Heading into the 2017-18 season, Big 12 basketball has released their annual preseason awards for their All-Conference team and Players of the Year.
With just under a month away from the next college basketball season taking off, the Big 12 Conference has voted and released their preseason awards. Although these awards are not always correct in predicting the awards actually given out at the end of the season, they can be indicative of who coaches believe are the best players in the conference.
With the biggest award, Devonte’ Graham was named the Preseason Player of the Year. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of Frank Mason, who won the actual award last year, Graham is expected to emerge as the leader for the Jayhawks. Kansas has traditionally dominated this conference over the past decade and Graham can help keep that alive.
The preseason award was given to Iowa State’s Monte Morris last season before Mason’s spectacular season took it from him. While playing next to Mason, Graham put up very respectable numbers a season ago. With 13.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, Graham was named to the Second Team All-Big 12 as well as the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.
Moving forward, another Kansas player was selected as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Malik Newman. A former McDonald’s All-American and No. 8 recruit in the country out of high school, Newman spent just one season at Mississippi State before electing to transfer. He averaged 11.3 points per game in that season. After sitting out last year due to transfer rules, he will be expected to be a big-time scorer for the Jayhawks.
Baylor’s Manu Lecomte was named the preseason Newcomer of the Year last season and he was the one who came away with the award at the end of the season as well. He is listed as honorable mention for the preseason All-Big 12 Team.
Moving forward, the Preseason Freshman of the Year voting named Mohamed Bamba of Texas to be the frontrunner. According to 247Sports Composite Ranking, Bamba is the highest-rated freshman in the conference at No. 3. The closest players listed behind him are Kansas’ Billy Preston (#20), Oklahoma’s Trae Young (#23), and Iowa State’s Lindell Wigginton (#34).
Josh Jackson of Kansas was both the preseason and end-of-season winner of this award. He is now playing in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns.
Lastly, the conference also released their picks for the preseason All-Conference First Team:
The #Big12 has announced their 2017-18 preseason All-Conference Team. pic.twitter.com/GjbWZg6uc4
— Lukas Harkins (@hardwiredsports) October 12, 2017
In addition to the previously mentioned Graham, Oklahoma State’s Jeffrey Carroll and West Virginia’s Jevon Carter were unanimous selections. Carroll experienced a major breakout season in which he went from averaging just 8.2 points per game as a sophomore to 17.5 per game last season. He will be expected to carry the load for the Cowboys once again this year.
As for Carter, he is one of the best defensive players in the country. His offensive game has improved with each season as a Mountaineer and he is coming off being named the National Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, his 38.9% from 3-point land last season was by far and away his career best mark.
As you can tell, the All-Conference Team is very experienced, with all six players entering their senior season. Filling out the team is TCU’s Vladimir Brodziansky and Texas Tech’s Zach Smith. With TCU expected to compete near the top of the conference and make the NCAA Tournament, it should come as no surprise to see Brodziansky on the top line. One of the most skilled big men in the conference, he averaged 14.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season.
For Zach Smith, he is hoping to lead Texas Tech to a better season than last. He averaged 12.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season while also swatting over one shot per game. He will need to be at his best for the Red Raiders to make a push this year.
Next: 2017-18 stars of the Big 12
Overall, the Big 12 is full of great talent once again this season. There is a very experienced group of stars at the top and it looks like Kansas should once again be the favorite to take home the conference title. Still, there are plenty of contenders near the top that want to end the streak of the Jayhawks. We are just under a month away from the season getting underway.