N. Carolina senior a unanimous pick for All-America squad
It's no surprise Tyler Hansbrough made The Associated Press' preseason All-America team - this is his record third straight year as its leading vote-getter. For the first time, however, the North Carolina forward was a unanimous selection.
Joining Hansbrough on the team Monday were UCLA guard Darren Collison, also a repeat from last year's preseason team, Davidson guard Stephen Curry, Notre Dame forward Luke
Harangody and Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin.
Hansbrough, a 6-foot-9 senior and the reigning national player of the year, was placed on all 72 ballots by the same media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. Hansbrough missed being a unanimous pick last season by one vote, and he fell seven votes shorts as a sophomore.
The preseason team was first selected before the 1986-87 season. The last unanimous pick was Duke guard Jason Williams in 2001-02, and the last repeat selection was Michigan State guard Mateen Cleaves in 1999-00.
Hansbrough averaged 22.6 points and 10.6 rebounds in leading the Tar Heels to a school-record 36 wins and the Final Four last season. He will miss about two weeks of practice after being diagnosed last week with a stress reaction in his right shin.
"Of course, we are all disappointed for Tyler and our team, but everybody on the roster has a chance to do a little more and play a little better to help make up for the loss of the national player of the year,"
Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said.
Hansbrough has played in all 108 games in his first three years.
• Ohio State sophomore forward Nikola Kecman will sit out the first 12 games of the 2008-09 season in an agreement reached by the NCAA and the university, the school said. Kecman played for the Vizura team in his native Serbia as it was making the transition from an amateur to a professional team.
Nadal sidelined by fatigue
MADRID, Spain - Rafael Nadal pulled out of the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai on Monday, citing fatigue after a long season and the need to prepare for the Davis Cup final.
The world's top-ranked player made the announcement on his Web site, describing his withdrawal as "one of the most difficult decisions in my career."
S. Williams wants cash
DOHA, Qatar - After a wide-open year in which five players held the No. 1 ranking, Serena Williams enters the WTA Tour's season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships with a goal in mind.
"I need the money,"
she said.
Williams, who won the title in 2001, will chase a $1.34 million prize. Three of the five No. 1 players this year will compete: current No. 1 Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and Williams.
