Postseason awards are starting to be divvied out to the nation’s top men’s basketball players and Gophers shooting guard Bobby Jackson looks destined to win his share before the year is over.
The United States Basketball Writers Association named Jackson a second-team All-America selection. The senior shooting guard averages 14.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game for Minnesota. Jackson has started all 28 games for the Gophers.
The first team consisted of Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan, Utah’s Keith Van Horn, Ron Mercer from Kentucky, Danny Fortson from Cincinnati and Raef LaFrentz of Kansas.
Jackson earned third-team All-America honors from College Hoops Insider magazine, which also named him Big Ten Player of the Year.
College Hoops Insider named Gophers coach Clem Haskins Big Ten Coach of the Year. The coach is in his 11th season at Minnesota and is having his best season ever. The Gophers are 26-2 and No. 2 in the country.
Gophers junior Sam Jacobson earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. Jacobson averages 13.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. He’s shooting 46.1 percent from the field in 28 games.
— Todd Zolecki