Zagoria's mid season awards....
Player of the Year: Kris Dunn, Providence
Though he has struggled of late -- shooting 15-for-50 in recent losses to Villanova, DePaul and Xavier -- Dunn remains the league's best player and I find it hard to imagine the majority of the league's coaches won't vote for him. He is, after all, a candidate for National Player of the Year honors and a projected Top-5 pick in the NBA Draft. Dunn is averaging 17.0 points, 6.7 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 3.2 steals for a team headed to the NCAA Tournament. If he wins Player of the Year honors again, he will be the first Big East player since Notre Dame's
Troy Murphy in 1999 and 2000 to do so. (A year ago, Dunn and Villanova's
Ryan Arcidiacono shared the honor). Villanova's
Josh Hart (17.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.7 apg) is the best player on the league's best team this year and could mount a late challenge to Dunn.
Rookie of the Year: Henry Ellenson, Marquette
Though Villanova's
Jalen Brunson was a unanimous selection for preseason Rookie of the Year, no rookie has had a bigger impact than the 6-10 Ellenson. The Wisconsin native is averaging 16.3 points and 9.8 rebounds while posting seven double-doubles in Big East play. A projected Top 10 pick by DraftExpress.com, Ellenson could be the league's first one-and-done since Pitt's
Steven Adams in 2013.
Defensive Player of the Year: Kris Dunn, Providence
No one disrupts an offense on a more consistent basis than the Providence guard. A year ago, Dunn averaged 2.7 steals en route to Defensive Player of the Year honors. This year he ranks second nationally in steals at 3.2 per game and has 70 on the season.
Most Improved: Ben Bentil, Providence
It's hard to imagine this award will be much of a contest. As a freshman, the 6-9 Bentil averaged 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. This season, he has exploded into the national consciousness while averaging 19.7 points and 7.5 rebounds while adding 1.1 block per game. After being off the mock drafts, he's now projected as a second-round pick in 2017 by DraftExpress.com.
Coach of the Year: Chris Mack, Xavier
Xavier was picked fourth in the Preseason Poll behind Villanova, Georgetown and Butler and is currently 21-2 overall, 9-2 in the Big East, half a game behind Villanova (9-1). The Musketeers could still win at least a share of the Big East regular season title depending on the final seven games, including a Feb. 24 home date with Villanova. In the bigger picture, Xavier is ranked No. 6 nationally (and will likely be higher on Monday) and appears like a legitimate Final Four contender. Look for Seton Hall's
Kevin Willard to get some votes if the Pirates (17-6, 7-4) maintain their NCAA Tournament trajectory.
All-Big First East Team:
Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova
Ben Bentil, Providence
Trevon Bluiett, Xavier
Angel Delgado, Seton Hall
Kris Dunn, Providence
Josh Hart, Villanova
All-Big East Rookie First Team:
Mikal Bridges, Villanova
Jalen Brunson, Villanova
Haanif Cheatham, Marquette
Henry Ellenson, Marquette
Jessie Govan, Georgetown
Edmond Sumner Jr., Xavier
https://www.sny.tv/college-recruiti...uld-be-latest-no-1-midseason-awards/163868836
