With the regular season winding down and Selection Sunday less than two weeks away, it's time for Inside College Basketball to hand out some awards for the 2005-2006 season.
National Player of the Year: J.J. Redick, Duke Blue Devils.
In what has clearly been a two-horse race between Redick and Adam Morrison of the Gonzaga Bulldogs from the outset, Redick gets the edge here because he has consistently played against tougher competition throughout the season. He has raised his field-goal percentage by almost ten points from last season despite attempts by his opponents to neutralize his offensive prowess. Although his free-throw percentage is at a career low, it's still an impressive 88.6 percent.
While Redick's long-range game is as good as ever, the improvements he has made with his play inside the arc have made him that much more difficult to defend. If he maintains his current average of 28.7 points per game, he would set a single-season Duke record, an obvious achievement considering Duke's history of excellence. He became the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Blue Devils and the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. Redick raised his performance in big games, torching the Texas Longhorns and Georgetown Hoyas for 41 points each and scoring at least 30 points in 13 other games.
While Morrison and the University of Connecticut's Rudy Gay may be better pros down the line, Redick has been the key for a Duke team in pursuit of a national championship. The Blue Devils will go as far in the tournament as Redick and teammate Shelden Williams will lead them. Honorable mentions: Morrison, Gay, Williams.
Freshman of the Year: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina Tar Heels.
This decision is far easier than the last one. Hansbrough's 18.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game have led a Heels squad that was forecasted to falter after losing its top seven scorers from last year's national champion team. Instead, the Tar Heels are tied for second place in the ACC and look poised to secure a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Hansbrough has had his share of big games, most notably a monster 40-point, 10-rebound effort in a comeback victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets that broke the record for most points scored in a single game by a freshman in ACC history. He is the best player recruited thus far by UNC coach Roy Williams, who may be on his way to his most notable coaching performance. Honorable mentions: Brandon Rush, Kansas Jayhawks, Shawne Williams, Memphis Tigers.
Coach of the Year: Bruce Pearl, Tennessee Volunteers.
In a year full of great coaching jobs, this one goes to Pearl, who in his first year with the Vols has them playing like a Final Four-worthy team. After leading the Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers to the Sweet 16 last year with his high-octane style of play, he inherited a group of players in Tennessee that mesh well with his system. The Vols lead the SEC East by 2.5 games and have recorded impressive victories over the Florida Gators and Texas. Pearl is getting the most out of his players, especially the backcourt duo of Chris Lofton and C.J. Watson, who are playing about as well as any pair in the country. It seems that the hype in Knoxville is no longer just about football. Honorable mentions: Thad Matta, Ohio State Buckeyes, Mark Gottfried, Alabama Crimson Tide, Roy Williams, UNC. Bill Self, Kansas.
Most Improved Player: Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh Panthers.
The Panthers would be sitting far from their current 21-4 mark without the surge in production from their big man. After playing sporadically in his first two seasons, the 7'2" junior is averaging 14.2 points and 10.5 boards to spearhead a balanced offensive attack. He is second in scoring behind guard Carl Krauser, and is the team leader in field-goal percentage and blocked shots. He has been instrumental to a team looking to improve upon last year's first-round exit from the NCAA Tournament. Honorable mention: Reyshawn Terry, UNC.
