The 10 coaches of the Pac-10 Conference voted Arizona sophomore forward Derrick Williams has the 2010-11 Pac-10 Men's Basketball Player of the Year. Wildcats Sean Miller was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year as well. The Wildcats finished the regular season 25-6 (14-4 Pac-10) and nabbed the top seed for the Conference Tournament and secured their first Pac-10 regular season title since 2004-05.
The ASU Sun Devils finished their disappointing season 12-18 (4-14 Pac-10) with blowout wins over Oregon and Oregon State over the weekend. They will be the 10th seed in the tournament which begins on Wednesday. The Sun Devils did receive one award for their season: Sophomore guard Trent Lockett was named second-team All-Pac-10.
ASU faces Oregon on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. local time on Fox Sports Network. Arizona plays it's first game on Thursday against the winner of Stanford (8) vs. Oregon State (9). That game is at 3:30 p.m. local time.
Other awards include:
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Allen Crabbe, California
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Marcus Simmons, USC
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Washington
AZ Desert Swarm blog has more on the Wildcats award winners:
Derrick Williams named Pac-10 Player of the Year, Miller earns COY - Arizona Desert Swarm
No surprises here -- after Washington Husky Isaiah Thomas' stellar play dropped off toward the end of the season and Washington State Cougar Klay Thompson got caught with some marijuana, it was Arizona Wildcat Derrick Williams who won the Pacific 10 Conference's Player of the Year award.