UConn’s Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer and Dan Hurley sweep AP’s top individual awards in Big East
UConn’s Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer and Dan Hurley sweep AP’s top individual awards in Big East
UConn coach Dan Hurley reacts after guard Cam Spencer (12) scored 3 points during the first half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Providence, Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
FILE - Creighton guard Baylor Scheierman dunks the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Loyola Chicago Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. Scheierman was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
FILE - Marquette’s Tyler Kolek shoots over Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, in Milwaukee. Kolek was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
FILE - UConn guard Tristen Newton (2) shoots as Xavier forward Gytis Nemeiksa (50) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Hartford, Conn. Newton was named AP All-Big East player of the year in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
FILE - Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) hangs on the rim after dunking against Marquette’s Ben Gold (12) and Stevie Mitchell (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. Kalkbrenner was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz, File)
FILE - UConn head coach Dan Hurley smiles at an official in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi Valley State, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, in Hartford, Conn. Hurley is the coach of the year in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
FILE - Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Butler, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. Scheierman was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
FILE - Providence guard Devin Carter (22) goes to the basket against Georgetown center Ryan Mutombo, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Washington. Carter was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) plays in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. Kalkbrenner was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
FILE - Providence guard Devin Carter (22) looks on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgetown, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Washington. Carter was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - UConn head coach Dan Hurley reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Philadelphia. Hurley is the AP All-Big East coach of the year in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
UConn coach Dan Hurley reacts after guard Cam Spencer (12) scored 3 points during the first half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Providence, Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
UConn coach Dan Hurley reacts after guard Cam Spencer (12) scored 3 points during the first half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Providence, Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
FILE - Creighton guard Baylor Scheierman dunks the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Loyola Chicago Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. Scheierman was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
FILE - Creighton guard Baylor Scheierman dunks the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Loyola Chicago Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. Scheierman was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
FILE - Marquette’s Tyler Kolek shoots over Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, in Milwaukee. Kolek was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
FILE - Marquette’s Tyler Kolek shoots over Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, in Milwaukee. Kolek was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
FILE - UConn guard Tristen Newton (2) shoots as Xavier forward Gytis Nemeiksa (50) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Hartford, Conn. Newton was named AP All-Big East player of the year in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
FILE - UConn guard Tristen Newton (2) shoots as Xavier forward Gytis Nemeiksa (50) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Hartford, Conn. Newton was named AP All-Big East player of the year in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
FILE - Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) hangs on the rim after dunking against Marquette’s Ben Gold (12) and Stevie Mitchell (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. Kalkbrenner was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz, File)
FILE - Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) hangs on the rim after dunking against Marquette’s Ben Gold (12) and Stevie Mitchell (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. Kalkbrenner was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz, File)
FILE - UConn head coach Dan Hurley smiles at an official in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi Valley State, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, in Hartford, Conn. Hurley is the coach of the year in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
FILE - UConn head coach Dan Hurley smiles at an official in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi Valley State, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, in Hartford, Conn. Hurley is the coach of the year in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
FILE - Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Butler, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. Scheierman was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
FILE - Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Butler, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. Scheierman was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
FILE - Providence guard Devin Carter (22) goes to the basket against Georgetown center Ryan Mutombo, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Washington. Carter was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Providence guard Devin Carter (22) goes to the basket against Georgetown center Ryan Mutombo, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Washington. Carter was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) plays in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. Kalkbrenner was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
FILE - Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) plays in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. Kalkbrenner was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
FILE - Providence guard Devin Carter (22) looks on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgetown, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Washington. Carter was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Providence guard Devin Carter (22) looks on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgetown, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Washington. Carter was selected to the AP All-Big East first team in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - UConn head coach Dan Hurley reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Philadelphia. Hurley is the AP All-Big East coach of the year in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
FILE - UConn head coach Dan Hurley reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Philadelphia. Hurley is the AP All-Big East coach of the year in balloting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer and Dan Hurley gave Connecticut a sweep of The Associated Press’ top men’s basketball honors in the Big East.
Newton is the conference’s player of the year, Spencer is newcomer of the year and Hurley is coach of the year in balloting released Tuesday by 11 journalists who cover the conference.
Marquette’s Tyler Kolek and Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner are repeat selections to the AP All-Big East first team. They’re joined by Newton, Providence’s Devin Carter and Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman. Kolek, the player of the year in 2023, and Carter were unanimous picks.
The first team is guard-heavy. Kolek, Carter and Newton were the top three vote-getters, ahead of big man Kalkbrenner, and Scheierman was well ahead of any forward for the fifth spot.
Newton leads the defending national champion Huskies in scoring (15.0 ppg), rebounding (7.1 rpg) and assists (5.8 apg). He enters the Big East Tournament this week with nine double-doubles, including triple-doubles against Manhattan and Villanova.
Newton, who transferred to UConn from East Carolina two years ago, leads active Division I players with four career triple-doubles and is the only active player with at least 1,800 points, 650 rebounds and 650 assists.
Spencer, in his one and only season at UConn after transferring from Rutgers, is shooting a Big East-leading 45.1% on 3-pointers and averages 14.9 points and 3.3 assists per game.
Hurley, in his sixth year, led the Huskies to a Big East-record 18 conference wins and a school-record 28 regular-season wins. The Huskies’ regular-season title was their first since 2006 and first outright title since 1999.
Kolek leads the nation in assists (7.6 apg.) and ranks among the league leaders in six categories and has six double-doubles.
Carter averaged a Big East-leading 21.4 points per game in conference play and is shooting 38.5% on 3-pointers.
Scheierman leads the Big East with 14 double-doubles and averages 18.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Kalkbrenner’s 2.97 blocks per game rank second nationally, and Big East coaches named him defensive player of the year for a third straight season. He averages 17.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
FIRST TEAM
u-Guard — Tyler Kolek, Marquette, Sr., 6-3, 190, Cumberland, Rhode Island.
u-Guard — Devin Carter, Providence, Jr., 6-3, 195, Miami.
Guard — Tristen Newton, Connecticut, Gr., 6-5, 195, El Paso, Texas.
Guard — Baylor Scheierman, Creighton, Sr., 6-7, 205, Aurora, Nebraska.
Center — Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton, Sr., 7-1, 270, Florissant, Missouri.
—u-denotes unanimous selection
SECOND TEAM
Guard — Kadary Richmond, Seton Hall, Sr., 6-6, 210, Brooklyn, New York.
Guard — Cam Spencer, Connecticut, Gr., 6-4, 205, Davidsonville, Maryland.
Guard — Trey Alexander, Creighton, Jr., 6-4, 190, Oklahoma City.
Forward — Oso Ighodaro, Marquette, Sr., 6-11, 225, Chandler, Arizona.
Forward — Eric Dixon, Villanova, Jr., 6-8, 255, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.
INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Coach of the year — Dan Hurley, Connecticut.
Player of the year — Tristen Newton, Connecticut.
Newcomer of the year — Cam Spencer, Connecticut.
AP ALL-BIG EAST VOTING PANEL
Nick Bahe, Fox Sports; David Borges, CT Insider (Norwalk, Connecticut); Zach Braziller, New York Post; Jerry Carino, Asbury Park (New Jersey) Press; Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer; John Fanta, Fox Sports; Akeem Glaspie, Indianapolis Star; Steve Greenberg, Chicago Sun-Times; Kevin McNamara, WPRO (Providence, Rhode Island); Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Jon Walker, Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald.
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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball