KU’s Bill Self named AP Big 12 Coach of the Year
LAWRENCE – The Big 12 coaches voted West Virginia’s Bob Huggins as the Big 12 Coach of the Year, rewarding the head of a resurgent program that performed better than expected.
The media vote rewarded conference dominance.
Kansas coach Bill Self was selected Associated Press Big 12 Coach of the Year on Monday following a vote by reporters who cover the league. Self led the Jayhawks to an 11th straight Big 12 championship, guiding Kansas to a 24-7 record and 13-5 mark in Big 12 play.
It was the fourth time that Self has received the AP honor.
The top-seeded Jayhawks will open the Big 12 Tournament around Thursday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. KU will face either TCU or Kansas State in a quarterfinal that will tip off around 2 p.m.
Oklahoma junior guard Buddy Hield was selected AP Big 12 Player of the Year; he also won the same award from the league’s coaches. Kansas junior forward Perry Ellis, who was also a first-team selection by the league’s coaches, joined Hield on the first team with West Virginia’s Juwan Staten, Baylor’s Rico Gathers and Iowa State’s Georges Niang.
All-Big 12
FIRST TEAM:
Perry Ellis, Kansas, Jr., 6-8, 225, Wichita, Kan.
Rico Gathers, Baylor, Jr., 6-8, 275, LaPlace, La.
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma, Jr., 6-4, 212, Freeport, Bahamas
Georges Niang, Iowa St., Jr., 6-8, 230, Methuen, Mass.
Juwan Staten, West Virginia, Sr., 6-1, 190, Dayton, Ohio
SECOND TEAM:
Phil Forte, Oklahoma St., Jr., 5-11, 185, Flower Mound, Texas
Frank Mason III, Kansas, So., 5-11, 185, Petersburg, Va.
Monte Morris, Iowa St., So., 6-2, 170, Flint, Mich.
Le'Bryan Nash, Oklahoma St., Sr., 6-7, 235, Dallas
Taurean Prince, Baylor, Jr., 6-7, 215, San Antonio
HONORABLE MENTION: Kyan Anderson, TCU; Kenny Chery, Baylor; Jameel McKay, Iowa St.; Ryan Spangler, Oklahoma; Isaiah Taylor, Texas; TaShawn Thomas, Oklahoma; Devin Williams, West Virginia; Nino Williams, Kansas St.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bill Self, Kansas.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Buddy Hield, Oklahoma.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: TaShawn Thomas, Oklahoma.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Myles Turner, Texas.
This story was originally published March 9, 2015 at 1:50 PM with the headline "KU’s Bill Self named AP Big 12 Coach of the Year."