Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
IRVING, Texas — Iowa State forward Melvin Ejim was selected Big 12 player of the year by coaches and Andrew Wiggins chosen as the top freshman, turning the unveiling of league awards into Canada Day.
Without a FOIA request, or at least a look at the scratch pad inside league headquarters, we’ll never know how close West Virginia’s Juwan Staten came to winning top-player honors in the coaches vote. But let’s work under the assumption he was second or third, and definitely No. 1 on the made-in-the-USA list. He leads the Big 12 in scoring (18.4), assists (5.94) and minutes (37.5), ranks second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.88), fifth in field-goal shooting (49.2 percent) and eighth in steals (1.19).
Staten was selected to the All-Big 12 first team—which, in a nod to legitimacy, contains precisely the five members any basketball all-league team should. He also landed a spot on the All-Defensive squad. (Remember that under gentlemen’s rules, coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own team, lest we have a 10-way tie for every award every year.)
My knee-jerk reactions to Sunday’s list of the lauded:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Melvin Ejim, Iowa State
Good guy and a really good player who piled up a league-record 48 points against TCU but wouldn’t have even earned honorable mention based on his two clunkers against West Virginia. Seriously, the Mountaineers had his number: 1-of-9 for six points in Morgantown and 3-of-7 for seven points in Ames. Still, he was second in scoring (18.2) and rebounds (8.6), third in field-goal percentage (51.3 percent) and 10th in steals. (Taylor’s pick: After much internal debate, I like Ejim by a whisker over Juwan Staten. Statistically insignificant differences, but Ejim did it for a team with six more wins against a tougher schedule. … Sentimental write-in: Ejim’s teammate Georges Niang, an icon to savvy, slick-passing rec-league players everywhere.)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Rick Barnes, Texas
Six months ago, he was Mack Brown without the national championship, and UT hoops fans—all 4,500 of them—were pushing for a change. Now Barnes has taken a freshman- and sophomore-dominated team back to the NCAA tournament. Longhorns were picked eighth in the Big 12 in preseason and finished third. (Taylor’s pick: Lon Kruger, who won more games and beat Texas twice despite heavy roster turnover. … Sentimental write-in: Travis Ford, because that’s as close to this award as he’s going to come.)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Joel Embiid, Kansas
The Hakeem Olajuwon comparisons rained down like confetti for the 7-footer from Cameron, who projects to be among the top three NBA draft picks this summer. Baylor’s Isaiah Austin is a better shot-blocker, but probably lost some votes because he’s not as active on the defensive boards. (Taylor’s runner-up: Austin. … Sentimental write-in: Kevin Noreen who was essentially legislated out of the game when the block/charge call became block/block.)
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
An easy choice, even before Saturday’s 41-point game in Morgantown. Let’s be real, Wiggins could have accepted this award from the moment he committed to Kansas out of Huntington Prep. (Taylor’s runner-up: Joel Embiid. … Sentimental write-in: Chase Connor for three fantastic minutes against TCU.)
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
DeAndre Kane, Iowa State
Why does this category exist? Aren’t freshman newcomers? I suppose the rationale lies with the fact that roughly 98 percent of four-year Division I players are expected to transfer during their careers. Such was the case with Kane who made a sage move by leaving behind a C-USA bottom-feeder at Marshall. (Taylor’s runner-up: Kenny Chery of Baylor. … Sentimental write-in: Doing away with this category completely.)
