Illinois had not had a second-team Associated Press All-American since 1987. Tuesday, the Illini got two in guards Dee Brown and Luther Head, plus a third-team selection in point guard Deron Williams.
Illinois is the only team to have three players honored on this season’s AP first, second or third teams.
Brown, Head and Williams make up Illinois’ nearly unstoppable backcourt and are largely responsible for its 34-1 record and its run into the Sweet 16 Thursday at Allstate Arena, where the Illini will play Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Head leads the team in scoring at 15.7 points per game. Brown averages 13.2 points and 4.5 assists and Williams averages 12.1 points to go with 6.6 assists.
Utah’s Andrew Bogut received the most votes from the 72-member national media panel to lead the first team. Kansas’ Wayne Simien, Syracuse’s Hakim Warrick, Duke’s J.J. Redick and Wake Forest’s Chris Paul also made the first team.
According to Illinois’ media guide, Ken Norman was the last Illinois player to receive a second-team honor from the AP, in 1987. Brian Cook made the third team in 2003, as did Frank Williams in 2001 and Kendall Gill in 1990.