GWU's Aaron Linn Earns A-Sun Conference Weekly Award
November 12, 2007 | Men's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – Gardner-Webb junior Aaron Linn was named
Atlantic Sun Conference Co-Player of the Week Monday by the league
office, following an outstanding pair of games in Kentucky.
Linn, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound point guard, was named Regional MVP of
the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic in Lexington, Ky., leading
Gardner-Webb (2-0) to the title and an upcoming appearance in the
semifinals at Madison Square Garden.
The Lenexa, Kansas, native averaged 19.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0
assists and 2.5 steals over two games, shooting a sizzling 65.0
percent (13-of-20) from the floor in the process. Linn also hit
55.9 percent of his three-point attempts (5-of-9) and made 80.0
percent of his chances from the charity stripe (8-of-10).
In addition, his defensive prowess and ball pressure harassed two
opposing backcourts into a combined 14-of-46 shooting effort over
the two games (30.4 percent).
In Gardner-Webb's historic win over No. 20 Kentucky in the title
bout, Linn played a magnificent floor game, scoring 15 points on
5-of-8 shooting, pulling down eight rebounds and dishing off three
assists. His baseline jumper at the halftime buzzer put GWU up
38-27 at the break, and his only field goal of the second half was
a deep three that answered a 7-0 Kentucky run – and gave
Gardner-Webb control of the game for good.
Linn poured in 24 points in his Gardner-Webb debut, leading the
‘Dogs to a 14-point win over Alabama A&M. His efficiency
helped the ‘Dogs open up a lead as large as 22 points in the
second half.
The former Shawnee Mission West (Kan.) High standout was a
third-team junior college (NJCAA) All-America selection last season
as a sophomore at Johnson County (Kan.) Community College in
suburban Kansas City. He averaged 18.6 points per game in the
always powerful Jayhawk League and was one of that circuit's top
guards over a two year period. Linn was runner up for the Jayhawk's
Freshman of the Year award in 2005-2006.
The win at No. 20 Kentucky was Gardner-Webb's first ever over a
ranked opponent as a Division I member. The Runnin' Bulldogs had
previously fallen at the hands of No. 21 Ohio State (2005-2006),
No. 2 North Carolina (2006-2007) and No. 4 Wisconsin
(2006-2007).
The win was also GWU's first against an SEC team. The program's
other major conference wins came over Colorado State (2001-2002),
East Carolina (2004-2005 and 2005-2006) and Minnesota
(2005-2006).
Gardner-Webb will host North Greenville (S.C.) in its home opener
this Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 8 pm ET in Paul Porter Arena. For ticket
information, call the GWU athletics department at (704)
406-4340.
