Atlantic 10 Basketball: Top postseason awards for 2021-22 campaign
By Tyler Cronin
6th Man of the Year: Koby Brea, Dayton – 9 votes
Antwan Walker, URI – 6
Marten Linssen, SLU – 3
Terrance Hargrove Jr, SLU – 2
Nick Sherod, Richmond – 2
1 vote each: Brayon Freeman, GW; Khalil Brantley, La Salle; Grant Huffman, Davidson; Fred Thatch Jr, SLU; TJ Weeks, UMass; Marcus Tsohonis, VCU
*28 votes
In the season’s final weeks, Brea transformed into the perfect 6th man, averaging 12.3 ppg with 19 made threes over Dayton’s final six games, often closing close games and factoring in to the Flyers’ late-season offensive improvement.
Most Improved Player: Josh Oduro, George Mason – 9 votes
Gibson Jimerson, SLU – 7
Yuri Collins, SLU – 5
Jalen Adaway, St. Bonaventure – 2
Michael Jones, Davidson – 2
1 vote each: Luka Brajkovic, Davidson; Fred Thatch Jr, SLU; Clifton Moore, La Salle; Tyler Burton, Richmond
The narrative for MIP typically skews towards a player who comes missing the All-Conference team the year before to challenging for POY and Oduro’s victory was no exception, largely due to nearly doubling his scoring, from 10.0 ppg to 18.0 ppg.
Coach of the Year: Bob McKillop, Davidson – 16 votes
Kyle Neptune, Fordham – 8
Anthony Grant, Dayton – 3
Mike Rhoades, VCU – 3
*30 votes
The dean of A-10 coaches, McKillop weathered the loss of his two starting guards, found a perfect point guard, Foster Loyer, in the transfer portal, and quickly found the right combination of pieces. McKillop’s argument is not a flashy one, but a result of building a great infrastructure over years and continuing to mold players that fit.