The Big 12 post season awards were announced on Sunday and the Kansas Jayhawks were well represented yet again for the various awards. There was a tight race for the player of year between Damion James, James Anderson, and Sherron Collins as well as a tight race for Freshman of the year between Xavier Henry and Colorado’s Alec Burks. So who were the big winners and how did the Jayhawks fare?
Anderson, a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team choice, led the Big 12 in scoring with 22.9 points per game. He averaged 24.1 points in conference play, the fifth-best scoring mark in league history. He had five 30-point outings – the most of any player in the Big 12 – and has scored 25 points or more 17 times. He is the second Oklahoma State student-athlete to garner player honors, following Tony Allen in 2003-04.
Aldrich wins defensive recognition after sharing the honor a year ago. The junior center finished second overall in the Conference with 110 blocks, including 54 in league action. He was a key component on a Jayhawk squad that led the Big 12 and ranked third nationally in field goal percentage defense by holding opponents to 37.7 percent shooting from the floor.
Udoh had a dominating season in his debut year at Baylor by setting a Big 12 single-season record for blocks with 123. The junior rejected 57 in league play, also a season mark. He had 16 games with 10 rebounds or more, including a 20-rebound effort at South Carolina in December. Udoh finished tied for second in the Big 12 with 13 double-doubles and was also second overall with 9.8 rebounds per game. He is the first Baylor player in Big 12 history to earn top newcomer accolades.
Burks is the first Colorado athlete to be named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. The guard is the top-scoring freshman in the league, ranking seventh overall with 16.8 points per game. He also led the conference in field goal shooting, connecting at a .536 mark in 29 contests. His scoring and field goal percentage numbers are fourth nationally among all freshmen.
Samuels gave his team a spark off the bench in 29 of 30 games, finishing tied for third on the team in scoring with 11.4 points per game. The sophomore forward was a non-starter in all 16 league outings, averaging 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds, while shooting 54.9 percent. The sixth man honor gives KSU the award in two of the four seasons it has been presented (Cartier Martin, 2006-07).
Martin led his team to one of the best seasons in school history, as K-State was ranked as high as No. 5 nationally and earned the No. 2 seed in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship. The Wildcats finished with a 24-6 record, including 11-5 in league play. The team’s overall and conference win totals are its most since the 1987-88 campaign. Included in that total were seven road victories, the most for KSU in the Big 12 era.
The All-Big 12 First, Second, Third and Honorable Mention teams were also announced, while conference coaches also selected All-Defensive and All-Rookie Teams. Aldrich and teammate Sherron Collins were repeat selections on the first team, while Clemente was on the second team for the second straight season. Aldrich and J.T. Tiller (Missouri) were holdovers from last year’s defensive squad.
The official All-Big 12 awards are selected by the league’s head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.
2009-10 Coaches’ All-Big 12 Honors
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – James Anderson, Oklahoma State, G, Jr.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Cole Aldrich, Kansas, C, Jr.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – Ekpe Udoh, Baylor, F, Jr.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Alec Burks, Colorado
SIXTH MAN AWARD – Jamar Samuels, Kansas State
COACH OF THE YEAR – Frank Martin, Kansas State
All-Big 12 First Team
Cole Aldrich, Kansas (C, Jr.)
Sherron Collins, Kansas (G, Sr.)
Jacob Pullen, Kansas State (G, Jr.)
James Anderson, Oklahoma State** (G, Jr.)
Damion James, Texas** (G/F, Sr.)
Donald Sloan, Texas A&M (G, Sr.)
All-Big 12 Second Team
LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor (G, Jr.)
Ekpe Udoh, Baylor (F, Jr.)
Craig Brackins, Iowa State (F, Jr.)
Marcus Morris, Kansas (F, So.)
Denis Clemente, Kansas State (G, Sr.)
All-Big 12 Third
Tweety Carter, Baylor (G, Sr.)
Cory Higgins, Colorado (G, Jr.)
Kim English, Missouri (G, So.)
Tommy Mason-Griffin, Oklahoma (G, Fr.)
Bryan Davis, Texas A&M (F, Sr.)
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Listed alphabetically by school)
Alec Burks (Colorado), Marquis Gilstrap (Iowa State), Xavier Henry (Kansas), Zaire Taylor (Missouri), Willie Warren (Oklahoma), Obi Muonelo (Oklahoma State), Avery Bradley (Texas), John Roberson (Texas Tech), Mike Singletary (Texas Tech)
Big 12 All-Defensive
Ekpe Udoh, Baylor (F, Jr.)
Cole Aldrich, Kansas (C, Jr.)
Jacob Pullen, Kansas State (G, Jr.)
J.T. Tiller, Missouri (G, Sr.)
Dogus Balbay, Texas (G, Jr.)
Bryan Davis, Texas A&M (F, Sr.)
Big 12 All-Rookie
Ekpe Udoh, Baylor (F, Jr.)
Alec Burks, Colorado (G, Fr.)
Xavier Henry, Kansas (G, Fr.)
Tommy Mason-Griffin, Oklahoma (G, Fr.)
Avery Bradley, Texas (G, Fr.)
** – Unanimous Selection
Ties in the voting created additional spots for the All-Big 12 First Team and All-Defensive Team
