Williams, Clark, Samuels Earn BIG EAST Honors

March 8, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Three University of Louisville men's basketball players have earned recognition on the BIG EAST Conference post-season teams as selected by the league coaches.

Senior forward Terrence Williams was selected to the All-BIG EAST Conference first team, junior forward Earl Clark was a third team pick and freshman center Samardo Samuels was honored on the six-person All-Rookie team.

The list includes three five-player teams, although the first team is six players, from which the BIG EAST Player of the Year will be chosen. The conference will announce Player of the Year, Oppenheimer Funds/BIG EAST Coach of the Year, BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete on Tuesday, March 10. The announcement will be made between sessions on the first day of the BIG EAST Championship at Madison Square Garden.

Williams is one of the league's best all-around performers, averaging 12.8 points and ranking among the BIG EAST leaders in rebounds (8.5), assists (5.1) and steals (2.3). He capped the regular season helping the Cardinals win their first BIG EAST Championship with 20 points, seven assists, six rebounds and a career-high six steals at West Virginia. He is the only player in U of L history with career totals of over 1,400 points, 800 rebounds, 500 assists and 150 steals.

Clark leads the Cardinals in scoring (13.6), rebounding (8.8, sixth in the BIG EAST) and blocked shots (45 total). Clark has 14 double-doubles this season and 24 for his career. He needs 12 points to become the Cardinals' 60th career 1,000 point scorer.

Samuels is the seventh highest scoring freshman ever at Louisville, averaging 11.8 points and 4.7 rebounds. He is eighth in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (.584), 15th in blocked shots (1.1) and is the third highest fresman scorer in the league.

U of L earned the top seed in the BIG EAST Conference Championship in New York. The Cardinals will play either Cincinnati, DePaul, or Providence in the quarterfinals at noon on Thursday.


ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAMHasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, C, Jr., 7-3, 263, Dar Es Salaam, TanzaniaTerrence Williams, Louisville, F, Sr., 6-6, 210, Seattle, Wash.Jerel McNeal, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-3, 200 Chicago, Ill.Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, F, Jr., 6-8, 251, Schererville, Ind.DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh, C, So., 6-7, 265, Pittsburgh, Pa.Sam Young, Pittsburgh, F, Sr., 6-6, 215, Clinton, Md.
ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAMA.J. Price, Connecticut, G, Sr., 6-2, 181, Amityville, N.Y.Wesley Matthews, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-5, 215, Madison, Wis.Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, G, So., 6-0, 185, Niagara Falls, N.Y.Dante Cunningham, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-8, 230, Silver Spring, Md.Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia, F, Jr., 6-7, 225, Newark, N.J.
ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAMDeonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G, Jr., 6-1, 195, Indianapolis, Ind.Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, F, Sr., 6-7, 243, Brookline, Mass.Earl Clark, Louisville, G/F, Jr., 6-8, 220, Rahway, N.J.Levance Fields, Pittsburgh, G, Sr., 5-10, 190, Brooklyn, N.Y.Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, So., 6-5, 185, Bronx, N.Y.
BIG EAST HONORABLE MENTIONWeyinmi Efejuku, Providence, G, Sr., 6-5, 210, Fresh Meadows, N.Y.Dominique Jones, USF, G, So., 6-4, 205, Lake Wales, Fla.Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.Alex Ruoff, West Virginia, G, Sr., 6-6, 220, Spring Hill, Fla.
BIG EAST ALL-ROOKIE TEAMYancy Gates, Cincinnati, F, Fr., 6-9, 255, Cincinnati, OhioKemba Walker, Connecticut, G, Fr., 6-0, 175, Bronx, N.Y.Greg Monroe, Georgetown, C, Fr., 6-10, 240, Gretna, La.Samardo Samuels, Louisville, F, Fr., 6-8, 240, Trelawny, JamaicaMike Rosario, Rutgers, G, Fr., 6-3, 180, Jersey City, N.J.Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F, Fr., 6-9, 205, Long Island City, N.Y.

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