WOODEN YOU BELIEVE IT? FINALIST DICKAU, LIKE GONZAGA, USED TO UNDERDOG STATUS.

Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer

Appearing on national television, one of the five best players in the country, hearing his name mentioned with John Wooden. When Dan Dickau transferred to Gonzaga three years ago, he never imagined it could be this way.

``You dream about stuff like this growing up,'' Dickau said. ``To be an All-American, play in the NCAA Tournament. But when you get older, you see how hard it is. Things turned out better than I could ever have thought and I'm thankful for that.''

Dickau is one of five finalists for the 26th John R. Wooden Award as collegiate basketball's top player. He is in Los Angeles for the award presentation today at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The ceremony will be televised on Fox Sports Net beginning at 4 p.m.

He isn't expected to win. But that isn't unusual for Dickau, who struggled at the University of Washington out of high school before transferring to the small mid-major school in Spokane, Wash.

Gonzaga is no Duke, Maryland, Kansas or Cincinnati, the basketball powerhouse homes of the other four finalists. Dickau isn't tall, a high-flier or a flashy player. He is 6-foot. He can't dunk.

Take him out of his uniform and no one would think he is a basketball player. And that's what makes him stand out from the other nominees.

``Jason Williams has had an amazing year,'' Dickau said of the Duke point guard, who is the favorite for the award. ``They all have. Being the lone West Coast guy this year maybe is a chance for me to sneak a few votes if they divide up those East Coast votes.''

The other candidates besides Dickau and Williams are Kansas' Drew Gooden, Cincinnati's Steve Logan and Juan Dixon from national champion Maryland.

The key to all the success Dickau is experiencing now was the decision to transfer to Gonzaga. It was no coincidence that he picked the school his long-time idol, John Stockton of the Utah Jazz, attended. Dickau wore Stockton's number (12) throughout high school and at Washington. When he entered Gonzaga, he inverted the numbers and took 21 because Stockton's 12 is unofficially retired.

Stockton spent three weeks at Gonzaga in the fall, giving Dickau the opportunity to work out and play pickup games with the NBA's all-time assists leader.

``I learned how competitive he is,'' Dickau said. ``It just seems to rub off on you. And if it doesn't, you're probably not playing the right game.''

NBA scouts, who were unsure on drafting Dickau at all going into the season, now are comparing him to Stockton. Dickau is called a gritty point guard who possesses quickness and passing ability and can shoot with the best of them. He averaged 21 points and 4.7 assists as a senior, converting on 45.7 percent of his 3-point shots.

``He's what college basketball is all about,'' Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. ``Every piece of success he has received is something he's worked hard to earn. I'll remember coaching him when I'm 80.''

Dickau led the Bulldogs as they went from the Cinderella team of years past to a program expected to be among the top in college basketball. Gonzaga was 29-3 in the regular season and expected a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament. When the Bulldogs were seeded sixth, the shock on their faces shown live to the nation during the selection show was apparent.

Gonzaga ended up getting upset by No. 11 Wyoming in the first round.

For now, Dickau is expected to go in the second half of the first round of the NBA draft, though that won't be his most important moment of the summer. He is getting married to his high school sweetheart, Heather, in August.

``I've dated her for a long time now,'' Dickau said. ``I wanted to do it this summer because I wanted that support system in the NBA, especially on the road. Someone I can talk to about everything and have fully behind me 100 percent.''

Heather is coming out along with Dickau's father to see the Wooden Award ceremony.

``Just to get to this point, to be one of the five finalists, to be mentioned with the Wooden Award is a great honor,'' Dickau said. ``This isn't just a basketball award. John Wooden's name carries much more than just basketball.''

AT A GLANCE

What: 26th John R. Wooden Award ceremony

Where: Los Angeles Athletic Club

When: Today, 4 p.m.

TV: Fox Sports Net

Candidates: Dan Dickau, Gonzaga; Juan Dixon, Maryland; Drew Gooden, Kansas; Steve Logan, Cincinnati; Jason Williams, Duke.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Gonzaga guard Dan Dickau is one of five finalists for the Wooden Award, given to the nation's top college basketball player.

Shawn Jacobson/Associated Press

Box:

AT A GLANCE (see text)