March 28, 2011

PITTSBURGH - Duquesne's T.J. McConnell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) was one of 21 players named to the CollegeInsider.com Freshman All-America team released on March 25.

McConnell, the only freshman in Division I to total over 300 points (344), 100 assists (140) and 75 steals (91), was named 2011 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year earlier this month.

The 6-0 Pittsburgh native, who broke the A-10 freshman record for steals set by Pepe Sanchez in 1997, finished fourth nationally with a 2.8 spg. average. His 91 thefts also broke the DU single-season record of 89 set by teammate Damian Saunders last season.

McConnell averaged 10.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.8 steals per game in helping the Dukes to a 19-13 record and tied for fourth place finish in the A-10 at 10-6. He tied the DU school record for most A-10 Rookie of the Week honors with five.

McConnell shot .498 from the field, including .402 from the 3-point arc. He scored in double digits 19 times and posted two or more steals in 26 of 32 games. His 2.50 assist-to-turnover ratio was second-best in the conference and tied the sixth-best freshman effort in NCAA history.

COLLEGEINSIDER.COM 2011 FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAMHarrison Barnes     6-8     North CarolinaWill Barton             6-6     MemphisAaron Craft             6-2     Ohio StateTim Hardaway            6-5     MichiganTobias Harris       6-8     TennesseeMaurice Jones       5-7     USCTerrence Jones      6-8     KentuckyPerry Jones III     6-11    BaylorDeAndre Kane        6-4     MarshallBrandon Knight      6-3     KentuckyKendall Marshall    6-3     North CarolinaRay McCallum        6-1     DetroitDoug McDermott      6-7     CreightonT.J. McConnell      6-0     DuquesneTravis McKie        6-7     Wake ForestTrevor Releford     6-1     AlabamaJereme Richmond     6-7     IllinoisJared Sullinger     6-9     Ohio StateTristan Thompson    6-8     TexasBrian Voelkel       6-6     VermontPatric Young        6-9     Florida