2013-14 Conference Honors & Awards

All-AAC
Nic Moore, Southern Methodist
Shabazz Napier, Connecticut
Russ Smith, Louisville
Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati
Montrezl Harrell, Louisville

Player of the Year: Russ Smith, Louisville
Top Defender: Russ Smith, Louisville
Best Freshman: Austin Nichols, Memphis
Coach of the Year: Rick Pitino, Louisville

All-ACC
Lamar Patterson, Pittsburgh
T.J. Warren, North Carolina State
K.J. McDaniels, Clemson
Jabari Parker, Duke
C.J. Fair, Syracuse

Player of the Year: Jabari Parker, Duke
Top Defender: K.J. McDaniels, Clemson
Best Freshman: Jabari Parker, Duke
Coach of the Year: Tony Bennett, Virginia

All-Big East
Bryce Cotton, Providence
D'Angelo Harrison, St. John's
Semaj Christon, Xavier
James Bell, Villanova
Doug McDermott, Creighton

Player of the Year: Doug McDermott, Creighton
Top Defender: Fuquan Edwin, Seton Hall
Best Freshman: Billy Garrett, DePaul
Coach of the Year: Jay Wright, Villanova

All-Big Ten
Nik Stauskas, Michigan
Gary Harris, Michigan State
Terran Petteway, Nebraska
Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
Adreian Payne, Michigan State

Player of the Year: Nik Stauskas, Michigan
Top Defender: Aaron Craft, Ohio State
Best Freshman: Noah Vonleh, Indiana
Coach of the Year: Bo Ryan, Wisconsin

All-Big 12
DeAndre Kane, Iowa State
Markel Brown, Oklahoma State
Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
Melvin Ejim, Iowa State
Georges Niang, Iowa State

Player of the Year: DeAndre Kane, Iowa State
Top Defender: Joel Embiid, Kansas
Best Freshman: Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
Coach of the Year: Bill Self, Kansas

All-Pac-12
Jahii Carson, Arizona State
Nick Johnson, Arizona
Jordan Adams, UCLA
Kyle Anderson, UCLA
Aaron Gordon, Arizona

Player of the Year: Nick Johnson, Arizona
Top Defender: Jordan Bachynski, Arizona State
Best Freshman: Aaron Gordon, Arizona
Coach of the Year: Sean Miller, Arizona

All-SEC
Scottie Wilbekin, Florida
Casey Prather, Florida
Jordan Clarkson, Missouri
Jordan McRae, Tennessee
Julius Randle, Kentucky

Player of the Year: Casey Prather, Florida
Top Defender: Scottie Wilbekin, Florida
Best Freshman: Julius Randle, Kentucky
Coach of the Year: Billy Donovan, Florida

Well, that was weird.

The Connecticut Huskies are your 2013-14 champs.  Can't say I saw that coming.

Draft Lottery: Get Lucky!

The draft lottery is an exciting night when reality sets back in for most of last season’s shitty teams.  This is a deep draft, and any lottery pick is valuable this season, but the coveted slots are in the top three, where a team will ensure itself of landing either Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, or Joel Embiid.

Who deserves one of these top three spots?  You don’t deserve a great player just because you managed to have a horrible season.  Sorry, Milwaukee, but I don’t want to see if Wiggins can somehow flourish as a Buck.  Just stay excited about The Greek Freak and hope that Dante Exum is the dark horse.  With those parameters in mind, we need Jabari Parker to go to Utah.  They deserve each other, and after being denied the ecstacy of Jimmer-Mania, Utah can’t afford to let Jabari slip past them.  Wherever Utah needs to pick to land Jabari, that’s what America should support.

Second, I hope New Orleans beats the odds and gets a top three pick.  New Orleans traded Nerlens Noel and their pick this year for Jrue Holiday.  They put minimal protection on that pick, so the only way New Orleans keeps it is if it wins one of the top three spots.  I’m almost convinced that New Orleans will pick the wrong player even if they have a top pick, but the fact of the matter is that Anthony Davis deserves better.  Put Wiggins with Davis and the Pelicans are a legit team (or they remain a random assortment of players with unmeshable skillsets…time will tell).  Without a first round pick, New Orleans can only improve in the offseason by putting HGH in Eric Gordon’s knee and pretending that Tyreke Evans can shoot and play defense.  Nobody likes superstars bouncing around, but Davis will be forced to leave New Orleans in a few years unless the Pelicans catch a break.  If Davis is playing, then New Orleans simply won’t be bad enough to get a top pick, and they will be left to late lottery and mid-first rounders.  Their recent history in that regard isn’t strong (Austin Rivers, Cole Aldrich, Darren Collison, and Julian Wright).  The Thunder landed Westbrook and Harden after drafting Durant.  Let’s hope the Pelicans are able to add someone meaningful to complement Davis.  The Spurs can’t last forever, and as the heir apparent to Duncan, Davis needs some structure and talent to help the Pelicans become the New Spurs.

