Bobby Brannen humbly said he did not expect to be named first-team All-Conference USA.
By that, he meant he did not expect it at the beginning of the year, coming off a season in which he averaged 5.1 points and 5.0 rebounds. After lifting those numbers to 14.4 points and 8.4 rebounds and helping to carry the Cincinnati Bearcats to the C-USA regular-season title, he figured he had a chance.
''It's a great honor for me,'' Brannen said. ''I'm just happy. I don't know what else to say.''
UC dominated the selections, with four players on the 15-member team. Center Kenyon Martin, forward Ruben Patterson and sixth man Melvin Levett made the second team.
Brannen was joined on the first team by Saint Louis guard Larry Hughes, guard Sean Colson and forward DeMarco Johnson of UNC Charlotte and Memphis forward Omar Sneed.
A 6-foot-7 senior forward from Moeller High, Brannen made the first team with the lowest scoring average of any player in the league's three-year history. No one had ever made it before with less than DeJuan Wheat's 17.3 per game last season.
That could be considered a tribute to Brannen's leadership of the Bearcats, as well as his his ranking among the top five rebounders and foul shooters. ''Bobby's been the heart and soul of everything we do,'' coach Bob Huggins said. ''I can't imagine anybody doing more for their team than Bob's done for us.
''Kenyon Martin, without question, is the best shot-blocker in the league, and he's been the key to our defense being as good as it is. Mel - from where he's come from to now - he's become a very good shooter for us and an excellent defender.''
Huggins suggested Patterson, who averages 16.8 points and 6.2 rebounds, might have made the first team had he not missed the first half of the season on NCAA suspension.
''Ruben's as good a talent as there is in this league,'' Huggins said. ''He's had a lot of catching up to do, and I think he's done that very well.''
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