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Aldrich, Kansas receive top rankings

By Corey Thibodeaux

Monday, September 21, 2009

Kansas is the unanimous preseason No. 1 team in the nation, according to the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.

Also getting high mention were junior center Cole Aldrich and senior guard Sherron Collins. Blue Ribbon voted both players to first team All-American, joining Kyle Singler (Duke), Luke Harangody (Notre Dame) and Evan Turner (Ohio State).

The preseason player of the year went to Aldrich.

“We’re happy to announce that Cole Aldrich is Blue Ribbon’s choice as national preseason player of the year,” Blue Ribbon editor Chris Dortch said in a statement released Friday. “We’ve watched with great interest his development from high school through now, and we’ve always thought he had the potential for greatness.”

Aldrich averaged 14.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game last year and led the Big 12 in blocked shots. He recorded Kansas’ first triple-double against Dayton last year with 13 points and set career highs with 20 rebounds and 10 blocks.

Kansas virtually retains last year’s entire roster that went 27-8 (14-2 in the Big 12 Conference) and made it to the Sweet 16. With the addition of the talented freshman class, Blue Ribbon has high expectations for the team.

“We think Bill and his staff have put together a team that more than justifies the lofty preseason consideration it’s been receiving,” Dortch said. “It’ll be interesting to see how the season plays out, but we strongly believe Kansas starts off as the team to beat for the national championship.”

— — Edited by Alicia Banister

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