I’d like to see the Celtics snag a top three pick, as well.  With potential for Rondo to have a bounce back season now that he’s farther removed from his ACL tear, and Brad “Wild Man” Stevens at the helm, the Celtics figure to be ready to improve quickly with a marquee addition.  They also have all of the Nets’ draft picks through 2023, so they will be well-armed to avoid squandering a top-notch talent. 

One season of the Lakers sucking isn’t enough.  I’d rather see them languish another year or two before they return to championship form.  Plus, L.A. will bring in free agents easily, so they don’t need breaks through the draft too.  If New Orleans is unable to get a top pick, I’m a fan of Philly getting Wiggins and using the would-be Pelicans pick on Aaron Gordon, forming the greatest NBA Jam tandem of all-time. 

Top 25

*previous rank in parentheses

1) Florida 29-2 (1)

top five wins: Kansas; Memphis(n); @ Tennessee; @Kentucky; Kentucky

losses: @Wisconsin; @Connecticut

2) Wichita State 34-0 (3)

top five wins: Brigham Young(n); @Saint Louis; Tennessee; @Indiana State; Indiana State(n)

losses: none

3) Arizona 28-3 (2)

top five wins: @San Diego State; Duke(n); @Michigan; @UCLA; Oregon

losses: @California; @Arizona State; @Oregon

4) Louisville 26-5 (11)

top five wins: Southern Methodist; @Connecticut; @Cincinnati; @Southern Methodist; Connecticut

losses: North Carolina(n); @Kentucky; Memphis; Cincinnati; @Memphis

5) Syracuse 27-4 (4)

top five wins: Villanova; North Carolina; Pittsburgh; Duke; @Pittsburgh

losses: Boston College; @Duke; @Virginia; Georgia Tech

6) Michigan 23-7 (8)

top five wins: @Wisconsin; Iowa; @Michigan State; @Ohio State; Michigan State

losses: @Iowa State; Charlotte(n); @Duke; Arizona; @Indiana; @Iowa; Wisconsin

7) Duke 24-7 (5)

top five wins: Michigan; UCLA(n); Virginia; Syracuse; North Carolina

losses: Kansas(n); Arizona(n); @Notre Dame; @Clemson; @Syracuse; @North Carolina; @Wake Forest

8) Wisconsin 25-6 (6)

top five wins: Florida; Saint Louis(n); @Virginia; Michigan State; @Michigan

losses: @Indiana; Michigan; @Minnesota; Northwestern; Ohio State; @Nebraska

9) Villanova 28-3 (13)
top five wins: Kansas(n); Iowa(n); @St. John's; @Providence; @Xavier
losses: @Syracuse; Creighton; @Creighton

10) Virginia 25-6 (9)

top five wins: Southern Methodist(n); North Carolina; @Pittsburgh; @Clemson; Syracuse

losses: Virginia Commonwealth; Wisconsin; @Green Bay; @Tennessee; @Duke; @Maryland

11) San Diego State 27-3 (12)

top five wins: Creighton(n); Marquette(n); @Kansas; @UNLV; New Mexico

losses: Arizona; @Wyoming; @New Mexico

12) Kansas 23-8 (7)

top five wins: Duke(n); New Mexico(n); @Iowa State; Iowa State; Oklahoma

losses: Villanova(n); @Colorado; @Florida; San Diego State; @Texas; @Kansas State; @Oklahoma State; @West Virginia

13) Cincinnati 26-5 (14)

top five wins: Southern Methodist; @Memphis; @Louisville; Connecticut; Memphis

losses: @New Mexico; Xavier(n); @Southern Methodist; Louisville; @Connecticut

14) North Carolina 23-8 (10)

top five wins: Louisville(n); @Michigan State; Kentucky; Pittsburgh; Duke

losses: Belmont; @UAB; Texas; @Wake Forest; Miami; @Syracuse; @Virginia; @Duke

15) Iowa State 23-7 (15)

top five wins: Michigan; Iowa; Oklahoma; @Oklahoma State; Texas

losses: @Oklahoma; Kansas; @Texas; @Kansas; @West Virginia; @Kansas State; @Baylor

