Arizona’s Caleb Love wins AP Pac-12 player and newcomer of the year in first season with Wildcats
Arizona’s Caleb Love wins AP Pac-12 player and newcomer of the year in first season with Wildcats
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) points to a teammate during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UCLA in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Washington State head coach Kyle Smith, center, greets fans waiting in line before the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Washington, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Washington forward Keion Brooks Jr. (1) drives between Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) and forward Keshad Johnson (16) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Colorado guard KJ Simpson (2) shoots over Oregon State center KC Ibekwe, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Corvallis, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
California guard Jaylon Tyson (20) goes to the basket as Utah’s Deivon Smith, left, and Gabe Madsen defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Southern California guard Kobe Johnson (0) shoots over Arizona center Oumar Ballo during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Arizona center Oumar Ballo, center, is defended by Southern California guard Kobe Johnson (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
FILE - Arizona center Oumar Ballo plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas-Arlington, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Tucson, Ariz. Ballo was selected to the AP All-Pac-12 first team in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
FILE - Washington forward Keion Brooks plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Utah Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Salt Lake City. Brooks was selected to the AP All-Pac-12 first team in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
FILE - California guard Jaylon Tyson during warmups before an NCAA college basketball game against Washington State, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Pullman, Wash. Tyson was selected to the AP All-Pac-12 first team in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Young Kwak, File)
FILE - Colorado guard KJ Simpson (2) plays in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. Simpson was selected to the AP All-Pac-12 first team in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
FILE - Washington State head coach Kyle Smith speaks during a news conference at the Pac-12 Conference NCAA college basketball media day Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. Smith is the AP All-Pac-12 coach of the year in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/John Locher, File)
FILE - Arizona’s Caleb Love reacts to his 3-point shot against Southern California during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. Love was named The Associated Press Pac-12 men’s college basketball player and newcomer of the year on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, by a panel of media members who cover the conference. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb, File)
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) points to a teammate during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UCLA in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) points to a teammate during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UCLA in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Washington State head coach Kyle Smith, center, greets fans waiting in line before the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Washington, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Washington State head coach Kyle Smith, center, greets fans waiting in line before the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Washington, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Washington forward Keion Brooks Jr. (1) drives between Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) and forward Keshad Johnson (16) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Washington forward Keion Brooks Jr. (1) drives between Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) and forward Keshad Johnson (16) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Colorado guard KJ Simpson (2) shoots over Oregon State center KC Ibekwe, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Corvallis, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Colorado guard KJ Simpson (2) shoots over Oregon State center KC Ibekwe, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Corvallis, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
California guard Jaylon Tyson (20) goes to the basket as Utah’s Deivon Smith, left, and Gabe Madsen defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
California guard Jaylon Tyson (20) goes to the basket as Utah’s Deivon Smith, left, and Gabe Madsen defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Southern California guard Kobe Johnson (0) shoots over Arizona center Oumar Ballo during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Southern California guard Kobe Johnson (0) shoots over Arizona center Oumar Ballo during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Arizona center Oumar Ballo, center, is defended by Southern California guard Kobe Johnson (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Arizona center Oumar Ballo, center, is defended by Southern California guard Kobe Johnson (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
FILE - Arizona center Oumar Ballo plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas-Arlington, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Tucson, Ariz. Ballo was selected to the AP All-Pac-12 first team in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
FILE - Arizona center Oumar Ballo plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas-Arlington, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Tucson, Ariz. Ballo was selected to the AP All-Pac-12 first team in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
