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The Big 12 announced the leagues postseason basketball awards on Sunday and the Jayhawks were well represented. The headliner for Kansas was Jeff Withey who was named defensive player of the year for the second year in a row while also being named to the first team all conference squad and the all Big 12 defensive squad.
Ben McLemore was a candidate for Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year but he fell short with Marcus Smart claiming both honors. Unfortunately McLemore's disappearing act in a few road games this year probably hurt his cause along with the fact that Smart seemed to come up huge in every big game for the Cowboys. McLemore was however named to the 1st team All Big 12 unit along with the All Rookie team.
Travis Releford earned second team All Big 12 mention while Elijah Johnson earned Honorable Mention in that category.
Withey is the first player in Big 12 history to win the defensive award outright in back-to-back seasons. He has 124 blocked shots, a total that ranks fourth on the single-season Big 12 chart after he set the record with 140 in 2011-12. Withey became the league's all-time career leader in rejections this year as well with a current total of 289.
The official All-Big 12 awards are selected by the league's head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.
2012-13 PHILLIPS 66 ALL-BIG 12 MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, G, Fr., 6-4, 225, Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Withey, Kansas, C, Sr., 7-0, 235, San Diego, Calif./Horizon**
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Will Clyburn, Iowa State, G, Sr., 6-7, 205, Detroit, Mich./Romulus/Marshalltown CC/Utah
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, G, Fr., 6-4, 225, Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus**
SIXTH MAN AWARD
Tyrus McGee, Iowa State, G, Sr., 6-2, 205, Stringtown, Okla./Stringtown/Cowley County CC
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Melvin Ejim, Iowa State, F, Jr., 6-6, 220, Toronto, Ontario/Brewster Academy [N.H.]
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bruce Weber, Kansas State [Career: 338-161, 15th season; At K-State: 25-6, 1st season]
| All-Big 12 First Team | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Ben McLemore, Kansas | G | 6-5 | 185 | Fr. | St. Louis, Mo./Christian Life Center [Texas] |
| Jeff Withey, Kansas | C | 7-0 | 235 | Sr. | San Diego, Calif./Horizon |
| Rodney McGruder, Kansas State | G | 6-4 | 205 | Sr. | Washington, D.C./Arlington Country Day [Fla.] |
| Romero Osby, Oklahoma | F | 6-8 | 232 | Sr. | Meridian, Miss./Mississippi State University |
| Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State | G | 6-4 | 225 | Fr. | Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus |
| All-Big 12 Second Team | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Pierre Jackson, Baylor | G | 5-10 | 180 | Sr. | Las Vegas, Nev./Desert Pines/ College of Southern Idaho |
| Will Clyburn, Iowa State | G | 6-7 | 205 | Sr. | Detroit, Mich./Romulus/Marshalltown CC/Utah |
| Travis Releford, Kansas | G | 6-6 | 210 | Sr. | Kansas City, Mo./Bishop Miege |
| Angel Rodriguez, Kansas State | G | 5-11 | 180 | So. | San Juan, Puerto Rico/Krop [Fla.] |
| Markel Brown, Oklahoma State | G | 6-3 | 190 | Jr. | Alexandria, La./Peabody |
| All-Big 12 Third Team | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Isaiah Austin, Baylor | C | 7-1 | 220 | Fr. | Arlington, Texas/Grace Preparatory Academy |
| Melvin Ejim, Iowa State | F | 6-6 | 220 | Jr. | Toronto, Ontario/Brewster Academy [N.H] |
| Amath M'Baye, Oklahoma | F | 6-9 | 208 | Jr. | Bordeaux, France/University of Wyoming |
| Steven Pledger, Oklahoma | G | 6-4 | 219 | Sr. | Chesapeake, Va./Atlantic Shores Christian School |
| Le'Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State | G/F | 6-7 | 230 | So. | Dallas, Texas/Lincoln |
| All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Listed alphabetically by school) | |||||
| Cory Jefferson (Baylor), Korie Lucious (Iowa State), Tyrus McGee (Iowa State), Elijah Johnson (Kansas), Shane Southwell (Kansas State), Michael Cobbins (Oklahoma State), Jaye Crockett (Texas Tech), Eron Harris (West Virginia), Deniz Kilicli (West Virginia) | |||||
| Big 12 All-Defensive Team | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Chris Babb, Iowa State | G | 6-5 | 225 | Sr. | Arlington, Texas/The Oakridge School/Penn State |
| Travis Releford, Kansas | G | 6-6 | 210 | Sr. | Kansas City, Mo./Bishop Miege |
| Jeff Withey, Kansas** | C | 7-0 | 235 | Sr. | San Diego, Calif./Horizon |
| Angel Rodriguez, Kansas State | G | 5-11 | 180 | So. | San Juan, Puerto Rico/Krop [Fla.] |
| Michael Cobbins, Oklahoma State | F | 6-8 | 220 | So. | Amarillo, Texas/Palo Duro |
| Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State** | G | 6-4 | 225 | Fr. | Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus |
| Big 12 All-Rookie Team | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Isaiah Austin, Baylor | C | 7-1 | 220 | Fr. | Arlington, Texas/Grace Preparatory Academy |
| Will Clyburn, Iowa State | G | 6-7 | 205 | Sr. | Detroit, Mich./Romulus/Marshalltown CC/Utah |
| Georges Niang, Iowa State | F | 6-7 | 235 | Fr. | Methuen, Mass./The Tilton School |
| Ben McLemore, Kansas** | G | 6-5 | 185 | Fr. | St. Louis, Mo./Christian Life Center [Texas] |
| Amath M'Baye, Oklahoma | F | 6-9 | 208 | Jr. | Bordeaux, France/University of Wyoming |
| Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State** | G | 6-4 | 225 | Fr. | Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus |