Lin, Wittman Named USBWA All-District

Friday, March 12, 2010

Courtesy: Cornell & Harvard Athletic Communications

2009-10 USBWA Men's All-District Teams

ITHACA, N.Y. -- For the second time in their respective careers, Cornell senior forward Ryan Wittman and Harvard senior guard Jeremy Lin have been named to the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District teams.

Wittman, a District II honoreee, is among 10 players from Division I schools in the states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. Eight of the players joining him on the team play in the Big East, while the 10th plays in the Atlantic 10. He averaged 17.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists while setting an Ivy League record with his 100 3-point field goals in 2009-10. He shot 47 percent from the field, 42 percent from beyond the arc and 86 percent from the line while chipping in 34 steals and 13 blocked shots. The six-time Ivy League Player of the Week scored in double figures in each of his last 29 contests and in 30 of the team's 31 contests. The MVP of the Legends Classic Regional was also an all-tournament pick at the MSG Holiday Festival. Wittman has posted 20 or more points in 10 contests this season (Cornell 8-2 in those games).

Wittman, the school's career scoring leader (1,974 points), enters the NCAA tournament 26 points shy of becoming the Ivy League's fifth 2,000-point scorer. He already holds school and Ivy records for 3-pointers in a season (100 in 2009-10) and career (368) and was named to the collegeinsider.com's Mid-Major All-Decade team. He has had some of his biggest moments in the biggest games, including scoring seven points in the final 2:14 to seal the 48-45 win at Princeton, hitting a 35-footer at the buzzer in overtime to lift Cornell into the MSG Holiday Festival against Davidson, or scoring 34 points at La Salle to overcome the loss of two starters to injury.

Lin, a District I honoree, becomes the first player at Harvard to earn first team NABC honors twice in his career. He is a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, which goes to the nation's top point guard as well as the John R. Wooden Award for the national player of the year. The Palo Alto, Calif. native lived up to the billing with an impressive season that saw Harvard set numerous program records including wins (21), non-conference wins (11), home wins (11) and road/neutral wins (10).

Last year, Lin was the only player in Division I to rank among his league's top 10 in every statistical category. This season, he become the first player in the history of the Ivy League to record 1,450 points (1,471), 450 rebounds (487), 400 assists (401) and 200 steals (224). At the end of the regular season, he ranks first all-time in games played (114) at Harvard, fifth in points (1,471), fifth in assists (401) and second in steals (224).

In the nonconference schedule, Lin averaged 17.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 53.5 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the free-throw line -- making an average of 7.2 trips per game. His breakout performances came against Holy Cross in the season opener with 24 points and seven assists; against William & Mary with 19 points, including a game-winning 3-pointer in triple overtime to go with nine assists and five rebounds; 30 points, nine rebounds, three steals, three assists and two blocks at Connecticut; 25 points and four assists in a win at Boston College; 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists and seven steals against George Washington; 21 points and four steals at Seattle and nine assists at Santa Clara.

All told for the season, Lin averaged 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the floor overall, 35 percent from 3-point range and 76 percent from the free throw line (144-190).

Wittman and Cornell will find out their NCAA tournament fate on Sunday, March 14 during the Selection Show on CBS, while Lin and Harvard await word on a postseason tournament following a 21-7 overall record and a 10-4 mark in Ivy play.