The final week of the regular season is finally here, and most of the major conference awards have a clear front-runner.
In this week’s edition of Sam’s Section, I will go over my award picks for the ACC and Big Ten with the Big 12 and SEC coming later this week. The Big East will be its own article on Tuesday.
ACC
Player, Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year: Cooper Flagg, F, Duke (19.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.6 spg, 1.2 bpg, 49.7 FG%, 38.2 3P%, 82.8 FT%)
Flagg took college basketball by storm this season, becoming the front-runner for national player of the year. He averages 25.2 points per 40 minutes (99th percentile nationally). His defense is elite. On the glass, he averages 6.1 defensive rebounds per game and ranks third in the ACC in total defensive rebounds, behind Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud and Clemson’s Ian Schieffelin. His steal percentage ranks in the 96th percentile at 3.1% and ranks sixth in the ACC in total steals. He is the only ACC player named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list. Flagg makes plays for his teammates too, with an assist rate of 26.1% (99th percentile). He ranks third in the ACC in scoring, behind Raynaud and Notre Dame’s Markus Burton.
Sixth Man of the Year: Jeremiah Wilkinson, G, California (14.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 41 FG%, 31.7 3P%, 79.3 FT%)
Despite being a freshman, Wilkinson led the ACC in scoring off the bench. The Powder Springs, Ga. native has only started in 11 of the 29 games he has played for the Golden Bears. He is an effective offensive player, averaging 22.9 points per 40 minutes, which is in the 98th percentile nationally. While he is not an elite defender or passer, he has carried the load for California this season, leading the team in scoring in 11 games.
Coach of the Year: Pat Kelsey, Louisville
Kelsey is one of two coaches named to the Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List, with the other being Duke’s Jon Scheyer. After an 8-24 season last year, Kelsey has completely turned the program around. The Cardinals are now 23-6 behind a brand-new roster including Wisconsin transfer Chucky Hepburn. Louisville has only lost twice in conference play and has earned wins over Indiana and Clemson.
Big Ten
Player of the Year: John Tonje, G, Wisconsin (19.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 47.1 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 91.5 FT%)
After four years at Colorado State and only playing eight games last season at Missouri, Tonje broke out as an All-American caliber guard this season. He averages 24.7 points per 40 minutes and has an effective field goal percentage of 56.5%. His true shooting percentage is exceptional at 65.8% (98th percentile nationally) and he ranks sixth in the Big Ten in scoring. He has come up clutch numerous times and has led the Badgers in scoring in 16 games this season, including nine of the last 11.
Defensive Player of the Year: Ace Baldwin Jr., G, Penn State
Baldwin is the only Big Ten player on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List and looks to win his second consecutive Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honor. There are few one-on-one defenders better than him. Baldwin ranks tied for second in the Big Ten in steals per game (2.3) and tied for second in steal percentage (4%).
Freshman of the Year: Ace Bailey, G, Rutgers (18.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.3 bpg, 1 spg, 46.5 FG%, 36.3 3P%, 68.9 FT%)
The projected top 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft has been one of the two bright spots for Rutgers, the other being Dylan Harper, also contending for Freshman of the Year. According to NBA.com, Bailey has been compared to Brandon Miller, Michael Porter Jr. and Rashard Lewis. He averages 21.8 points per 40 minutes and has been one of the best guard rebounders in the country. He ranks seventh in the Big Ten in scoring and could even share this award with Harper. He has led the Scarlet Knights in scoring in nine games, including a 39-point outing at Indiana in early January.
Sixth Man of the Year: Will Riley, F, Illinois (11.9 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 41.5 FG%, 31.5 3P%, 71.9 FT%)
Another freshman, Riley has produced well for Illinois despite only starting four games of the 30 he has appeared in. He is efficient when he is given the opportunity, averaging 19.3 points per 40 minutes (90th percentile). Despite coming off the bench, head coach Brad Underwood relies on him a lot, with a 24.1% usage rate (88th percentile). He is not a great defensive player, but his offense makes up for that.
Coach of the Year: Tom Izzo, Michigan State
After multiple seasons of not being on the top 4 seed line, Michigan State is primed to not only be on the top 2 seed line, but they are also in the driver’s seat to win the Big Ten regular-season title. After starting February 1-3, the Spartans have not lost a game since Feb. 11. Michigan State was projected to finish fifth in the conference, but will not finish any lower than second. Izzo became the all-time winningest coach in the Big Ten earlier this season, passing Indiana’s late legend Bob Knight.