16) Michigan State 23-8 (16)

top five wins: Kentucky(n); Oklahoma(n); @Texas; Ohio State; @Iowa

losses: North Carolina; Michigan; Georgetown(n); @Wisconsin; Nebraska; @Michigan; Illinois; @Ohio State

17) Saint Louis 26-5 (18)

top five wins: Indiana State; @ St. Joseph's; Virginia Commonwealth; George Washington; @Massachusetts

losses: Wisconsin(n); Wichita State; Duquesne; @Virginia Commonwealth; Dayton

18) New Mexico 24-6 (20)

top five wins: Cincinnati; Marquette(n); Boise State; @UNLV; San Diego State

losses: Massachusetts(n); Kansas(n); New Mexico State; UNLV; @Boise State; @San Diego State

19) Oklahoma 23-8 (22)

top five wins: @Texas; Iowa State; @Oklahoma State; Kansas State; Texas

losses: Michigan State(n); Louisiana Tech; Kansas; @Kansas State; @Iowa State; @West Virginia; Texas Tech; @Kansas

20) Memphis 23-8 (23)
top five wins: Oklahoma State(n); @Louisville; Gonzaga; Louisville; Southern Methodist
losses: @Oklahoma State; Florida(n); Cincinnati; Connecticut; @Southern Methodist; @Connecticut; @Houston; @Cincinnati

21) Ohio State 23-8 (NR)
top five wins: Nebraska; @Wisconsin; @Iowa; Minnesota; Michigan State
losses: @Michigan State; Iowa; @Minnesota; @Nebraska; Penn State; Michigan; @Penn State; @Indiana

22) Creighton 24-6 (21)

top five wins: @St. Joseph's; Arizona State(n); California; @Villanova; Villanova

losses: San Diego State(n); George Washington(n); @Providence; @St. John's; @Xavier; @Georgetown

23) Connecticut 24-7 (17)

top five wins: Florida; Harvard; @Memphis; Memphis; Cincinnati

losses: Stanford; @Houston; @Southern Methodist; Louisville; @Cincinnati; Southern Methodist; @Louisville

24) Massachusetts 23-7 (NR)
top five wins: Nebraska(n); New Mexico(n); Brigham Young(n); @George Washington; Virginia Commonwealth
losses: Florida State(n); @Richmond; @St. Bonaventure; @St. Joseph's; George Mason; @Dayton; Saint Louis

25) Virginia Commonwealth 24-7 (NR)
top five wins: @Virginia; @Dayton; George Washington; Saint Louis; @Richmond
losses: Florida State(n); Georgetown(n); @Northern Iowa; @George Washington; @St. Joseph's; @Saint Louis; @Massachusetts

IN: Ohio State; Massachusetts; Virginia Commonwealth
OUT: UCLA; Iowa; Kentucky

Top 25

*previous rank in parentheses

1) Florida 27-2 (1)

top five wins: Kansas; Memphis(n); Missouri; @ Tennessee; @Kentucky

losses: @Wisconsin; @Connecticut

2) Arizona 27-2 (2)

top five wins: @San Diego State; Duke(n); @Michigan; @UCLA; Arizona State

losses: @California; @Arizona State

3) Wichita State 31-0 (4)

top five wins: Brigham Young(n); @Saint Louis; Tennessee; Indiana State; @Indiana State

losses: none

4) Syracuse 26-3 (3)

top five wins: Villanova; North Carolina; Pittsburgh; Duke; @Pittsburgh

losses: Boston College; @Duke; @Virginia

5) Duke 23-6 (5)

top five wins: Michigan; UCLA(n); Virginia; @Pittsburgh; Syracuse

losses: Kansas(n); Arizona(n); @Notre Dame; @Clemson; @Syracuse; @North Carolina

6) Wisconsin 24-5 (8)

top five wins: Florida; Saint Louis(n); @Virginia; Michigan State; @Michigan

losses: @Indiana; Michigan; @Minnesota; Northwestern; Ohio State

7) Kansas 22-7 (6)

top five wins: Duke(n); New Mexico(n); @Iowa State; Iowa State; Oklahoma

losses: Villanova(n); @Colorado; @Florida; San Diego State; @Texas; @Kansas State; @Oklahoma State

