Pac-10: All-January

Without a doubt the hardest conference to determine its top monthly players is the Pac-10. This is especially true when it comes to the front court players, where such luminaries as Chase Budinger and Ryan Anderson didn’t make the cut. So after much deliberation, here is the All-January Pac-10 team.

Guard – Darren Collison – UCLA – JR
14.6ppg, 4.3apg, 1.9spg
Best game – Jan 26th – Oregon State – 33 points, three assists, three steals

Except for a hiccup versus cross-town rival USC, the Bruins cruised through January. Collison, UCLA’s junior floor leader, had a very solid month as well, averaging 16 points, five assists, two steals and only two turnovers a game.

Guard – James Harden – Arizona State – FR
18.7ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.8spg
Best game – Jan 26th – Washington State – 25 points, five rebounds, four rebounds, three steals

Now that the tough Pac-10 conference schedule is under way, the Sun Devils have come back down to earth. Freshman Harden, however, has not – he started the month off with four straight 20-plus point nights and ended up averaging 21 points and five boards for January.

Forward – Brook Lopez – Stanford – SO
18.1ppg, 7.9rpg, 2.1bpg
Best game – Jan 31st – Washington – 31 points, 13 boards, three assists, three blocks

With Brook Lopez eligible and dominating again, the Cardinals are giving UCLA a real run for the top spot in the Pac-10. Lopez appears to be in game shape again, averaging 19 points, nine boards and two blocks a game in January, his first full month of action this year.

Forward – Jon Brockman - Washington – JR
18.4ppg, 11.3rpg, 1.2apg
Best game – Jan 19th – Oregon State – 26 points, 14 boards, 2 assists

Jon Brockman should be a big fan of the Oregon State Beavers – not only did he have his best game of the month versus them, but their ineptitude is also keeping his Huskies from cellar-dwelling in the conference. The burly forward was his usual steady self in January, putting up 19 point and 13 rebounds a game.

Center – Kevin Love – UCLA – JR
17.7ppg, 11.1rpg, 1.8apg
Best game – Jan 12th – Washington State – 27 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, two blocks

It was another typical month for Kevin Love – six double-doubles (including five in a row to end off the month) and averages of 19 points, 13 rebounds and two assists.

Next up – SEC