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Two Blazers Earn All-Conference USA Accolades
March 10, 2008
IRVING, Texas - For a third consecutive season, the UAB men's basketball team has a player on the First Team All-Conference USA, league officials announced on Monday. Junior guard Robert Vaden becomes the third different Blazer in three years to earn first team honors, while junior forward Lawrence Kinnard was tabbed to the third team. Vaden earns a spot on the first team after one of the best seasons ever by a UAB men's basketball player. The two-time C-USA Player of the Week recipient has broken school records for points by a junior (655), three pointers made (138) and three pointers attempted (327). He is approaching several other single-season scoring records, including points in a season (676 set by Andy Kennedy), scoring average (21.8) and free throw percentage (87.0). Vaden leads UAB into the Conference USA Tournament ranked first in the conference in threes made per game (4.6) and minutes per game (35.0), second in free throw percentage (87.0), third in scoring (21.8 ppg) and fifth in three-point field goal percentage (42.2). He also leads the country in three pointers made (138), attempted (327) and made per game average (4.6). Vaden has tied the school record for 20-point contests in a season (17) and is one 30-point game shy of tying the school record for 30-point games during a campaign (currently has four). Vaden was joined on the Conference USA first team by Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts of Memphis, Robert McKiver of Houston and UTEP's Stefon Jackson. "Robert is very deserving of this honor," UAB head coach Mike Davis said. "Many people consider Robert to be one of the premier players in this conference. He has put in a lot of hard work and dedication. He has done a tremendous job for us this year and I am very happy people around the league took notice."
Kinnard earns his first-ever all-conference accolade following a stellar season. The Memphis, Tenn. native leads the team and ranks fourth in Conference USA in rebounds per game (6.8). He also is second on the team in scoring (11.2 ppg) and ranks 22nd in scoring in the latest league statistics. Furthermore, Kinnard ranks second in C-USA in defensive rebounds per game (5.06), 15th in blocked shots (.90) and 23rd in minutes per game (28.2). He is second on the team with four double-doubles. He also picked up his play during the conference season, averaging 13.1 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds per game in league games only. Five different schools were also represented on the all-conference third team. Houston senior forward Dion Dowell, SMU senior guard Jon Killen, Robert Dozier of Memphis and Markel Humphrey of Marshall were joined by Kinnard. The league's postseason awards announcements continue Tuesday with the unveiling of the All-Freshman Team, All-Defensive Team, Freshman of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Sixth-Person of the Year awards. The Coach and Player of the Year Awards will be announced Wednesday. The Blazers travel to Memphis Tuesday morning to begin preparations for Thursday's quarterfinal match up against the winner of the Tulsa/East Carolina game during the opening round of the 2008 Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament. The quarterfinal contest is set to tip at Noon CT on Thursday, and will be televised on CSS. 2007-08 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM
2007-08 ALL-CONFERENCE USA SECOND TEAM 2007-08 ALL-CONFERENCE USA THIRD TEAM |
