Big 12 Champion Kansas Well Recognized on Coaches' All-Big 12 Men's Basketball Awards
March 7, 2010
IRVING, Texas – Kansas senior Sherron Collins and junior Cole Aldrich were each named All-Big 12 First Team for the second straight season as the Big 12 champion Jayhawks were well represented on the conference coaches’ honors for 2009-10.
Aldrich was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. KU sophomore Marcus Morris was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, while freshman Xavier Henry was an honorable mention all-conference selection. Aldrich was also a Big 12 All-Defensive Team member and Henry was named to the Big 12 All-Rookie Team. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team in the selection of the postseason honors.
“I am proud of the honors that these individuals receive but they will be the first to tell you that it is a team effort,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said. “I am surprised Xavier was not on one of the first three teams as he has had a solid season.”
Aldrich has broken the Kansas single-season record for blocked shots, currently 110. A two-time Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week selection, Aldrich averages 11.3 points and is third in the Big 12 with 9.7 rebounds per game. The Bloomington, Minn., center’s 3.6 blocked shots per contest are sixth nationally. Last year, Aldrich shared the defensive player of the year honor with Missouri’s J.T. Tiller.
“Getting these honors is great because there are a lot of great players in the Big 12,” Aldrich said. “With winning the Big 12, these awards represent our team and how hard we played throughout the season.”
Collins is the winningest player in KU history amassing 125 career wins. The Chicago guard leads Kansas in scoring with 15.3 points per game and is third in the Big 12 in free throw percentage at 83.9 percent. Collins also ranks among the league leaders in assists (fifth at 4.3), field goal percentage (10th at 42.3), three-point field goal percentage (11th at 37.6), three-point field goals made (10th at 2.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (10th at 1.8).
“Like last year, this is very special because is comes from the coaches,” Collins said. “We have had a great season and hope to continue that success through the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.”
Henry is scoring 13.9 points per game which ranks 16th in the Big 12 and second among conference freshmen. The Oklahoma City guard has been named Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week three times this season and also ranks among the conference leaders in three-point field goal percentage (sixth at 40.7), free throw percentage (11th at 79.6) and three-point field goals made (13th at 1.9).
No. 1 Kansas will face the winner of the No. 8 Colorado-No. 9 Texas Tech game on Thursday, March 11, in the quarterfinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship at the Sprint Center in Kansas City.
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 (tie in voting)
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
