Devonté Graham, Bill Self take home coaches' All-Big 12 basketball awards
Kansas' Devonté Graham was unanimously chosen Big 12 player of the year, while Bill Self was picked as co-Big 12 coach of the year Sunday by the conference, sharing that honor with Texas Tech's Chris Beard.
Graham was selected over Oklahoma guard Trae Young, who leads the nation in points and assists per game. Graham averaged 18.7 points and 7.0 assists in conference play while averaging 39 minutes per game.
"I am so happy for Devonté. It's well deserved," Self said. "He's played as big a role on this team I believe as any player that we've had since we've been here, on any team. Everyone inside the program knows it goes far past statistics. We're really happy for him."
Self, meanwhile, helped KU to a 14th consecutive regular-season conference title with a 13-5 league mark. He did that also while changing up his team's style in response to a lack of depth and following the departure of forward Billy Preston.
"I’m happy for Chris Beard. I think he did a great job," Self said. "I think others did a great job including (Oklahoma State's) Mike Boynton, preseason picked last. To finish tied for sixth, and they swept us.
"Certainly, it's nice to be recognized. I certainly think that’s more a reflection of us winning the league than anything else."
The Big 12 released the all-league awards Sunday, which are determined by a vote of the league's coaches. KU's Malik Newman was selected as the conference's newcomer of the year, while Kansas State's Dean Wade earned first-team honors — the first Wildcat to do that since Rodney McGruder in 2013.
The Jayhawks' other three starters received distinction as well; Svi Mykhailiuk was placed on the second team, Udoka Azubuike was on third team and Lagerald Vick received honorable mention.
"I'm happy for the other guys who got recognized," Self said. "We had five guys recognized in some way shape or form. It's a reflection of the team doing well, but I'm certainly happy for that."
In addition to Wade, K-State's Barry Brown earned second-team honors and was named to the conference's all-defensive team.
All-Big 12 coaches' honors
Player of the year: Devonté Graham, Kansas
Freshman of the year: Trae Young, Oklahoma
Newcomer of the year: Malik Newman, Kansas
Coach of the year: Bill Self, Kansas, and Chris Beard, Texas Tech
Sixth man of the year: Terry Maston, Baylor
Defensive player of the year: Jevon Carter, West Virginia
All-Big 12 first team
Devonté Graham, Kansas
Keenan Evans, Texas Tech
Trae Young, Oklahoma
Jevon Carter, West Virginia
Dean Wade, Kansas State
All-Big 12 second team
Mohamed Bamba, Texas
Svi Mykhailiuk, Kansas
Barry Brown, Kansas State
Kenrich Williams, TCU
Manu Lecomte, Baylor
All-Big 12 third team
Sagaba Konate, West Virginia
Vladimir Brodziansky, TCU
Udoka Azubuike, Kansas
Jeffrey Carroll, Oklahoma State
Jo Lual-Acuil, Baylor
All-Big 12 defensive team
Jevon Carter, West Virginia
Mohamed Bamba, Texas
Sagaba Konate, West Virginia
Barry Brown, Kansas State
Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech
All-Big 12 newcomer team
Trae Young, Oklahoma
Mohamed Bamba, Texas
Lindell Wigginton, Iowa State
Malik Newman, Kansas
Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech
All-Big 12 honorable mention
Cameron Lard, Iowa State; Donovan Jackson, Iowa State; Lindell Wigginton, Iowa State; Lagerald Vick, Kansas; Matt Coleman, Texas; Dylan Osetkowski, Texas; Kerwin Roach, Texas; Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech
This story was originally published March 4, 2018 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Devonté Graham, Bill Self take home coaches' All-Big 12 basketball awards."