Buckeyes' Oden tops AP team

Texas freshman Kevin Durant was also named to the first team.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
If Kevin Durant and Greg Oden play only one season of college basketball, it will have been as All-Americans.
The freshmen were voted to The Associated Press All-America team Monday, the first members of their class so honored since 1990.
The 6-foot-9 Durant, who led Texas to the Big 12 title game, was the only unanimous choice of the 72-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25.
Oden, the 7-footer who helped Ohio State to its first No. 1 ranking in 45 years, was joined on the team by seniors Alando Tucker of Wisconsin and Acie Law IV of Texas A & amp;M and junior Arron Afflalo of UCLA. The voting was conducted before the NCAA tournament.
First frosh since 1989
Since freshmen became eligible to play in 1972, the only ones selected to the first team had been Wayman Tisdale of Oklahoma in 1983 and Chris Jackson of LSU in 1989.
Durant, the first Texas All-American since T.J. Ford in 2003, averaged 25.6 points and 11.3 rebounds, but it was his all-around game and penchant for big shots in the clutch that had people ranking him as one of the best freshmen ever.
"There's no question Kevin deserves every individual accolade that he will receive," Texas coach Rick Barnes said, "but the one thing I respect most about Kevin is that he is the ultimate team player. He really doesn't care about the individual numbers and awards. All he cares about is the success of his team. When you're around a guy like that, it makes coaching him a joy."
Durant, the Big 12 player of the year, backed up his coach's sentiments.
"I am not very big on individual honors, but I am very humbled to be included on the Associated Press All-America team," he said. "When you look at the other four guys who are on the team, I am honored to be mentioned with them. I have so much respect for how each one of them has led their respective teams and handled themselves, both on and off the court. I look up to each one of them."
First Buckeye since 1992
Oden, the first Ohio State All-American since Jim Jackson in 1992, missed the first seven games as he recovered from offseason surgery on his right wrist. As he rehabilitated from the injury he learned to shoot free throws left-handed and didn't miss a beat when he returned to the Buckeyes, averaging 15.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks while shooting 61.4 percent from the field.
"I'm very surprised," Oden said of being selected. "Just with how things went, I didn't really play a whole season, and I know there are a lot of other guys with better numbers than me. I'm just surprised, but I'm honored and the best I can do is keep on playing."
Oden had a quick answer when asked about the success of himself and Durant in their first seasons in college.
"It's just younger guys coming in and just playing basketball, not worried about age or anything," he said.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.