Bean's Blog All-American/All-Conference Awards - College Basketball

It's Conference Tournament Week -- which means we're embarking on one of the greatest 2-3 week stretches in the calendar-year as far as sports go. In just a few days, we'll have brackets in hand and Tournament Pools to join -- and in just over a week, we'll have Round of 64 games to watch.

If you haven't already -- go give the most recent episode of Four Corners Show a listen to hear us draft Power 5 Conference Championship teams, talk about which teams have already Auto-Qualified for March Madness, and so much more.

But on Bean's Blog -- we're talking All-Americans, All-Conference Teams -- as well as a longshot Conference Championship pick at the end of each section. The inspiration for this blog was seeing the absolutely horrendous All-Big-12-Team -- which had TEN PLAYERS ON THE 1ST TEAM. That is a disgrace, and I will not stand for it.

So I'm responding in the only way I know how -- A Bean's Blog of what the 1st-Team should look like. As well as the standard awards each of the P4 conferences hands out -- ACC, SEC, B10, B12.

We'll Kick things off with All-Americans -- my 1st, 2nd, 3rd teams with a very brief blurb on why I chose who I chose -- then we'll dive into Conference by Conference Awards!

All-American Teams

1st Team All-American

Player Name, School, Position, (Stat-line of Points/Rebounds/Assists)

1: Cameron Boozer, Duke, F (23/10/4) (Player of the Year)

2: JT Toppin, Texas Tech, F (22/11/2)

3: AJ Dybansta, BYU, F (25/7/4)

4: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas, G (22/3/6.5)

5: Keaton Wagler, Illinois, G (18/5/4)

I value production very highly when it comes to 1st Team -- and how important I think a player is to their team's success. My brain also only works when a lineup/team of 5 makes sense on the court -- so I have to have a group of 2/3 guards with 2/3 forwards or my head will explode.

Cameron Boozer should be unanimous Player of the Year across CBB -- he's been the best player from beginning to end. JT Toppin's season was cut short -- but he was one of the best players in the Nation every time he suited up. Darius Acuff Jr. has been the most productive guard in a Decade+, and AJ Dybansta is one of the most gifted scorers we've seen in a Decade+. And the last spot was tricky, but I think the guard who had the best season outside of Acuff was Wagler -- did it all and stepped up in a huge way for Illinois.

2nd Team All-American

1: Caleb Wilson, UNC, F (20/9/3)

2: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan, F (14/7/3)

3: Kingston Flemings, Houston, G (16.5/4/5.5)

4: Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State, F (17/7/5)

5: Christian Anderson, Texas Tech, G (19/4/8)

Kicking off the 2nd team with the two closest cuts from 1st Team -- Caleb Wilson, and Yaxel Lendeborg. Caleb has the numbers of a 1st teamer -- Yaxel passes the eye test and plays on the best team in the country. I originally had Caleb slotted for 1st, but moved him down for a guard because the lineup didn't feel right. Also Yaxel is a tool, and his numbers aren't even close to 1st Team worthy -- so cry about it Michigan fans.

Kingston is an easy choice for me -- elite freshman guard on one of the best teams in the nation gives him the edge over the 3rd teamers. Love Josh Jefferson's game -- as sporadic as his outputs can be -- because it's so unique and he plays with a high motor. And most would put Christian Anderson on 3rd Team or Snubs -- but I don't care if it's 2 Red Raiders on the first 2 teams. This guy is awesome. He's carrying TT without JT, and I think he's a stud.

3rd Team All-American

1: Braden Smith, Purdue, G (15/3.5/9)

2: Thomas Haugh, Florida, F (17/6/2)

3: Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama, G (21.5/3/5)

4: Jeremy Fears, Michigan State, G (15.5/2.5/9)

5: Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's, F (16/7/3.5)

The two best pure point guards in the country -- Braden Smith and Jeremy Fears -- headline the 3rd team. Both are excellent passers, but aren't dangerous enough scorers to earn 2nd team to me.

Speaking of dangerous scorers -- Labaron Philon checks in. He's a walking bucket, but he had games this year where he was a non-factor, whether due to cramps or being in Oats' doghouse. Thomas Haugh is my favorite player on a Florida Team that needed representation -- gifted shooter and scorer. And Zuby is an unsung hero that goes under-the-radar for the Big East Champs St. John's -- happy to give him some shine here.

1st Team All-Snubs:

1: Insert Arizona Player Jaden Bradley, Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, etc

2: Graham Ike, Gonzaga, F

3: Darryn Peterson, Kansas, G

4: Insert UConn Player Tarris Reed, Solo Ball, Karaban, Demary

5: Jakobi Gillespie/Tyler Tanner, Tennessee/Vandy, G

Not picking an Arizona player for one of the 1st-3rd teams isn't to say I don't think one is deserving -- it's that I can't decide who. I'd probably lean Burries -- but Bradley was just named Big 12 POTY at 13.4 ppg, and I can't get behind it. Same thing with UConn -- 4 guys scoring between 11-14 points, no clear-cut deserving player.