FILE - Washington forward Keion Brooks plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Utah Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Salt Lake City. Brooks was selected to the AP All-Pac-12 first team in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
FILE - Washington forward Keion Brooks plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Utah Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Salt Lake City. Brooks was selected to the AP All-Pac-12 first team in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
FILE - California guard Jaylon Tyson during warmups before an NCAA college basketball game against Washington State, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Pullman, Wash. Tyson was selected to the AP All-Pac-12 first team in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Young Kwak, File)
FILE - California guard Jaylon Tyson during warmups before an NCAA college basketball game against Washington State, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Pullman, Wash. Tyson was selected to the AP All-Pac-12 first team in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Young Kwak, File)
FILE - Colorado guard KJ Simpson (2) plays in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. Simpson was selected to the AP All-Pac-12 first team in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
FILE - Colorado guard KJ Simpson (2) plays in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. Simpson was selected to the AP All-Pac-12 first team in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
FILE - Washington State head coach Kyle Smith speaks during a news conference at the Pac-12 Conference NCAA college basketball media day Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. Smith is the AP All-Pac-12 coach of the year in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/John Locher, File)
FILE - Washington State head coach Kyle Smith speaks during a news conference at the Pac-12 Conference NCAA college basketball media day Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. Smith is the AP All-Pac-12 coach of the year in voting released Tuesday, March 12, 2024.(AP Photo/John Locher, File)
FILE - Arizona’s Caleb Love reacts to his 3-point shot against Southern California during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. Love was named The Associated Press Pac-12 men’s college basketball player and newcomer of the year on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, by a panel of media members who cover the conference. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb, File)
FILE - Arizona’s Caleb Love reacts to his 3-point shot against Southern California during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. Love was named The Associated Press Pac-12 men’s college basketball player and newcomer of the year on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, by a panel of media members who cover the conference. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb, File)
Caleb Love had quite a first season at Arizona.
Love was named The Associated Press Pac-12 men’s college basketball player and newcomer of the year on Tuesday by a panel of media members who cover the conference. Washington State’s Kyle Smith was named coach of the year.
Love spent his first three seasons at North Carolina, making a name for himself by hitting big shots during the Tar Heels’ run to the 2022 national championship game.
Wanting a new challenge, Love opted to transfer to Arizona, where he implored coach Tommy Lloyd and his staff to coach him hard. Love fit perfectly into Lloyd’s team-first philosophy, playing within the framework of the offense while still asserting himself as the Wildcats’ go-to player.
The 6-foot-4 guard helped lead No. 6 Arizona to the final Pac-12 regular-season championship and a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Love led the Wildcats and was the Pac-12’s fourth-leading scorer with a career-best 18.7 points per game. He had the best shooting season of his career at 43% and helped Arizona in many other ways, averaging 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
Smith ushered in a breakthrough season at Washington State. Picked to finish 10th in the preseason poll, the Cougars were one of the biggest surprises in college basketball.
Washington State swept the season series with a sweep of Arizona, including a 77-71 victory at McKale Center. The Cougars moved into the AP Top 25 for the first time in 16 years at No. 21 on Feb. 19 and are No. 18 heading into this week’s Pac-12 Tournament. Washington State finished the regular season 23-7 and its 14 Pac-12 wins match the program’s most in a conference season.
FIRST TEAM
u-Guard — KJ Simpson, Colorado, Jr., 6-2, 189, West Hills, Calif.
Guard — Caleb Love, Arizona, Sr., 6-4, 205, St. Louis.
Guard — Jaylon Tyson, Jr., 6-7, 215, Plano, Texas
u-Forward — Keion Brooks, Jr., Washington, 6-7, 210, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Center — Oumar Ballo, Arizona, Sr., 7-0, 260, Koulikoro, Mali.
—u-unanimous selection.
SECOND TEAM
Guard — Jordan Pope, Oregon St, Soph, 6-2, 165, Oakley, Calif.
Guard — Boogie Ellis, USC, Sr., 6-3, 190, San Diego.
Guard — Myles Rice, Washington State, freshman, 6-3, 180, Columbia, S.C.
Forward — Isaac Jones, Washington State, Sr., 6-9, 245, Spanaway, Wash.
Forward — Branden Carlson, Utah, Sr., 7-0, 220, South Jordan, Utah
INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Player of the year — Caleb Love, Arizona.
Coach of the year — Kyle Smith, Washington State.
Newcomer of the year — Caleb Love, Arizona.
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All-Pac-12 voting panel: Bruce Pascoe, Arizona Daily Star; Michelle Gardner, Arizona Republic; Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News; Pat Rooney, BuffZone.com; Andrew Quinn, KREM and KSKN Television; Brenna Greene, KOIN TV.
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