AP awards go to Bogut and Weber

Andrew Bogut parleyed an international basketball background into an All-American story.

The 7-footer grew up in Australia with a passion for the game nurtured by his parents, both natives of Croatia. The desire to test himself against the best convinced Bogut to attend college in the United States, a stint at Utah that lasted two years and was capped Friday by his selection as the Associated Press player of the year.

Bruce Weber, who led Illinois to its winningest season ever and a berth in the Final Four, was an overwhelming choice as AP’s coach of the year.

Standing alongside the latest trophy in a growing collection, Bogut said, “I have been coached by Australian guys, European guys and American guys and they have all helped me so many ways. They all tried to make me a better player.”

It worked.

Bogut led Division I with 26 double-doubles in 35 games this season. He was second in rebounding at 12.2 per game and fourth in field goal percentage at 62 percent. He averaged 20.4 points per game (15th in the nation) and 2.3 assists while playing 35 minutes. He was the leading vote-getter on the AP’s All-America first team.

Weber’s selection was the result of Illinois’ most-accomplished season ever. The Illini (36-1), who play Louisville in the national semifinals today, were ranked No. 1 the final 15 weeks of the season, and were unanimous selections six times.

Weber received 54 votes. Mike Krzyzewski of Duke was the runner-up with six.

Calhoun elected to Hall of Fame

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun has been elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame, the Associated Press learned.

Calhoun was told Thursday that he was elected, according to a source close to the coach who spoke on condition of anonymity. Calhoun was one of 16 finalists for this year’s class, which will be formally announced Monday at the Final Four in St. Louis.

The induction ceremonies will take place the weekend of Sept. 8-10 in Springfield, Mass.

Calhoun won national coach of the year honors in 1990 and is the only coach to win Big East coach of the year four times.

Evans to return to ASU

Rob Evans will return for an eighth season as Arizona State basketball coach, the university’s president says.

Michael Crow made the remark to the East Valley Tribune on Thursday.

“It hasn’t been announced yet, but Rob Evans is our basketball coach,” Crow said.

Evans has two years left on his contract, and there had been speculation his status was in doubt after the Sun Devils failed to reach the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in his tenure at the school.

However, he has been widely praised for cleaning up a program that had experienced a point-shaving scandal and other problems under previous coach Bill Frieder.

Around the country

Nine-year Maryland assistant Dave Dickerson was introduced as the men’s basketball coach at Tulane. … UNC-Greensboro men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery resigned to become head coach at Siena College. … Eastern Connecticut guard Antwoine Key, who died after collapsing on court during a game in January, had a fatal heart condition, the state Office of Public Safety said. Key suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart due to a natural disorder of the heart muscle cells.