University of Connecticut Athletics
Butler Leads Trio of All-BIG EAST Selections
3/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PROVIDENCE, RI (March 4, 2002) – University of Connecticut sophomore forward Caron Butler (Racine, WI) was the only unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First team, while Emeka Okafor (Fr., Houston, TX) was a third team honoree as well as a unanimous choice for the All-Rookie team where he was joined by classmate Ben Gordon (Mount Vernon, NY) as announced by the league office on Monday morning. The selections were made by the league’s head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Because of ties in the balloting, Butler was joined on the first team by six others. Boston College guard Troy Bell and Syracuse forward Preston Shumpert both earned the distinction for the second straight year. Also on the first team were Mike Sweetney (Georgetown), Ryan Humphrey (Notre Dame), Brandin Knight (Pittsburgh) and Marcus Hatten (St. John’s).
Butler helped Connecticut win the East Division crown with a 13-3 league mark. He also was fourth in the BIG EAST in scoring with a 19.6 average and compiled a 7.4 rebounding mark.
Okafor was joined on the All-BIG EAST third team by Kevin Braswell (Georgetown), James Jones (Miami), Chris Thomas (Notre Dame), DeShaun Williams (Syracuse) and Chris Moss (West Virginia). As UConn’s starting center, Okafor averaged 7.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.4 blocks per game. His 119 blocked shots are a UConn single season record as he leads the BIG EAST and ranks second nationally in the department.
Okafor was a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST Rookie team, which included Gordon. The two Connecticut newcomers received the honor along with Chris Thomas (Notre Dame), Ryan Gomes (Providence) and John Allen (Seton Hall). Thomas and Gomes were also unanimous choices.
Gordon, who is UConn’s sixth man at the guard position, is second on the team in scoring at 12.7 points per game. He also averages 3.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per contest. He has reached double figures 17 times and scored a career-best 23 points on three occasions.
2001-02 All-BIG EAST First Team
Name
School
Year
HT
WT
Hometown
Troy Bell
Boston College
Jr.
6-1
171
Minneapolis, Minn.
Connecticut
So.
6-7
235
Racine, Wisc.
Mike Sweetney
Georgetown
So.
6-8
260
Oxon Hill, Md.
Ryan Humphrey
Notre Dame
Sr.
6-8
233
Tulsa, Okla.
Brandin Knight
Pittsburgh
Jr.
6-0
175
East Orange, N.J.
Marcus Hatten
St. John’s
Jr.
6-3
225
Baltimore, Md.
Preston Shumpert
Syracuse
Sr.
6-6
198
Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Name
School
Year
HT
WT
Hometown
Darius Rice
Miami
So.
6-10
205
Jackson, Miss.
John Salmons
Miami
Sr.
6-7
200
Philadelphia, Pa.
John Linehan
Providence
Sr.
5-9
165
Chester, Pa.
Rashod Kent
Rutgers
Sr.
6-6
265
Fairmont, W. Va.
Ricky Wright
Villanova
Jr.
6-7
215
East Chicago, Ind.
All-BIG EAST Third Team
Name
School
Year
HT
WT
Hometown
Connecticut
Fr.
6-9
240
Houston, Texas
Kevin Braswell
Georgetown
Sr.
6-2
190
Baltimore, Md.
James Jones
Miami
Jr.
6-8
211
Miami, Fla.
Chris Thomas
Notre Dame
Fr.
6-1
165
Indianapolis, Ind.
DeShaun Williams
Syracuse
Jr.
6-3
202
Paterson, N.J.
Chris Moss
West Virginia
Sr.
6-8
225
Chesterfield, Va.
All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Name
School
Year
HT
WT
Hometown
David Graves
Notre Dame
Sr.
6-6
208
Lexington, Ky.
Jaron Brown
Pittsburgh
So.
6-4
225
Lexington, Ky.
Julius Page
Pittsburgh
So.
6-3
180
Buffalo, N.Y.
Jerome Coleman
Rutgers
Jr.
6-2
190
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Gary Buchanan
Villanova
Jr.
6-3
205
St. Louis, Mo.
BIG EAST All-Rookie Team
Name
School
Year
HT
WT
Hometown
Connecticut
Fr.
6-2
185
Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Connecticut
Fr.
6-9
240
Houston, Texas
*Chris Thomas
Notre Dame
Fr.
6-1
165
Indianapolis, Ind.
*Ryan Gomes
Providence
Fr.
6-7
235
Waterbury, Conn.
John Allen
Seton Hall
Fr.
6-5
197
Coatesville, Pa.
* - unanimous selection
