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Bjorklund named SEC Newcomer of the Year
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Sylvia Fowles has been a dominating player in the SEC throughout her women's basketball career. She finally claimed the top award as a senior.
The LSU center was named player of the year on the All-SEC team announced Tuesday by The Associated Press, beating out 2007 winner Candace Parker of Tennessee. Fowles won the top honor on the coaches' team, too.
LSU also claimed the coach-of-the-year award, which went to Van Chancellor. Tennessee freshman Angie Bjorklund was chosen the top newcomer. Bjorklund was voted freshman of the year by the league coaches before the SEC tournament (March 4).
Parker was a unanimous pick to the All-SEC first team. Tennessee teammates Alexis Hornbuckle and Shannon Bobbitt made the second team.
Not being voted player of the year by the league coaches seemed to inspire Parker during the conference tournament. The 6-foot-5 forward led UT to the championship, scoring 79 points in three games and being voted most valuable player.
UT coach Pat Summitt said that she didn't plan to recycle this particular motivation. The NCAA tournament will suffice.
"I think Candace is motivated, I think our whole team is motivated,'' Summitt said. "If they're not it's going to be costly."
Georgia's Tasha Humphrey made the first team for the fourth year in a row, becoming only the third player in SEC history to make it every season on the AP and coaches teams. She followed LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State and another member of the Lady Bulldogs, Kelly Miller.
Along with Parker, the 6-foot-6 Fowles was a unanimous pick to the first team, which also included LSU's Quianna Chaney and DeWanna Bonner of Auburn.
Fowles was named on five ballots by a regional media panel, while Parker received the other three votes.
"This means a lot to me," Fowles said. "I share this award with my teammates and my coaches. Without them, I would not be able to accomplish what I have on the court."
Fowles led the conference in shooting percentage (59.9) and ranked second in rebounding (9.9 a game), third in scoring (17.2) and fifth in blocked shots (1.7). The Tigers (27-5) won the SEC with a 14-0 record, beating out Tennessee by one game.
This was the 12th annual AP All-SEC women's team.
Dan Fleser contributed to this report.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by IPOrange on March 18, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I still think Candace should have gotten player of the year, but hey, I don't get a vote.
Posted by superk on March 18, 2008 at 4:29 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by superk on March 18, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maya Moore should be the national player of the year. Best player on the best team.
Posted by murrayvol on March 18, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree IPO and I'm guessing the LSU fans feel the same way about Sylvia.
Congratulations Angie! Just keep getting better.
Posted by mtnvol on March 18, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good on ya, Angie!
Posted by IPOrange on March 18, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fowles is definitely a deserving player, murray. Congrats, Angie! Looking forward to your play in the days ahead.
Posted by thegoat0248 on March 18, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another slap in Candace's face!! Hope she uses this as more motivation!!
Posted by vol4jesus on March 18, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
superk why don't ewe stay on the ucon site. Ewe can get to it by taking a free tour of ESPn.
Posted by Einstein on March 18, 2008 at 6:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lady Vols, LET'S GO GET # 8.
Posted by jh43 on March 18, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
More proof the opinions of so-called experts are only that, "their opinion". They have proven once again they cannot recognize real talent. They are very much like SEC coaches.
Candace must be just too talented for some of the people to see how really good she is. If she would flop around and make it look harder, maybe these jokers would think she deserves the accolades.
I am thankful Vol fans have the good sense to recognize her talent and appreciate the fact she is a Lady Vol!
Show them Candace. Bring us Nr. 8!!!
Posted by utchris2003 on March 18, 2008 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Interesting. Several of the commentators mentioned during the tournament last week that Parker should and would be the National Player of the Year and that year and that the AP voters would vote her POY in the SEC. I guess these dame voters will factor in keeping her from the AP POY. Oh well, another championship would make a bunch of folks look really stupid.
Posted by 98reax on March 18, 2008 at 11:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wouldn't you think a back to back National Championship would mean so much more to CP3? She will be receiving so many other awards in the coming days such as the Wade trophy, the WBCA Naismith, the Espy, Honda award, AP Sportswriters, Female Athlete of the year, whatever. The next 2 weeks will be a cornucopia of honors for Candace. She won't lose any sleep over the SEC POY recipient. Very soon she will begin her new life sans collegiate basketball. Prior accolades will quickly become secondary in her world. Her new career will be such a whirlwind beginning the day she exits the NCAA Tournament. Whether or not she has a piece of the net from Tampa will make little difference in the grand scheme of the life of Candace Parker. I, on the other hand will grieve for days when it's over. It is what it is.
Posted by tenn32rebel on March 19, 2008 at 1:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
98reax -- All I can say is "Amen!"
Posted by LadyVolFanForever on March 19, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
98reax...I totally agree with you. Candace knows what is most important and she knows we Lady Vol fans and real womens basketball fans everywhere appreciate her great talent. Actions speak louder than words.
Many SEC folks (coaches, media and fans) are just jealous of the tremendous job Pat Summitt has done over the years and they are jealous of all the Lady Vol fans all over the country !
Let's show them who is best. Go get 'em Candace and best of luck to you in all your future endeavors. Come back to see us when you can and please wear orange when you do !
Posted by LadyVolFanForever on March 19, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry Angie, didn't mean to overlook you. Congrats on your success this season and for being recognized for it.
Relax and don't be too hard on yourself for the recent slunp. I have faith that you will come out of it when we really need you. Great shooters just keep shooting.......and you are a great shooter.
Looking forward to 3 more years of watching you and seeing you become a more complete player. You definetely came to the right place to achieve that.
Posted by superk on March 19, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Vincent Cole,please stop with the unnecessarily poor taste emails to my account. You can disagree with the opinion that Maya Moore of UConn should have been the National player of the year, but that is no reason to send spam to my email.
Posted by utvolz on March 19, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats Angie, way to start off your UT career. Now get busy adding National Championships to your resume!
Frank in Miami
Posted by brucealmightyfan on March 19, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I bet if Fowles and Parker played themselves a little game of one on one it would become very obvious who the best player is in the SEC. Fowles can oujump everybody under the basket to get an entry pass and lay the ball in from 2 feet away. She can also block shots..that's her game. Parker can do this and so much more. It really should not hve even been a close vote. Parker's not being voted best in the SEC but may very well be the best player in the world doesn't make much sense. The world will see when she anchors a Gold Medal team in the Olympics this summer.
Posted by pdhuff on March 19, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Angie, continue to hone that eye and drill those treys. Nothing stops a rally like laying one in from 28 ft. Congrats.
Take it to the house, Lady Vols. Hardware awaits.
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