Sunday afternoon the Big 12 handed out postseason basketball awards for the 2010-2011 season and as expected the Big 12 champion Kansas Jayhawks were well represented on the list.
Bill Self - Coach of the Year
Kansas head coach Bill Self was named the 2010-2011 Big 12 Coach of the Year today after a season that saw the Jayhawks win the conference for a seventh consecutive season.
After losing Sherron Collins to graduation and Cole Aldrich and Xavier Henry to the NBA many had picked against the Jayhawks heading into the season. But just as he has done year in and year out, Bill Self continues to show the ability to reload, plug and play and find the right pieces to make a Big 12 title seem all too easy.
Marcus Morris - Big 12 Player of the Year, All Big 12 First Team
Versatile junior forward Marcus Morris was rewarded for a conference season where he averaged 18.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. On the offensive end it would be hard to find a player that presented more problems for teams around the league than Morris. A big part of the Jayhawks highly efficient offense played through Morris who averaged 60% from the field on 180 shots during Big 12 play. No question that Marcus deserved the honor as he was the top player on the top team and he stepped up to the plate all season long.
Brady Morningstar - Big 12 All Defensive Team, All Big 12 Honorable Mention
Senior guard Brady Morningstar was named to the Big 12 All Defensive team. The award is a testament to Morningstar's growth as a player and what he means to the Jayhawks. Morningstar was joined by Jacob Pullen, Laurence Bowers, Dogus Balbay and Tristan Thompson.
Markieff Morris - All Big 12 Second Team
Markieff deserved more, but it's an honor nonetheless. Realistically Markieff Morris is 1st team material averaging 13.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest while leading the league in field goal percentage. But for whatever reason, an all league first team that included six players, was made up of four guards, one guard forward and just one big man in Marcus Morris.
Tyrel Reed - All Big 12 Honorable Mention
A nice feather in the cap for a senior from Burlington Kansas. One of those great four year stories that make college basketball so special. Tyrel Reed will certainly be a player remembered fondly across the state and among alumni. Nice to see Reed garner the attention.
Kansas basketball...WINNING!
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Player of the Year
Marcus Morris, Kansas, F, Jr., 6-9, 235, Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter/APEX Academy [N.J.]
Defensive Player of the Year
Dogus Balbay, Texas, G, Sr., 6-1, 175, Istanbul, Turkey/Brewster Academy [N.H.]
Newcomer of the Year
Ricardo Ratliffe, Missouri, F, Jr., 6-8, 240, Hampton, Va./Kecoughtan/Central Florida CC
Freshman of the Year
Tristan Thompson, Texas, F, Fr., 6-8, 225, Brampton, Ontario/Findlay Prep [Nev.]
Sixth Man Award
Quincy Acy, Baylor, F, Jr., 6-7, 225, Mesquite, Texas/Horn
Levi Knutson, Colorado, G, Sr., 6-4, 200, Littleton, Colo./Arapahoe
Coach of the Year
Bill Self, Kansas [Career: 438-150, 18th season; At KU: 231-45, 8th season]
| ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM | |||||
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor | G | 6-4 | 200 | Sr. | Monroe, La./Excelsior Christian School |
| Alec Burks, Colorado** | G | 6-6 | 195 | So. | Grandview, Mo./Grandview |
| Marcus Morris, Kansas | F | 6-9 | 235 | Jr. | Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter/APEX Academy [N.J.] |
| Jacob Pullen, Kansas State** | G | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. | Maywood, Ill./Proviso East |
| Marcus Denmon, Missouri | G | 6-3 | 185 | Jr. | Kansas City, Mo./Hogan Prep |
| Jordan Hamilton, Texas | G/F | 6-7 | 220 | So. | Compton, Calif./Dominguez |
| ALL-BIG 12 SECOND TEAM | |||||
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Perry Jones III, Baylor | F/C | 6-11 | 235 | Fr. | Duncanville, Texas/Duncanville |
| Diante Garrett, Iowa State | G | 6-4 | 190 | Sr. | Milwaukee, Wis./Vincent |
| Markieff Morris, Kansas | F | 6-10 | 252 | Jr. | Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter/APEX Academy [N.J.] |
| Tristan Thompson, Texas | F | 6-8 | 225 | Fr. | Brampton, Ontario/Findlay Prep [Nev.] |
| Khris Middleton, Texas A&M | F | 6-7 | 215 | So. | North Charleston, S.C./Porter-Gaud |
| ALL-BIG 12 THIRD TEAM | |||||
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Cory Higgins, Colorado | G | 6-5 | 180 | Sr. | Danville, Calif./Monte Vista/ The Pendleton School [Fla.] |
| Rodney McGruder, Kansas State | G | 6-4 | 205 | So. | Washington, D.C./Arlington Country Day [Fla.] |
| Lance Jeter, Nebraska | G | 6-3 | 222 | Sr. | Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls/Cincinnati/Polk CC [Fla.] |
| Marshall Moses, Oklahoma State | F | 6-7 | 255 | Sr. | Aiken, S.C./The Patterson School [N.C.] |
| Gary Johnson, Texas | F | 6-6 | 238 | Sr. | Houston, Texas/Aldine |
| David Loubeau, Texas A&M | F | 6-8 | 230 | Jr. | Miami, Fla./Westlake Prep |
| ALL-BIG 12 HONORABLE MENTION (Listed alphabetically by school) | |||||
| Quincy Acy (Baylor), Scott Christopherson (Iowa State), Brady Morningstar (Kansas), Tyrel Reed (Kansas), Laurence Bowers (Missouri), Ricardo Ratliffe (Missouri), Cade Davis (Oklahoma), Andrew Fitzgerald (Oklahoma), Cory Joseph (Texas), B.J. Holmes (Texas A&M), John Roberson (Texas Tech) | |||||
| BIG 12 ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM | |||||
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Brady Morningstar, Kansas | G | 6-4 | 185 | Sr. | Lawrence, Kan./Free State/New Hampton Prep [N.H.] |
| Jacob Pullen, Kansas State | G | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. | Maywood, Ill./Proviso East |
| Laurence Bowers, Missouri | F | 6-8 | 210 | Jr. | Memphis, Tenn./St. George's |
| Dogus Balbay, Texas | G | 6-1 | 175 | Sr. | Istanbul, Turkey/Brewster Academy [N.H.] |
| Tristan Thompson, Texas | F | 6-8 | 225 | Fr. | Brampton, Ontario/Findlay Prep [Nev.] |
| BIG 12 ALL-ROOKIE TEAM | |||||
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Perry Jones III, Baylor** | F/C | 6-11 | 235 | Fr. | Duncanville, Texas/Duncanville |
| Ricardo Ratliffe, Missouri | F | 6-8 | 240 | Jr. | Hampton, Va./Kecoughtan/Central Florida CC |
| Jéan-Paul Olukemi, Oklahoma State | F | 6-5 | 215 | So. | LaHabra, Calif./Stoneridge Prep/Vincennes University |
| Cory Joseph, Texas | G | 6-3 | 185 | Fr. | Toronto, Ontario/Findlay Prep [Nev.] |
| Tristan Thompson, Texas** | F | 6-8 | 225 | Fr. | Brampton, Ontario/Findlay Prep [Nev.] |