Oklahoma standout Blake Griffin, who set numerous records during his sophomore campaign, leads the 2009 edition of the All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball honors as Player of the Year.  Cole Aldrich (Kansas) and J.T. Tiller (Missouri) share the Defensive Player of the Year award, while Denis Clemente (Kansas State) is the top newcomer.  Willie Warren (Oklahoma) is the  Freshman of the Year, while LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor) and Matt Lawrence (Missouri) share the Sixth Man Award.  Bill Self of Kansas is the Big 12 Coach of the Year. 

The official All-Big 12 awards are selected by the league’s head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.

Griffin, a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team choice, led the Big 12 in scoring (22.1) and was first in the nation in rebounding (14.2).  He set a Big 12 record by finishing 13 games with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds.  Griffin also became the first player in conference history to have 40 points and 20 rebounds in the same game.  He is the first OU student-athlete to be named the Big 12 Player of the Year since the conference began competition in 1996-97. 

This season marks the second time in the last three years two players have shared defensive accolades.  Aldrich led the Big 12 in blocked shots with 77 on the season, including 35 in league play.  He is the second Jayhawk in four years of the award to earn the honor.  Tiller is known as one of the nation’s top defenders.  He was second in the Big 12 with 57 steals overall, more than doubling his total from a year ago.  He is the first Mizzou student-athlete to earn top defender recognition. 

Clemente is the first Kansas State player to be named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. The junior guard was the key performer in the Wildcats’ fourth-place finish, leading the squad with 15.6 points per game.  He had the top single-game scoring effort in the league this year, netting 44 points at Texas on January 31.  The total tied the Big 12 all-time single-game scoring record. 

Warren was the unanimous pick as Big 12 Freshman of the Year.  He was the top scoring freshman in the conference, averaging 14.7 points with 95 assists.  The first OU standout to earn the Big 12’s top freshman accolade, he ranked second on his team in scoring and posted double-digit point totals in 23 games, including 20 points or more seven times. 

The top sixth man honor is being shared for the first time in conference history.  Despite coming off the bench in 25 of 30 games this season, Dunn finished second in scoring for Baylor with 15.1 points per game.  He led his squad with 79 field goals from 3-point range.  Lawrence was also known as a 3-point specialist, leading MU with 65 makes from beyond the arc.  Both honors mark the first time either school has had a player earn the Big 12 Sixth Man Award. 

After losing every starter from last year’s NCAA Championship squad, Self led his team to its ninth Big 12 title.  The Jayhawks entered the season returning less than 20 percent from every statistical category, including only 16.9 percent of their scoring.  KU responded by posting a 25-6 record, including 14-2 in Big 12 play, to earn the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big 12 Championship.  Self is named the Big 12’s top coach for the second time (2005-06).

The All-Big 12 First, Second, Third and Honorable Mention teams were also announced, while conference coaches also selected All-Defensive and All-Rookie Teams.  Griffin is the lone repeat performer from last year’s first team, while A.J. Abrams and Damion James of Texas were on the second team for the second straight season.  Oklahoma State guard Byron Eaton was a holdover from last year’s third team.  UT guard Justin Mason was the lone player from a season ago to earn All-Defensive Team accolades again.

2008-09 PHILLIPS 66 ALL-BIG 12 MEN’S BASKETBALL AWARDS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Blake Griffin, Oklahoma, F, So., 6-10, 251, Oklahoma City, Okla./Oklahoma Christian School

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Cole Aldrich, Kansas, C, So., 6-11, 245, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson
J.T. Tiller, Missouri, G, Jr., 6-3, 200, Marietta, Ga./Wheeler

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Denis Clemente, Kansas State, G, Jr., 6-1, 175, Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Calusa Prep/Miami (Fla.)

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Willie Warren, Oklahoma, G, Fr., 6-4, 207, Fort Worth, Texas/North Crowley**

SIXTH MAN AWARDS
LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor, G, So., 6-4, 201, Monroe, La./Excelsior Christian School
Matt Lawrence, Missouri, G, Sr., 6-7, 203, St. Louis, Mo./Lafayette

COACH OF THE YEAR
Bill Self, Kansas [Career: 374-143, 16th season; At KU: 167-38, 6th season]

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Listed alphabetically by school)
LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor), Kevin Rogers (Baylor), Jacob Pullen (Kansas State), J.T. Tiller (Missouri), Austin Johnson (Oklahoma), Terrel Harris (Oklahoma State), John Roberson (Texas Tech), Alan Voskuil (Texas Tech)

** - Unanimous Selection
Ties in the voting created additional spots for Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man Award and on the third and all-defensive teams