April 30, 2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Sports Writers Association today announces its 2005-06 collegiate men's and women's basketball players of the year, as selected by the organization's members.

Two players who led their teams to the regional finals have been named TSWA Players of the Year.

Tennessee's Candace Parker, the first female to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game and twice in any game, has been selected the women s college basketball player of the year. Parker, a 6-4 freshman from Naperville, Ill., was named second team All-America by the Associated Press. She started every game for the Lady Vols, the only UT player to do so this season, and led the team in scoring 18 times and rebounding 22 times.

Tennessee's first-year head coach Bruce Pearl has been selected as the men s coach of the year. Pearl coached the Volunteers to an incredible turn-around, a 22-7 record after UT finished 14-17 for the 2004-05 season. Tennessee reached the NCAA for the first time since 2001, losing in the second round to Wichita State. Pearl s enthusiasm helped excite a Volunteer fan base to return to Thompson-Boling Arena. UT averaged 17,954 fans attending each game last year, 5,500 more fans over last year s average and the third-highest average since moving into Thompson-Boling Arena.

Memphis Rodney Carney, who helped lead the Tigers to the Oakland Regional finals before losing to UCLA, has been named the men s basketball player of the year. The 6-7 senior from Indianapolis was a consensus second-team All-America selection. He led the Tigers in scoring with 17.2 points per game while being named the Conference USA Player of the Year.

Union University s Mark Campbell has been named the women s coach of the year. Campbell coached the Lady Bulldogs to their second-straight NAIA championship in March. Union finished the season with a 31-6 mark. The Lady Bulldogs spent the entire season ranked in the Top 8 in the NAIA National Ratings. He has lead Union to 30 or more wins in six straight seasons.

The players and coaches of the year will be presented their awards during the annual TSWA Convention in July.

TSWA AWARD WINNER CAPSULES

WOMEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Candace Parker University of Tennessee
6-4, Forward, Freshman, Naperville, Ill.
Named a Kodak/WBCA All-American. Named a second team All-American by the Associated Press. Named to the NCAA Cleveland Regional All-Region Team. The only Lady Vol to start every game this season, she led the team in scoring 18 times and in rebounding 22 times. Through her first four career NCAA Tournament games, led all tournament participants in free throw attempts, ranked second in blocked shots and fifth in points scored. Finished her freshman season ranked second in points by a rookie and third in rebounds in the UT record books. Against Army, became the first female to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game and the first woman to dunk twice in any game. Named one of 18 finalists for the Wooden Award. Scored the game-winning shot in the SEC Championship game against LSU. Named the SEC Tournament MVP, just the second SEC Freshman of the Year to ever garner both awards. Named the SEC Freshman of the Year, a first team All-SEC selection and an SEC All-Freshman team choice by the coaches. The unanimous SEC Rookie of the Year according to the Associated Press, also a second-team All-SEC Selection in the media poll. Became just the 10th Lady Vol to start the first game of the year as a freshman. Earned SEC All-Academic honors.

MEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR
Bruce Pearl University of Tennessee
Having led the Vols to a 22-7 overall record and a national ranking as high as No. 8, Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl received a lot of mention as a candidate for national coach of the year from media around the country. When considering what Pearl and the Vols have accomplished this season there is no question why he is receiving this attention. Tennessee received an invitation to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001 and won its first round tournament game. Despite being picked to finish fifth out of six teams in the SEC East this season, the Vols posted a 12-4 league record and won the SEC's Eastern Division. All of UT's core players have seen their production go up this season when compared to last year. The Vols won on the road at No. 6 Texas, at No. 12 Florida and at Kentucky. They also earned season sweeps over South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Vanderbilt. Tennessee was 9-1 against the SEC East. UT s average attendance of 17,954 was the third-largest in school history and an increase of more than 5,500 fans over last year s average. Tennessee s roster isn t loaded with All-Americas. In fact, UT s roster lists just one high school All-America (C.J. Watson was fourth team Parade All-America). The Vols lost two of their top four scorers from last year's team that posted a 14-17 overall record and finished fifth in the SEC East. ESPN's Jay Bilas said on March 4, Coach of the Year often times means exceeding expectations. I would go ahead and go to Bruce Pearl at Tennessee. He's done an extraordinary job of taking a team and making them believe they can win at the highest level.

MEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rodney Carney, University of Memphis
6-7, Forward, Senior, Indianapolis
A consensus All-America second team selection. Conference USA Player of the Year. Conference USA All-Tournament Team pick. Named to the All-Conference USA first team. A finalist for three national Player of the Year honors (Naismith Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy, Adolph F. Rupp Trophy). Was on the Wooden Award mid-season list. Participated in the College Basketball Slam Dunk Championships at the 2006 NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis. Led the Tigers in scoring (17.2 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage (39.1). Averaged 4.3 rebounds and shot 43.6 percent from the field. Had 47 assists, 25 blocks and 49 steals. Conference USA s second-leading scorer. Moved into the No. 3 spot on the Memphis career scoring list with 1,901 points (trails only Keith Lee and Elliot Perry). Holds the school s career three-pointers made record with 287 treys. Also set the school's single-season three-pointers made mark with 102 in 2005-06. Netted double figures in 33 of the Tigers 37 games in 2005-06. Scored a career-high 37 points in a win over Louisiana Tech in 2005-06. Tied a career high with six treys in three games in 2005-06. Named Conference USA Player of the Week three times this past season.

WOMEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR
Mark Campbell Union University
Campbell is the NAIA's active leading in winning percentage. TranSouth Regular season runner-up. NAIA National Champions (Second Straight Title). Union spent the entire season Ranked in the Top 8 of the NAIA National Rankings, with their highest being No. 2 and the final ranking being No. 4. Campbell led the Lady Bulldog to their second straight NAIA National Title. Campbell earned his 200th career coaching win on Nov. 18 of this season. His 31-6 record this season extended his streak of 30 or more wins to six years. Campbell was named the NAIA National Coach of the Year.