Three Huskies Named to the BIG EAST 25th Anniversary Team

Providence, R.I. - The BIG EAST Conference, in conjunction with the 25th Anniversary of the league, has announced the results of fan voting conducted during the 2003-04 season.

Over 7,300 fans submitted ballots in the voting, which took place via the BIG EAST web site at www.bigeast.org. Each fan was allowed to vote once for five players, regardless of position. Active players were not considered as part of the voting process.

As may have been expected, Georgetown's Patrick Ewing was the leading vote-getter among BIG EAST supporters, finishing as the only player with over 5,000 votes. Some of the top players in college basketball history are among the 15 players on the teams.

The members of the fans' first, second and third teams (in order of vote totals) are as follows:
25th Anniversary Fans' All-BIG EAST First Team
Patrick Ewing (Georgetown, 1981-85) - He was the Associated Press and NABC National Player of the Year in 1985...Led the Hoyas to three Final Fours, including the 1984 National Championship as Final Four MVP...Ewing still holds the BIG EAST record for blocked shots with 247...The only player to ever win a major league award four times - earning Defensive Player of the Year each season.

Chris Mullin (St. John's, 1981-85) - Named the recipient of the Wooden Award, UPI Player of the Year and USBWA Player of the Year in 1985...Ranks fourth all-time in BIG EAST scoring (1,290 points), the only player in the top five that played without the benefit of the 3-point shot...Earned consensus All-America honors twice in his career.

Ray Allen (Connecticut, 1993-96) - The 1995-96 BIG EAST Player of the Year, he led the Huskies to one of the most memorable finishes in BIG EAST Championship history, hitting an off-balance shot in the final seconds to beat Georgetown in the '96 final...One of three BIG EAST players (Pat Garrity, ND; Richard Hamilton, UC) to score over 1,000 league points in just three seasons.

Derrick Coleman (Syracuse, 1986-90) - Still the all-time leading rebounder in BIG EAST action with 701 boards in 64 league games...A three-time All-BIG EAST selection, he helped lead Syracuse to the Final Four as a freshman in 1987...The 1989-90 BIG EAST Player of the Year and an All-American that year.

Allen Iverson (Georgetown, 1994-96) - Iverson made a strong mark in just two seasons in the league, ranking second all-time with a 3.64 steals average...The BIG EAST Rookie of the Year in 1994-95, he was also a two-time choice as the league's top defensive player...1996 All-America pick.

25th Anniversary Fans' All-BIG EAST Second Team
Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse, 2002-03) - May have made the greatest impact of any player in conference annals in one season, leading Syracuse to the National Championship...He was the Final Four MVP, a consensus All-America pick and the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year.

Dwayne "Pearl" Washington (Syracuse, 1983-86) - Known for his flashy play at the point guard position, he ranks fourth all-time in conference assists with 6.6 per game...A three-time choice to the All-BIG EAST First Team, he was the top league rookie in 1983-84.

Alonzo Mourning (Georgetown, 1988-92) - Another dominating Hoya shot blocker...Places third all-time in league blocks (224)...A three-time pick as the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year...Two-time consensus All-America choice.

Sherman Douglas (Syracuse, 1985-89) - The top assist man in the conference record books, he had 426 in four seasons, the only four-year player to average 7.0 per game...Also a three-time All-BIG EAST First Team choice...He still shares the NCAA record for assists in a game with 22 against Providence in 1989.

Richard Hamilton (Connecticut, 1996-99) - Led Connecticut to its only National Championship in 1999, winning Final Four MVP honors...Earned BIG EAST Player of the Year honors twice in his career...Led the conference in scoring in '99 with 22.1 points per game.

25th Anniversary Fans' All-BIG EAST Third Team
Charles Smith (Pittsburgh, 1984-88) - Named 1987-88 BIG EAST Player of the Year and was one of the nation's top centers...Led the Panthers to a share of the regular season title in 1987 and the outright crown in 1988, winning 49 of 64 games overall.

Kerry Kittles (Villanova, 1992-96) - Ranks fifth on the BIG EAST scoring list with 1,288 points in conference play...Had the second highest-scoring game in league annals when he posted 44 against Boston College in 1995...Led VU to its only BIG EAST Championship title in 1995, earning MVP honors.

Ed Pinckney (Villanova, 1981-85) - Led the Wildcats to an improbable run to the National Championship in 1985...Selected as the Final Four MVP...Two-time all-conference first team selection...Averaged 8.7 rebounds per game in four seasons.

Brandin Knight (Pittsburgh, 1999-03) - A leader of the Pittsburgh resurgence in the early part of this century...Shared BIG EAST Player of the Year honors in 2001-02 and was also picked as the league's Most Improved Player...Fifth on the BIG EAST career list with 375 assists in conference play.

Donyell Marshall (Connecticut, 1991-94) - Chosen as the 1993-94 BIG EAST Player of the Year and also earned the league's top defensive honor...Still holds the record for points in a season, with 462 in '93-94...Only player in league history to hit 20-of-20 free throws in a game...'94 All-America selection.