NEW YORK — At least one Big East coach failed to put West Virginia’s Kevin Jones on the All-Big East First Team, and UConn’s Jim Calhoun thinks that’s a travesty.
“Anybody who would do that didn’t play in the league this year,” Calhoun told SNY.tv exclusively following No. 9 UConn’s 81-67 victory over No. 16 DePaul in the Big East Tournament.
A year ago, at least one league coach failed to put UConn’s Kemba Walker on the Big East First-Team…and we all know how that worked out.
Next up for the defending Big East and NCAA champion Huskies is a date with Jones and No. 8 West Virginia in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.
“Jones, to me, is the best player in this league,” Calhoun said of the Mount Vernon, N.Y., native. “That’s who I voted for.”
As first reported by SNY.tv Monday night, Marquette’s Jae Crowder was named the Big East Player of the Year.
Marquette coach Buzz Williams, who could not vote for his own player, voted for Jones for Player of the Year, sources told SNY.tv.
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins told reporters in New York he felt Jones should’ve won the award.
“I thought K.J. would be the player of the year,” Huggins said, according to WVIllustrated.com. “You look like what he did in scoring and rebounding, you take seven freshmen and a transfer with two other guys that have been in the program at all and win 19 games and really maybe could’ve, should’ve won a bunch more – I thought he was phenomenal.”
Huggins was stunned that one coach didn’t put Jones on the First Team.
“Whoever it was who didn’t deem him first team, I mean, how can he not be a unanimous pick for first team?” Huggins asked. “Who can name six players in the league that are better than what he is?”