8) Michigan 21-7 (9)

top five wins: @Wisconsin; Iowa; @Michigan State; @Ohio State; Michigan State

losses: @Iowa State; Charlotte(n); @Duke; Arizona; @Indiana; @Iowa; Wisconsin

9) Virginia 25-5 (15)

top five wins: Southern Methodist(n); North Carolina; @Pittsburgh; @Clemson; Syracuse

losses: Virginia Commonwealth; Wisconsin; @Green Bay; @Tennessee; @Duke

10) North Carolina 22-7 (16)

top five wins: Louisville(n); @Michigan State; Kentucky; Pittsburgh; Duke

losses: Belmont; @UAB; Texas; @Wake Forest; Miami; @Syracuse; @Virginia

11) Louisville 24-5 (7)

top five wins: Southern Miss; Western Kentucky; Southern Methodist; @Connecticut; @Cincinnati

losses: North Carolina(n); @Kentucky; Memphis; Cincinnati; @Memphis

12) San Diego State 23-3 (13)

top five wins: Creighton(n); Marquette(n); @Kansas; UNLV; @Boise State

losses: Arizona; @Wyoming; @New Mexico

13) Villanova 26-3 (19)

top five wins: Kansas(n); Iowa(n); @St. Joseph's; @St. John's; @Providence

losses: @Syracuse; Creighton; @Creighton

14) Cincinnati 24-5 (11)

top five wins: Pittsburgh(n); Southern Methodist; @Memphis; @Louisville; Connecticut

losses: @New Mexico; Xavier(n); @Southern Methodist; Louisville; @Connecticut

15) Iowa State 22-6 (14)

top five wins: Michigan; Iowa; Oklahoma; @Oklahoma State; Texas

losses: @Oklahoma; Kansas; @Texas; @Kansas; @West Virginia; @Kansas State

16) Michigan State 22-7 (10)

top five wins: Kentucky(n); Oklahoma(n); @Texas; Ohio State; @Iowa

losses: North Carolina; Michigan; Georgetown(n); @Wisconsin; Nebraska; @Michigan; Illinois

17) Connecticut 23-6 (23)

top five wins: Florida; Harvard; @Memphis; Memphis; Cincinnati

losses: Stanford; @Houston; @Southern Methodist; Louisville; @Cincinnati; Southern Methodist

18) Saint Louis 25-4 (12)

top five wins: Indiana State; Richmond; @ St. Joseph's; Virginia Commonwealth; George Washington

losses: Wisconsin(n); Wichita State; Duquesne; @Virginia Commonwealth

19) UCLA 22-7 (22)

top five wins: Arizona State; @Colorado; Stanford; California; @California

losses: @Missouri; Duke(n); Arizona; @Utah; @Oregon State; @Stanford; Oregon

20) New Mexico 23-5 (24)

top five wins: Cincinnati; Marquette(n); Boise State; @UNLV; San Diego State

losses: Massachusetts(n); Kansas(n); New Mexico State; UNLV; @Boise State

21) Creighton 23-5 (18)

top five wins: @St. Joseph's; Arizona State(n); California; @Villanova; Villanova

losses: San Diego State(n); George Washington(n); @Providence; @St. John's; @Xavier

22) Oklahoma 21-8 (25)

top five wins: @Texas; Iowa State; @Oklahoma State; Kansas State; Texas

losses: Michigan State(n); Louisiana Tech; Kansas; @Kansas State; @Iowa State; @West Virginia; Texas Tech; @Kansas

23) Memphis 22-7 (NR)
top five wins: LSU(n); Oklahoma State(n); @Louisville; Gonzaga; Louisville
losses: @Oklahoma State; Florida(n); Cincinnati; Connecticut; @Southern Methodist; @Connecticut; @Houston

24) Iowa 20-9 (20)

top five wins: Xavier(n); Nebraska; @Ohio State; Minnesota; Michigan

losses: Villanova(n); @Iowa State; @Wisconsin; @Michigan; Michigan State; Ohio State; Wisconsin; @Minnesota; @Indiana

25) Kentucky 21-8 (17)

top five wins: Providence(n); Louisville; Tennessee; @Missouri; LSU

losses: Michigan State(n); Baylor(n); @North Carolina; @Arkansas; @LSU; Florida; Arkansas; @South Carolina

IN: Memphis
OUT: Ohio State