All-Big 12 First Team |
Melvin Ejim, Iowa State** | F | 6-6 | 220 | Sr. | Toronto, Ontario |
DeAndre Kane, Iowa State | G | 6-4 | 200 | Sr. | Pittsburgh, Pa./Marshall |
Andrew Wiggins, Kansas** | G | 6-8 | 200 | Fr. | Vaughan, Ontario |
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State | G | 6-4 | 220 | So. | Flower Mound, Texas |
Juwan Staten, West Virginia | G | 6-1 | 190 | Jr. | Dayton, Ohio |
All-Big 12 Second Team | |||||
Joel Embiid, Kansas | C | 7-0 | 250 | Fr. | Yaounde, Cameroon |
Marcus Foster, Kansas State | G | 6-2 | 200 | Fr. | Wichita Fallas, Texas |
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma | G | 6-4 | 208 | So. | Freeport, Bahamas |
Markel Brown, Oklahoma State | G | 6-3 | 190 | Sr. | Alexandria, La. |
Jonathan Holmes, Texas | F | 6-8 | 240 | Jr. | San Antonio, Texas |
All-Big 12 Third Team | |||||
Cory Jefferson, Baylor | F | 6-9 | 220 | Sr. | Killeen, Texas |
Georges Niang, Iowa State | F | 6-7 | 240 | So. | Methuen, Mass. |
Perry Ellis, Kansas | F | 6-8 | 225 | So. | Wichita, Kan. |
Cameron Clark, Oklahoma | F | 6-7 | 211 | Sr. | Sherman, Texas |
Jaye Crockett, Texas Tech | F | 6-7 | 210 | Sr. | Clovis, N.M. |
Big 12 All-Defensive Team | |||||
Isaiah Austin, Baylor | C | 7-1 | 225 | So. | Arlington, Texas |
Joel Embiid, Kansas** | C | 7-0 | 250 | Fr. | Yaounde, Cameroon |
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State** | G | 6-4 | 220 | So. | Flower Mound, Texas |
Demarcus Holland, Texas | G | 6-2 | 185 | So. | Garland, Texas |
Cameron Ridley, Texas | C | 6-9 | 285 | So. | Richmond, Texas |
Juwan Staten, West Virginia | G | 6-1 | 190 | Jr. | Dayton, Ohio |
Big 12 All-Newcomer Team | |||||
DeAndre Kane, Iowa State | G | 6-4 | 200 | Sr. | Pittsburgh, Pa./Marshall |
Joel Embiid, Kansas** | C | 7-0 | 250 | Fr. | Yaounde, Cameroon/ |
Andrew Wiggins, Kansas** | G | 6-8 | 200 | Fr. | Vaughan, Ontario |
Marcus Foster, Kansas State | G | 6-2 | 200 | Fr. | Wichita Fallas, Texas |
Isaiah Taylor, Texas | G | 6-1 | 170 | Fr. | Hayward, Calif. |
29
Comments
J
"...a C-USA bottom-feeder at Marshall." will surely get Marshall fans fired up, even though it's true. Actually, what doesn't get MU fans fired up?
March 11, 2014 at 8:43 am |
Bullhalsey
That's what you picked out of this article? LOL. You wvu fans are something else.
March 11, 2014 at 9:49 am |
Dave
Congratulations to Juwan Staten on making the 1st team and the defensive team. I think he should have been player of the year too. Eron Harris got snubbed. You can't tell me that scoring 18 points per game, 4th in 3 point field goals and 3 point field goal % and free throw shooting at 85% that Eron isn't one of the 15 best players in the conference.
March 10, 2014 at 11:44 pm |
Allen
What a ripoff!
March 10, 2014 at 5:05 pm |
Me
How long do we have to wait until the men's BB team finally gets into March Madness?
Anyone else think that Huggins best days of recruiting are behind him?
March 10, 2014 at 4:28 pm |
Aaron
No
March 10, 2014 at 5:20 pm |
wow
+1
March 10, 2014 at 7:10 pm |
TW EAGLE
I'm guessing the "man of the year " award belonged to OSU till their guy went on safari chasing down rabid fans . . . the ISU guy played for a team that attained more wins . . .
too bad it took coach Huggins more than half a season to find a way to integrate Staten's talented motor into the framework of a very serviceable Mountie team . . . and forget the fact the Mountaineers were playing man D almost exclusively for the first 20 games . . .NOW , don't the Mounties play much better D when employing a zone ?
