ESPN Men's Basketball

The freshman are sure growing up fast in college basketball.

First-year players Michael Beasley of Kansas State and Kevin Love of UCLA were named finalists for the Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Award on Sunday. They were joined by juniors Chris Douglas-Roberts of Memphis and Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina.

"There is such a strong correlation between these finalists and seasons their schools are having," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. "And each has achieved tremendous success which is difficult to do with all of the expectations placed upon them. We know any one of them would be a deserving Naismith winner."

North Carolina (34-2) advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament on Sunday with a 108-77 rout of Arkansas. Hansbrough, the ACC Player of the Year, scored 17 points and added 10 rebounds.

Later Sunday, Memphis (35-1) received 17 points, five rebounds and four assists from Douglas-Roberts to escape Mississippi State. He's the reigning Conference USA Player of the Year.

On Saturday, Love's double-double (19 points, 11 rebounds) helped another No. 1 seed, UCLA (33-3), advance with a 51-49 win over Texas A&M. He's only the second freshman -- Shareef Abdul-Rahim of Cal was the first for Cal in 1996 -- to win the Pac-10 Player of the Year award.

Beasley's season ended in the second round Saturday. He had 23 points and 13 rebounds, but the No. 11 seed Wildcats (21-12) fell to Wisconsin 72-55. He earned Big 12 Player of the Year honors.

Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors -- a group of basketball journalists, coaches and administrators -- narrowed the group from 30 to four. The winner will be named during halftime of the national championship game on April 7.

Kevin Durant became the first freshman to win the Naismith award last season, playing for Texas before jumping to the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics.