College Basketball Awards Predictions
By Michael Schneid
With a few days remaining in the regular season, it is almost time for award season. We have our picks for Player of the Year and Coach of the Year in each of the major conferences.
American Athletic Conference
Player of the Year: Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati
It would have been easier to split the award three ways between Kilpatrick, Russ Smith, and Shabazz Napier. But despite Smith and Napier's recent hot streaks, Kilpatrick has consistently been the best player in the conference all season. He leads the conference in scoring (20.3 ppg) and also averages 4.5 rebounds per game
Coach of the Year: Larry Brown, SMU
Mick Cronin has done a terrific job at Cincinnati. Rick Pitino has a final four caliber team despite losing a lot since last year and even the beginning of this year. But Larry Brown has done the best job. Not many people had SMU as a top 20 team and a lock for the NCAA tourney. But after bringing in some top recruits, the players have bought into what the Hall of Fame coach has to offer and are playing his brand of basketball.
ACC:
Player of the Year: TJ Warren, North Carolina State
Despite the presence of super freshman Jabari Parker, Pittsburgh's Lamar Patterson, and Syracuse's CJ Fair, Warren has almost quietly been the best player in the ACC. Warren averages 24.2 ppg, 6.9 rebounds per game.
Coach of the Year: Tony Bennett, Virginia
This one is an absolute no-brainer. Syracuse and Pittsburgh joined a conference annually dominated by UNC and Duke, yet Virginia has won the outright ACC title, their first since 1981. The Cavaliers are 16-1 in ACC play and currently ranked 5th overall. Their only ACC loss came at Duke in early January and they haven't lost since.
Big 12:
Player of the Year: Deandre Kane, Iowa State
This is one of the hardest awards of all. There are a lot of options and none that really stand out. Kane is averaging 16.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 5.8 apg. Kane's numbers are very good and despite the presence of Melvin Ejim, is a big reason why Iowa State is going back to the NCAA tournament.
Coach of the Year: Bill Self, Kansas
Like there is ever any other choice. Kansas will win the Big 12 by three games. It's his 10th Big 12 regular season championship. For further perspective, Self has lost 9 home games in his career at Kansas.
Big East:
Player of the Year: Doug McDermott, Creighton
Well, this is easy. McDermott is approaching 3000 career points and is averaging 26 ppg. He is one of most prolific scorers in the entire country and Creighton will go as far as McDermott can take them in March.
Coach of the Year: Jay Wright, Villanova
It would have been Greg McDermott if Creighton had won the Big East. But Villanova 26-3, 14-2 in Big East play and yet no one really talks about them.
Big Ten:
Player of the Year: Nik Stauskas, Michigan
Stauskas averages just over 17 ppg and has become the most important player on the Big Ten champions.
Coach of the Year: Tim Miles, Nebraska
Ohio State, Indiana, Minnesota. These are teams Nebraska is ahead of in the standings. Michigan's John Beilein has done an outstanding job despite all the players he has lost to win the outright Big Ten championship. But Tim Miles has led Nebraska to 10 Big Ten wins, and host Wisconsin Saturday in a huge game. The Cornhuskers have a win over Ohio State, @ Michigan State, and a sweep over Indiana.
Pac-12:
Player of the Year: Nick Johnson, Arizona
This is easy. Johnson is the best player on the best team in the conference, and one of the best in the country. The Wildcats aren't a very high scoring team, but will still go as far as Johnson takes them, who averages 16 ppg and 3 apg.
Coach of the Year: Sean Miller, Arizona
No one else is really deserving of this award. The Pac-12 was disappointing and Arizona has spent most of the year in the top 5 of the polls Their two losses came on wild endings in road games and came after forward Brandon Ashley suffered a season-ending injury.
SEC:
Player of the Year: Julius Randle, Kentucky
The freshman averages 15 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Coach of the Year: Billy Donovan, Florida
The Gators are unbeaten in the SEC and their two losses came at Wisconsin and at Uconn, on a crazy buzzer beater. Florida has made three Elite 8 appearances and could be on their way to a fourth. The question will be if they can get past the Elite 8.
