College Chalktalk's 2009-10 Season Awards
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First Team
Player of the Year
Kevin Anderson (Jr.) - Point Guard, Richmond: Anderson captures CCT's Player of the Year award, edging out Xavier's Crawford by the slightest of margins. The guard averages 17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 36.8 minutes of action. In leading Richmond to its first national ranking since 1986 and a sewn-up NCAA berth, Anderson is simply indispensable at the point guard position, particularly in the Spiders' demanding and complex offensive system. In addition to his offensive contributions, Anderson ranks third in the league in steals (56), an average of nearly two per contest.
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Jordan Crawford (So.) - Guard, Xavier: The most explosive scorer in the A-10, Crawford leads the league at 19.6 points per game and is shooting a fantastic 39% from three and 45% from the field. Crawford also averages three assists and 4.7 rebounds in a season where he has registered at least 20 points on 14 different occasions. The sophomore should lead the league in scoring again next year, and if he sticks around could become the league's next Dionte Christmas...a three-time scoring champion.
Lavoy Allen (Jr.) - Forward, Temple: Allen has led Temple
to No. 16 national ranking and has the Owls on the
verge of capturing the regular season title. The post presence
averages 11.7 points and 11 rebounds, is a key facilitator and
excellent passer, and has tallied 12 double-doubles on the
year while anchoring the paint defensively for Fran Dunphy's
club.
Damian Saunders (Jr.) - Forward, Duquesne: Saunders' Dukes have experienced their share of struggles this season, but the junior has been superb, averaging 14.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 2.8 steals and 2.5 assists. He has also registered an incredible 19 double-doubles to date. Perhaps the most complete player in the league, Saunders defensive skills set him apart from players with similar offensive numbers, although those types are also few and far between.
Rodney Green (Sr.) - Guard, La Salle: Carrying averages of 18.7 points, 4.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds for a La Salle team that was hurt by injuries, the strong senior with the well-rounded game left it all on the floor, and will go down as one of the best ever to don the blue and gold.
Second Team
Andrew Nicholson (So.) - Forward, St. Bonaventure: The
former Rookie of the Year did not endure a sophomore slump,
averaging 16 points and 7.3 rebounds while leading the league in
field goal percentage. The big fella has led the Bonnies to seven
league wins and has the program feeling great about the future
with his presence in the pivot.
Chris Wright (Jr.) - Forward, Dayton: Wright has averaged 14.6 points and 7.3 caroms per contest for Brian Gregory's squad, currently sitting at 19-10, 8-7. The junior converts on 53.5% of his field goal attempts, is a match-up nightmare given his rare blend of strength, quickness and athleticism, and is stout defensively.
Ricky Harris (Sr.) - Guard, UMass: Averaging 19.4 points per game, Harris will likely finish second in the league in scoring while collecting a nightly three boards and three assists. The senior has enjoyed an incredible career in Amherst, amassing and his 1,889 points through games of March 4th.
David Gonzalvez (Sr.) - Guard, Richmond: Gonzalvez averaged 13.8 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 36% from three for an NCAA bound Richmond team. The senior may be scoring the ball at a reduced clip from a year ago, but is a fantastic on-ball defender and combines with Anderson to form one of the best backcourts in the nation.
Kwamain Mitchell (So.) - Point Guard, Saint Louis: Mitchell has run Rick Majerus' offense with brilliance while averaging 15.9 points, three rebounds and three assists per game. Saint Louis has been the surprise team of the year with a 10-5 league record and 19 total wins... and Mitchell has led the Billikens nearly every step of the way.
Third Team
Chris Gaston (Fr.) - Forward, Fordham: In a season where Fordham dismissed its coach and suffered the defection of its point guard, Gaston has been immense - albeit for the winless in conference Rams. The frosh has averaged 17.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, shooting 45% from the field.
Shamari Spears (Jr.) - Forward, Charlotte: The Boston College transfer quickly introduced himself to the league, averaging 16.2 points and six boards and teaming with Derrio Green on a Charlotte team that - despite a recent slide - has exceeded expectations by winning 19 games as of today, eight more than 2008-09.
Keith Cothran (Sr.) - Guard, Rhode Island: The veteran
Cothran stabilizes the perimeter scoring attack for Jim Baron's
club, netting 15.1 points per game while chipping in 3.6 boards and
2.1 dimes. Setting the tone on the defensive end,
Cothran averages 1.8 steals a contest, ranking him fifth
in the league in that category.
Jason Love (Sr.) - Forward, Xavier: With great expectations placed upon him given the personnel losses sustained by Xavier after the 2008-09 season, Love has responded in a major way. The senior improves by the game, this season elevating his scoring average from 6.7 to 11.8 per contest. He's also grabbing 8.6 boards an outing and shooting a robust 58% from the floor.
Ryan Brooks (Sr.) - Guard, Temple: Always poised and often clutch, Brooks has paired with Lavoy Allen to steward the Owls to a fine season an inside-track to the regular season title. The upperclassman contributes across the board, averaging 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists a night for Fran Dunphy's club.
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Coach of the Year
Fran Dunphy, Temple: Despite losing three-time league scoring champion Dionte Christmas, productive big Sergio Olmos, and an underrated Semaj Inge to graduation after the 2008-09 campaign, Dunphy has his Temple Owls locked and loaded for their third NCAA bid in as many years. Selected fifth in the conference's preseason media/coaches poll, Dunphy has guided the Owls to a 25-5 ranking (13-2 in conference) through games of March 4, 2010, and a No. 16 national ranking.
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All Rookie
Team
*Chris Gaston - Forward, Fordham: 17.9 ppg., 11.1 rpg.
Akeem Richmond - Guard, Rhode Island: 9.2 ppg., 41% 3pt., 66 threes (school record)
Chris Braswell - Forward, Charlotte: 9.3 ppg., 8.6 rpg.
Cody Ellis - Forward, Saint Louis: 11.7 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 37% 3pt.
Lasan Kromah - Guard, George Washington: 11.8ppg., 3.5rpg., 36% 3pt.
Aaric Murray - Forward, La Salle: 12.4ppg., 6.6rpg., 70 blocks
* Denotes Rookie of the Year
All Defensive Team
David Gonzalvez, Richmond
Damian Saunders, Duquesne
Jason Love, Xavier
Garrett Williamson (Sr.) - Guard, Saint Joseph's
Lavoy Allen, Temple
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