MBB All-Conference Awards: Robinson, Culver nab Player of the Year and Beard, Ogden named Coach of the Year

At the beginning of the year, Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver had a big weight on his shoulder taking up the scoring load for the departed Zhaire Smith. But the hometown native's surge in production (From 11 ppg to 18 ppg) was the spearhead in Tech's own return to national prominence following last season's Elite Eight run. It was enough to earn him Big XII Player of the Year and Chris Beard, Big XII Coach of the Year.

Elsewhere, Texas Southern head coach Johnny Jones showed to be exactly what the Tigers hoped he would be with the help of LSU grad transfers, Jalyn Patterson and the SWAC MVP and Newcomer of the Year Jeremy Combs, who averaged 17 ppg on 60 percent shooting. TSU finished the regular season 19-11. But it was second-year Prairie View A&M head coach Byron Smith who led his Panthers to the regular season SWAC title and a 17-1 record in-conference.