March 10, 2014 at 1:36 pm |
Mark
If I'm Eron Harris I'm playing with a MAJOR chip on my shoulder this year and beyond. Might end up being a blessing in disguise after he comes out next year and annihilates the Big 12.
March 10, 2014 at 1:34 pm |
clark manning
Eron Harris not even second or third team......Give me a break.
March 10, 2014 at 11:04 am |
J the C
Congrats to Juwan! Being first team all conference in what is arguably the best conference in the country is quite an honor. If the conference also gave a "most improved player" award, Juwan would also have to be high on that list.
March 10, 2014 at 10:56 am |
Kenny
I agree that the Lady Mountaineers do not get the support they earn. They are the best kept secret in West Virginia. Mike Carey has donne a tremendous job with the program. Maybe more from the media would help attract fans. How does his salary compare to other women's basketball coaces in the Big 12?
March 10, 2014 at 2:27 am |
Woodchuck
WVU women have won two games in the Big 12 conferences tournament and are in the finals tomorrow night. Maybe you can mention them in the next week or 10 days. Who cares about a bunch of meaningless stats! Get behind a winner and support the lady Mountaineers!
March 9, 2014 at 8:44 pm |
Roy Jones
Remember Kevin Jones getting passed over for player in the year when he led in most of all stats. Could it be coaches take out their displeasure for Huggins on our players?
March 9, 2014 at 6:36 pm |
Aaron
This wasn't an all conference team, this was simply a vote in which the top 5 vote recipients were on the 1st team, the next 5 were the 2nd team and the next 5 were 3rd team.
How else do you explain a 1st team with 4 guards, a 3rd team with 5 forwards?
Did they even vote for a player of the year or simply give it to the player with the most votes?
March 9, 2014 at 6:27 pm |
Aaron
I merely a lowly fan from WV but in my humble opinion, Melvin Ejim wasn't even the best player on his team. While he was a terrific scorer against all teams not named WV and rebounded the ball well, DeAndre Kane did the heavy lifting for that team.
If Staten's not the best player in the league, than it's either Embiid or Wiggins. Sorry coaches but you got this one wrong.
March 9, 2014 at 5:58 pm |
Big Larry
I hate it when you are right...
March 9, 2014 at 9:08 pm |
Big Larry
I hate it when you are right!
March 9, 2014 at 9:07 pm |
Bob Straface
In all candor, the omission of Eron Harris on all 3 teams in spite of his 17 or so points per game validates the lack of respect for his total game.
This shows healthily that he is one dimensional albeit late season efforts to put the ball on the floor to help make the defense honest.
I hope Eron spends the off season working very hard on:
1. Improving ball handling
2. Developing head, shoulder and ball fake
3. Not making his mind up and keying his move off of the defense rather than vice versa
4. Getting way stronger on taking it to the rack and finishing or getting fouled
If he comes back with improvements in #1-4 above, he will be awesome. Let's do it, Eron.
Bob
Denton, TX.
March 9, 2014 at 3:45 pm |
John
First congratulations to Juwan staten, especially for the defensive all big twelve team. Having stated this, how in the world is eron Harris left off all three teams? I will bet everyone no other conference will leave its' third leading scorer off the first or second team let alone its third team. Do coaches even watch opposing teams when they play them? The Harris snub suggests they don't.
March 9, 2014 at 3:10 pm |
Jeff
While he is a tremendous spot up scorer, Eron needs to dramatically improve his defense, rebounding, and slashing ability to move up in the rankings. He is a fabulous three-point shooter, but does not handle contact well and is not a very good ball handler at this stage. If he works as hard in the off-season as Juwan Staten did last year, he'll be great.
March 9, 2014 at 3:34 pm |
John
Jeff, points all well taken, but I can say many of the same things and a few more about all of the players on the first three teams except wiggins and ejim I think. I can also look at the third leading scorer from other conferences and say many of the same things but they will be on the first or second team. I do agree if Harris improves his ball handling skills and defensive effort, look out.
March 9, 2014 at 3:48 pm |