Gonzaga fans wanting to have the Ejiofor/Ike debate -- I'd hear you out. But I also think Zuby's putting up 22/12 a night if he's in the WCC. Peterson is the best basketball player to be snubbed, but too much up and down for me to feel good about adding him.

Gillespie and Tanner were the Next 2 Out -- very good SEC guards that just missed the cut.

Let me know in the comments who you think should be 1st team that I didn't include -- or who the biggest snub was I didn't mention -- or who I over-rated in my list. Time for conference-by-conference breakdowns!

*** Each Conference does slightly different awards -- I'll be using their Core Awards while correcting the All-Conference teams to a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of 5 players each -- as it should be. ***

ACC Conference

ACC Awards:

Player of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Duke

Defensive Player of the Year: William Kyle, Syracuse

Rookie of the Year: Ebuka Okorie, Stanford

Most Improved Player: Juke Harris, Wake Forest

6th Man of the Year: Chance Mallory, Virginia

Coach of the Year: Jai Lucas, Miami

Any italicized award on my list means it's different than what really happened -- so a few changes here. Boozer and Juke are good choices to me -- but I think it's dumb to give POTY and ROTY to the same guy -- so I picked Okorie, the conference's leading scorer.

I also think Chance Mallory/Jacari White out of Virginia should have been 6th Man. Both are sparkplugs off the bench that are huge parts of UVA's success.

Respectfully to Maliq Brown, he's a net-negative on the season when he's on the court -- so don't think he should win BOTH 6MOY and DPOY like he did. I'll go William Kyle -- Top-10 nationally in Blocks per game (2.6) and averages a steal per game.

Lastly, I almost went the Ryan Odom of UVA for COTY -- but former Duke assistant Jai Lucas in his 1st year took Miami to a 3rd place, 24-7 (13-5) finish, after going 7-24 (3-17) the year prior.

1st Team All-Conference:

Cameron Boozer, Duke

Caleb Wilson, UNC

Ebuka Okorie, Stanford

Malik Reneau, Miami

Thijs De Ridder, Virginia

A rare occurrence -- I agree with how the real vote played out! Won't spend much time here -- 5 best players and 4 best teams are represented.

2nd Team All-Conference:

Henri Veesaar, UNC

Boopie Miller, SMU

Tre Donaldson, Miami

Juke Harris, Wake Forest

Ryan Conwell, Louisville

A 2 for 2 start! I changed the order around -- Veesaar was closest to 1st team for me, followed by Boopie and Donaldson.

3rd Team All-Conference

Dai Dai Ames, California

Jaron Pierre Jr., SMU

Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville

Isaiah Evans, Duke

Robert McCray Jr., Florida State

Only one swap from the real list -- Pierre from SMU in. ACC really nailed it in my opinion.

Bean's Longshot Conference Tourney Winner: Florida State (+30000)

Big 10 Conference

B10 Awards:

Player of the Year: Bennett Stirtz, Iowa

Defensive Player of the Year: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

Newcomer of the Year: Keaton Wagler, Illinois

Sixth Man of the Year: Braden Frager, Nebraska

Coach of the Year: Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska

We've got some changes to make here in the B10. I think they were nails with the Nebraska picks -- Frager is an elite 6MOY and Hoiberg did great with this Nebraska team.

Yaxel 100% deserves recognition on this list -- and I'm fine with him being named POY in real life. BUT, while #'s don't tell the whole story -- I have a hard time picking a guy averaging 14/7/3 as POY. So he's my DPOY -- over his teammate Mara -- because Yax averages about 3 stocks a game and literally guards positions 1-5.

Newcomer of the year goes to Keaton Wagler -- stud Freshman that deserves all the accolades coming his way. And Player of the Year is Bennett Stirtz -- because 1) I'm wildly Biased, and 2) no player in the country is more important to his team's success than Stirtz.

1st Team All-Conference:

Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan, F

Bennett Stirtz, Iowa, G

Braden Smith, Purdue, G

Keaton Wagler, Illinois, G

Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska, F

Only difference is giving Stirtz the nod over Jeremy Fears -- mileage may vary on how you feel about that. I think Fears is a dirty player and a douch -- and I already gave him 3rd team All-American, so deal with it.

2nd Team All-Conference:

Jeremy Fears, Michigan State, G

Nick Boyd, Wisconsin, G

Bruce Thornton, Ohio State, G

Nick Martinelli, Northwestern, F

Morez Johnson, Michigan, F

 A real-life 1st team guard, Bunch of 20+ ppg guys in the middle, and the 2nd best player on the 2nd best team in Morez.

