Providence guard Kris Dunn was named the Big East Player of the Year on Wednesday, earning the honor for the second straight season. He was the co-Player of the Year with Villanova’s Ryan Arcidiacono last season.
Dunn, who averaged 16.3 points, 6.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds for the Friars, beat out Villanova’s Josh Hart, Seton Hall’s Isaiah Whitehead and teammate Ben Bentil for the award. He is the projected No. 5 pick in the NBA Draft according to DraftExpress.com.
“If you’re the best player, you’re the best player,” DePaul’s Dave Leitao said recently. “If you take [Dunn] off Providence, they probably would not be nearly as successful as they are.”
As expected, Marquette freshman Henry Ellenson was named the Freshman of the Year. Ellenson, who averaged 16.8 points and 9.8 rebounds for the Golden Eagles, is the projected No. 8 10 pick in the NBA Draft, and would become the Big East’s first one-and-done since Pitt’s Steven Adams in 2013.
“I’m not sure any freshman in our league has had a greater impact or more responsibilty to his team than Henry,” Marquette’s Steve Wojciechowski said recently. “We have asked a lot of him as a player from day one and he’s delivered to the tune of a high double-double in one of the toughest conferences in America.”
Villanova coach Jay Wright and Seton Hall’s Kevin Willard were named co-Coaches of the Year.
Villanova (27-4, 16-2 Big East) won the league for a third straight season after being projected to finish first, while Seton Hall (22-8, 12-6) finished third after being picked seventh.
Congrats To Coach Willard Coach Of The Year He Deserves It ⚓️���� #SHBB
– Isaiah Whitehead (@IsaiahW_15) March 9, 2016
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