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As Insights has done in years past, here are my picks for All-Big East and for the major awards. The media is not given a vote but the Newark Star-Ledger's Brendan Prunty asked 20 media members -- including myself -- to participate in a media poll.
What follows is Insights' selections (with some explanations):
For the All-Big East teams, Insights was asked to choose 10 players. For you, the reader, we divide them into a First Five and Second Five.
First Five:
Luke Harangody, F, Notre Dame; DeJuan Blair, F, Pittsburgh; Hasheem Thabeet, F, Connecticut; Jerel McNeal, G, Marquette; A.J. Price, G, Connecticut
Why: Thabeet is the best defensive player in the conference. Harangody is the most versatile offensive big man. Blair is the best rebounder and best post player. McNeal is a great defensive guard and Price is the best point guard in the league.
Second Five:
Jeff Adrien, F, Connecticut; Dante Cunningham, F, Villanova; Earl Clark, F, Louisville; Terrence Williams, G, Louisville; Sam Young G/F, Pittsburgh.
Why: Adrien is the most underrated player in the league and, in this reporter's opinion, the reason Connecticut is so good. Cunningham is the league's Most Improved Player. Clark and Williams are the two key cogs of the league champs and Sam Young is versatile and easily could have been on the first team if not Player of the Year. That's how good the league is.
All-Big East Rookie Team:
Mike Rosario, Rutgers; Samardo Samuels, Louisville; Greg Monroe, Georgetown; Devin Ebanks, West Virginia; Gregory Echinique, Rutgers
Why: Four of the five are self explanatory. Insights went with Echinique because his presence on the defensive end is impressive for a freshman and he is one of the best freshman rebounders and blockers. In a couple years, he could be Samuel Dalembert-esque in the post.
MAJOR AWARDS:
Coach of the Year: Keno Davis, Providence
Why: Davis took a team that many thought would be in the NIT or worse and turned them into a team fighting for an NCAA tournament berth and beat then-No. 1 Pittsburgh. He got his team, learning a new system with a complete new coaching staff, to buy in quick.
Others considered: Buzz Williams, Marquette; Rick Pitino, Louisville.
Player of the Year: DeJuan Blair, F, Pittsburgh
Why: Blair has the most memorable moment of the Big East season -- flipping over Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet -- and he's also come up big against his biggest competition. Blair had 20-point, 20-rebound games against Thabeet and Harangody and has been a rebounding force for the Panthers.
Others considered: Luke Harangody, Notre Dame; Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut; Jerel McNeal, Marquette.
Rookie of the Year: Mike Rosario, Rutgers
Why: This spot was going to go to Samardo Samuels until Insights saw Rosario play a couple weeks ago. He is, in a word, excellent. On a team without much else around him he's been consistently able to create his own shot and kept the Scarlet Knights competitive. Plus, he's the leading rookie scorer (11th in the league at 16.3 ppg.), the only freshman in the Top 30 in the Big East in scoring. He also led the conference in free throw shooting at 83.9 percent.
