in the Big 12 tournament.

PICK: OKLAHOMA 77,

TEXAS 76

NO. 6 KANSAS (PICK’EM) AT MISSOURI

SUNDAY 2 P.M., CBS

This traditional Big 12 rivalry continues in Columbia, Mo., the last place the Jayhawks want to travel for their final regular season game.

Before last year, Kansas lost at Missouri every time it played there when ranked higher than No. 10 in the 1990’s.

Missouri won its last home game against No. 5 Oklahoma and looks to pull off another upset before the Big 12 tournament.

PICK: MISSOURI 80, KANSAS 76

Published on March 5, 2003 at 12:00 pm