With a few days remaining in the regular season, it is almost time for award season. We have our picks for Player of the Year and Coach of the Year in each of the major conferences.
American Athletic Conference
Player of the Year: Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati
It would have been easier to split the award three ways between Kilpatrick, Russ Smith, and Shabazz Napier. But despite Smith and Napier's recent hot streaks, Kilpatrick has consistently been the best player in the conference all season. He leads the conference in scoring (20.3 ppg) and also averages 4.5 rebounds per game
Coach of the Year: Larry Brown, SMU
Mick Cronin has done a terrific job at Cincinnati. Rick Pitino has a final four caliber team despite losing a lot since last year and even the beginning of this year. But Larry Brown has done the best job. Not many people had SMU as a top 20 team and a lock for the NCAA tourney. But after bringing in some top recruits, the players have bought into what the Hall of Fame coach has to offer and are playing his brand of basketball.
ACC:
Player of the Year: TJ Warren, North Carolina State
Despite the presence of super freshman Jabari Parker, Pittsburgh's Lamar Patterson, and Syracuse's CJ Fair, Warren has almost quietly been the best player in the ACC. Warren averages 24.2 ppg, 6.9 rebounds per game.
Coach of the Year: Tony Bennett, Virginia
This one is an absolute no-brainer. Syracuse and Pittsburgh joined a conference annually dominated by UNC and Duke, yet Virginia has won the outright ACC title, their first since 1981. The Cavaliers are 16-1 in ACC play and currently ranked 5th overall. Their only ACC loss came at Duke in early January and they haven't lost since.
Big 12:
Player of the Year: Deandre Kane, Iowa State
This is one of the hardest awards of all. There are a lot of options and none that really stand out. Kane is averaging 16.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 5.8 apg. Kane's numbers are very good and despite the presence of Melvin Ejim, is a big reason why Iowa State is going back to the NCAA tournament.
Coach of the Year: Bill Self, Kansas
Like there is ever any other choice. Kansas will win the Big 12 by three games. It's his 10th Big 12 regular season championship. For further perspective, Self has lost 9 home games in his career at Kansas.
Big East:
Player of the Year: Doug McDermott, Creighton
Well, this is easy. McDermott is approaching 3000 career points and is averaging 26 ppg. He is one of most prolific scorers in the entire country and Creighton will go as far as McDermott can take them in March.
Coach of the Year: Jay Wright, Villanova
It would have been Greg McDermott if Creighton had won the Big East. But Villanova 26-3, 14-2 in Big East play and yet no one really talks about them.
Big Ten:
Player of the Year: Nik Stauskas, Michigan
Stauskas averages just over 17 ppg and has become the most important player on the Big Ten champions.
Coach of the Year: Tim Miles, Nebraska
Ohio State, Indiana, Minnesota. These are teams Nebraska is ahead of in the standings. Michigan's John Beilein has done an outstanding job despite all the players he has lost to win the outright Big Ten championship. But Tim Miles has led Nebraska to 10 Big Ten wins, and host Wisconsin Saturday in a huge game. The Cornhuskers have a win over Ohio State, @ Michigan State, and a sweep over Indiana.
Pac-12:
Player of the Year: Nick Johnson, Arizona
This is easy. Johnson is the best player on the best team in the conference, and one of the best in the country. The Wildcats aren't a very high scoring team, but will still go as far as Johnson takes them, who averages 16 ppg and 3 apg.
Coach of the Year: Sean Miller, Arizona
No one else is really deserving of this award. The Pac-12 was disappointing and Arizona has spent most of the year in the top 5 of the polls Their two losses came on wild endings in road games and came after forward Brandon Ashley suffered a season-ending injury.
SEC:
Player of the Year: Julius Randle, Kentucky
The freshman averages 15 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Coach of the Year: Billy Donovan, Florida
The Gators are unbeaten in the SEC and their two losses came at Wisconsin and at Uconn, on a crazy buzzer beater. Florida has made three Elite 8 appearances and could be on their way to a fourth. The question will be if they can get past the Elite 8.
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