O’Bannon, Sampson, Lobo Earn Awards From Writers

UCLA’s Ed O’Bannon was selected college basketball player of the year Sunday by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

The 6-foot-8 senior forward was presented his trophy on the floor of the Kingdome, where he and his teammates will play Arkansas for the national championship tonight.

O’Bannon averaged 20.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game as the Bruins finished the regular season as the country’s top-ranked team.

He was selected from a group of finalists that included Shawn Respert of Michigan State, Joe Smith of Maryland, Jerry Stackhouse of North Carolina and Corliss Williamson of Arkansas.

O’Bannon was the first UCLA player to receive the USBWA award since Marques Johnson in 1977.

Oklahoma’s Kelvin Sampson was honored as coach of the year by the USBWA after leading the Sooners to a 23-9 record in his first season after seven years at Washington State.

The women’s awards went to Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma and forward Rebecca Lobo. The Huskies completed an undefeated season Sunday by beating Tennessee for the national championship.