I think it was Rodney Dangerfield who walked onto the Tonight Show, stared at the audience as they applauded him, and said, “What are you clapping for?  I haven’t done anything yet.”  Knowing how fiercely the competitive fire burns in 49er basketball stars Donovan Morris and Karina Figueroa, it’s safe to say that’s how they both feel about being named to the Preseason All-Big West Team.

Fig has lead her team in scoring for both of the last two season, despite struggling with a foot injury that has required two surgeries.  The award comes with a tinge of slight bitterness, since she’s unlikely to play for at least another month, or possibly two, due to the most recent surgery—she told us that the rehab process is going well, that she’s working out stiffness and trying to get it to the point where she can maintain full strength and flexibility for the duration of an entire game.  It’s been a grueling process that’s required her to spend time in physical therapy every day, but with this award, it looks like her efforts are already paying dividends.

Morris was one of few bright spots on a very young 49er team that went 6-25 last season.  He averaged 21.2 points a game (leading the conference), and shot over forty percent from the field, including threes.  When we talked to him yesterday, though, D. Mo didn’t care about awards, or the fact that his team has five televised games this season.  All he cares about is winning—”I’m so hungry for it, I can’t really even describe it,” he said. 

The picks were announced at Big West media day on Wednesday—LBSU basketball guru Ryan ZumMallen will have his report and a few pictures up later today.  

To hear Fig and D. Mo in their own words, cue this week’s episode of SportsNight up to 48:55!