Big 12 Notes: Handing out the awards

A handful of coaches have said Texas standout Kevin Durant is the best college basketball to grace the court in the last decade.

Yet there was still debate over whether he should be named Big 12 Player of the Year. If anything that’s a testament to the strength of a league that, at the top, is as strong as it’s been since the conference’s inception in 1996-97.

Durant still gets my nod for conference MVP honors, an accolade he secured by scoring 25 points in the first half of Saturday’s loss at Kansas. No player in recent memory has dominated college basketball in the fashion that Durant has for the last four months. Forget Greg Oden. Durant should be the No. 1 pick in this summer’s NBA Draft.

If there is any negative to Durant’s success, it’s that it overshadowed a brilliant season by Texas A&M’s Acie Law. No player in the country performed as well in the clutch as the Aggies’ senior guard.

“On a day to day basis, being with Kevin, I haven’t seen anyone do any more than he does,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said. “But I’m also a huge fan of Acie Law. I know where he started and where he is today. And I know what he means to his team.”

Here are the rest of my picks for All-Big 12.

First Team:
Kevin Durant, Texas — Nation’s best player led the league in points (25.1) and rebounds (11.4) and ranked second in blocks (1.83). Had nine 30-point games.

Acie Law, Texas A&M — No one is better in the game’s final five minutes than Law, who deserves first-team All-American honors for making the Aggies a national title contender.

Jarrius Jackson, Texas Tech — Buzzer-beating game-winner at Texas A&M highlighted a season that Jackson average 20.2 points. Needs 87 points to become the Red Raiders’ all-time leading scorer.

Julian Wright, Kansas — Big 12’s most versatile player besides Durant. Future lottery pick ranked third in the league in rebounding (8.1). Played his best in big games.

Aleks Maric, Nebraska — Ranked fourth in the league in scoring (18.6) and second in field goal percentage (56.5). Has 22 career double doubles – the fourth-most in school history.

Second team:
Brandon Rush, Kansas — Scoring average (13.7) would’ve been higher if he didn’t play for such a balanced team. Jayhawks’ top defender shot 43.8 percent from three-point range.

Cartier Martin, Kansas State — Led Wildcats with 16.9 points. Hit seven three-pointers in a 73–72 win at Texas

Mario Boggan, Oklahoma State — Head-butted his way off of the first team. Ranked third in the Big 12 in scoring (20.80).

D.J. Augustin, Texas — One of the country’s top point guards as only a freshman. Led the league in assists with 6.83 per game. Future lottery pick had 13 dimes at Kansas.

Antanas Kavaliauskas, Texas A&M — Versatile forward was one of league’s biggest surprises. Averaged 12.5 points and ranked first in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (58.0).

Third team:
Nate Carter, Oklahoma — Stepped up his game during league play, when he averaged 16.5 points. Shot a Big 12-best 85.6 percent from the foul stripe.

Mario Chalmers, Kansas — Ranked first in the Big 12 in steals (2.55). Made all five of his three-pointers in title-clinching win against Texas.

Martin Zeno, Texas Tech — Played a huge role in Red Raiders’ victories over Kansas and Texas A&M (twice). Averaged 16.5 points.

Joseph Jones, Texas A&M — Intimidating, experienced big man averaged 13.2 points and 6.6 boards.

David Hoskins, Kansas State — Glue-guy for a team that could make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly a decade. Attempted more free throws (210) than anyone in the league.

Player of the Year: Kevin Durant, Texas
Coach of the Year: Billy Gillispie, Texas A&M
Freshman of the Year: Kevin Durant, Texas
Newcomer of the Year: Stefhon Hannah, Missouri

SPECIALTY TEAMS
All-Freshman
Wesley Johnson, Iowa State
Kevin Durant, Texas
D.J. Augustin, Texas
Sherron Collins, Kansas
Darrell Arthur, Kansas

All-Underrated
Russell Robinson, Kansas
Xavier Silas, Colorado
Kevin Rogers, Baylor
Jiri Hubalek, Iowa State
Josh Carter, Texas A&M

All-Disappointments
Richard Roby, Colorado
Aaron Bruce, Baylor
Sasha Kaun, Kansas
Jason Bennett, Kansas State
Michael Neal, Oklahoma

All-Bench
Sherron Collins, Kansas
Darrell Arthur, Kansas
Tweety Carter, Baylor
Cartier Martin, Kansas State
Keon Lawrence, Missouri

All-Defense
Brandon Rush, Kansas
Marcus Dove, Oklahoma State
Dominque Kirk, Texas A&M
Mario Chalmers, Kansas
Kevin Durant, Texas

All-Shooters
Josh Carter, Texas A&M
AJ Abrams, Texas
Matt Lawrence, Missouri
Cartier Martin, Kansas State
Marcus Perry, Nebraska

All-Newcomers
Stefhon Hannah, Missouri
Charlie Burgess, Texas Tech
Mike Taylor, Iowa State
Blake Young, Kansas State
Jermyl Jackson-Wilson, Colorado

All-Improved
Antanas Kavaliauskas, Texas A&M
Matt Lawrence, Missouri
Longar Longar, Oklahoma
Nate Carter, Oklahoma
Kevin Rogers, Baylor

Big 12 POWER RANKINGS
1.    Kansas (1) – Destined for a No. 1 seed
2.    Texas (3) – With Durant and Augustin, Longhorns can beat anyone
3.    Texas A&M (2) – Acie continues to lay down the Law
4.    Texas Tech (6) – NCAA Tourney-bound Red Raiders have won five of six
5.    Kansas State (4) – Still on the bubble despite 21 wins
6.    Oklahoma State (7) – Boggan head-butt led to loss at Baylor
7.    Missouri – NIT bound
8.    Iowa State – Could win first round Big 12 Tourney matchup with Sooners
9.    Oklahoma – Once-hot Sooners have lost six straight
10.    Baylor (11) – You heard it here first: Bears will beat Missouri
11.    Nebraska (9) – One of the toughest teams in the league to figure
12.    Colorado (12) – Adios Ricardo.

BIG 12 TOURNAMENT PREDICTIONS
Thursday, March 8
No. 8 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Oklahoma – Cyclones by 2
No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Colorado – Red Raiders by 12
No. 7 Oklahoma State vs. No. 10 Nebraska – Cowboys by 10
No. 6 Missouri vs. No. 11 Baylor – Bears by 3

Friday, March 9
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 8 Iowa State – Jayhawks by 21
No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 5 Texas Tech – Red Raiders by 5
No. 2 Texas A&M vs. No. 7 Oklahoma State – Aggies by 6
No. 3 Texas vs. No. 11 Baylor – Longhorns by 12

Saturday, March 10
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 5 Texas Tech – Jayhawks by 12
No. 2 Texas A&M vs. No. 3 Texas – Longhorns by 1

Sunday, March 11
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 3 Texas – Jayhawks by 6

Last week: 10–2
Overall: 60–22

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