Syracuse's Boeheim AP coach of year

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Syracuse's Jim Boeheim was selected The Associated Press coach of the year, receiving 39 votes after guiding the Orange to a 30-win season and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Kansas State's Frank Martin was next with eight in voting released Friday.

Boeheim took Syracuse from an unranked team in the preseason to No. 1 in both the AP media and ESPN/USA Today coaches' polls, and a No. 1 seeding in the NCAA's West region.

The Orange, who lost their top three scorers from last season, finished 30-5, giving the Hall of Fame coach 829 wins, sixth-best of all time and second to Duke's Mike Krzyzewski among active coaches.

The Orange reached No. 1 in the AP poll this season for the first time since 1990.

"We had a great team this year, and that's how you win these awards," said Boeheim, who just finished his 34th season at his alma mater. "We led the nation in assists and were one of the top defensive teams all season. And we had low expectations, which help you win these awards. We had no falloffs all season, and we had great senior leadership."

Boeheim, who led the Orange to the national championship in 2003, had never won the award before.

"My first year I won a semi-national Eastern coaching award. It just took 34 years to get the next one," he said. "I hope it doesn't take 34 more to get the next one."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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