3rd Team All-Conference

John Blackwell, Wisconsin, G

Hannes Steinbach, Washington, F

Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana, G

Cade Tyson, Minnesota, F

Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA, F

Bunch of over-looked studs -- B10 3rd Team could could toe-to-toe with some 2nd Team's out there.

Bean's Longshot Conference Tourney Winner: UCLA (+3500)

Big 12 Conference

B10 Awards:

Player of the Year: AJ Dybantsa, BYU

Defensive Player of the Year: Flory Bidunga, Kansas

Freshman of the Year: Kingston Flemings, Houston

Newcomer of the Year: Cameron Carr, Baylor

Sixth Man Award: Tobe Awaka, Arizona

Most Improved: Christian Anderson, Texas Tech

Coach of the Year: Grant McCasland, Texas Tech

Lots of Changes are on deck for the B12 -- buckle up. Jaden Bradley won POTY because Arizona was the best team. I’d give it to Toppin, but if you don't want to give it to the injured guy -- I'd give it to the clear best player, Dybansta.

I like the B12's choices for 6MOY, DPOY, and MIP -- but if I'm moving Dybansta to POY, I have to replace him at Freshman of the year. Kingston Flemings is an easy 2nd choice there.

I'd give the Newcomer to Cameron Carr, or even a player like PJ Haggerty @ K State/Terrence Brown @ Utah. Melvin Council is good too, but just because the team is bad -- doesn't mean the player doesn't deserve love.

And Tommy Lloyd is a deserving COTY -- but give me Grant McCasland every day of the week.

I'm okay with how much the Conference rewarded Arizona because they won the conference -- but if we're going by the numbers and by the eye-test -- this is what my ballot's looking like.

1st Team All-Conference:

JT Toppin, Texas Tech, F

AJ Dybansta, BYU, F

Kingston Flemings, Houston, G

Christian Anderson, Texas Tech, G

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State, F

The Arizona fans are going to lose their minds once again -- but I won't waiver. These are the 5 players who had the best seasons in the B12 -- and you can't change my mind.

2nd Team All-Conference:

Brayden Burries, Arizona, G

Jaden Bradley, Arizona, G

Darryn Peterson, Kansas, G

Baba Miller, Cincinnati, F

Motiejus Krivas, Arizona, F

The Arizona love comes in heavy on the 2nd team -- as well as D(N)P, and my favorite big man to watch, Baba Miller.

3rd Team All-Conference

Cameron Carr, Baylor, G

Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State, F

Emmanuel Sharp, Houston, G

PJ Haggerty, Kansas State, G

Flory Bidunga, Kansas, F

Bean's Longshot Conference Tourney Winner: Cincinnati (+4500)

SEC Conference

SEC Awards:

Coach of the Year: Todd Golden, Florida

Player of the Year: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

Newcomer of the Year: Dailyn Swain, Texas

Freshman of the Year: Nate Ament, Tennessee

Sixth-Man of the Year: Urban Klavzar, Florida

Defensive Player of the Year: Rueben Chinyelu, Florida

SEC was also on the money with their awards -- I'm only making one change, because of my own weird thing against giving both Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year to the same player.

So instead of Acuff double-dipping, I'm giving FOTY to Nate Ament of Tennessee. The way he improved as the season went on, developing into a true go-to scorer at all 3 levels, is worthy of recognition.

1st Team All-Conference:

Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas, G

Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama, G

Thomas Haugh, Florida, F

Tyler Tanner, Vandy, G

Dailyn Swain, Texas, F

One change between mine and the real list -- Swain in for Jakobi Gillespie. I think Swain is the most under-rated player in all of College Hoops -- dude is a match-up nightmare with the ball. And I needed another forward.

2nd Team All-Conference:

Jakobi Gillespie, Tennessee, G

Nate Ament, Tennessee, F

Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State, G

Alex Condon, Florida, F

Mark Mitchell, Mizzou, F

I don't care how bad Mississippi State is -- I damn near put Hubbard on 1st team, I love that guy.

3rd Team All-Conference

Otega Oweh, Kentucky, G

Keyshawn Hall, Auburn, F/G

Jeremiah Wilkinson, Georgia, G

Reuben Chinyelu, Florida, F

Rashaun Agee, Texas A&M, F

3 guards I hate watching -- 2 big men I fucking love watching. Luckily for those guards, I hate Aden Holloway more than them.

Bean's Longshot Conference Tourney Winner: Tennessee +1700

If you enjoyed today's blog -- leave a like and a 5-star rating! We're a week away from the Tourney people -- if there are any College Basketball topics you want covered before then, let me know in the comments!