Smart becomes the third Cowboy to earn top player honors after leading OSU to an eight-game improvement from a year ago. He is ranked in the top 10 in the Big 12 in several statistical categories, including scoring (sixth), assists (sixth), steals (first) and free throw percentage (fifth). His 89 steals has tied the conference's single-season thefts record and joins Michael Beasley of K-State (2007-08) and Kevin Durant of Texas (2006-07) as the only players to win player and rookie accolades in the same year.
Withey is the first player in Big 12 history to win the defensive award outright in back-to-back seasons. He has 124 blocked shots, a total that ranks fourth on the single-season Big 12 chart after he set the record with 140 in 2011-12. Withey became the league's all-time career leader in rejections this year as well with a current total of 289.
An Iowa State student-athlete has been named Newcomer of the Year for the second season in a row. Clyburn, a transfer from Utah, ranks fifth in the Big 12 in scoring (15.2 ppg) and rebounding (7.1 rpg). Senior guard Tyrus McGee is the first Cyclone to win the league's top sixth man honor. He led the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage (.470) and 3-pointers (87) while starting just two games. His shooting percentage from beyond the arc was second nationally in the latest NCAA rankings.
Ejim is the first Big 12 men's basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A new award this season across all sports, the junior led the Big 12 in rebounding with 9.3 per game. He boasts a 3.74 GPA in the classroom as a history major and was recently named a Capital One Academic All-District 6 and Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection.
Weber is the second Wildcat mentor to win Big 12 Coach of the Year. In his first year in Manhattan, he guided the Wildcats to a share of the Big 12 regular season title - their first conference crown since 1977. K-State's 25 overall wins were the most in school history by a first-year head coach and the 'Cats 14 league wins tied the school record set by the 1958-59 squad (14-0).
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. Withey was a repeat choice on the defensive team, the seventh player in Big 12 history to be a two-time honoree.
The official All-Big 12 awards are selected by the league's head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.
2012-13 PHILLIPS 66 ALL-BIG 12 MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, G, Fr., 6-4, 225, Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Withey, Kansas, C, Sr., 7-0, 235, San Diego, Calif./Horizon**
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Will Clyburn, Iowa State, G, Sr., 6-7, 205, Detroit, Mich./Romulus/Marshalltown CC/Utah
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, G, Fr., 6-4, 225, Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus**
SIXTH MAN AWARD
Tyrus McGee, Iowa State, G, Sr., 6-2, 205, Stringtown, Okla./Stringtown/Cowley County CC
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Melvin Ejim, Iowa State, F, Jr., 6-6, 220, Toronto, Ontario/Brewster Academy [N.H.]
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bruce Weber, Kansas State [Career: 338-161, 15th season; At K-State: 25-6, 1st season]
| All-Big 12 First Team | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Ben McLemore, Kansas | G | 6-5 | 185 | Fr. | St. Louis, Mo./Christian Life Center [Texas] |
| Jeff Withey, Kansas | C | 7-0 | 235 | Sr. | San Diego, Calif./Horizon |
| Rodney McGruder, Kansas State | G | 6-4 | 205 | Sr. | Washington, D.C./Arlington Country Day [Fla.] |
| Romero Osby, Oklahoma | F | 6-8 | 232 | Sr. | Meridian, Miss./Mississippi State University |
| Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State | G | 6-4 | 225 | Fr. | Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus |
| All-Big 12 Second Team | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Pierre Jackson, Baylor | G | 5-10 | 180 | Sr. | Las Vegas, Nev./Desert Pines/ College of Southern Idaho |
| Will Clyburn, Iowa State | G | 6-7 | 205 | Sr. | Detroit, Mich./Romulus/Marshalltown CC/Utah |
| Travis Releford, Kansas | G | 6-6 | 210 | Sr. | Kansas City, Mo./Bishop Miege |
| Angel Rodriguez, Kansas State | G | 5-11 | 180 | So. | San Juan, Puerto Rico/Krop [Fla.] |
| Markel Brown, Oklahoma State | G | 6-3 | 190 | Jr. | Alexandria, La./Peabody |
| All-Big 12 Third Team | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Isaiah Austin, Baylor | C | 7-1 | 220 | Fr. | Arlington, Texas/Grace Preparatory Academy |
| Melvin Ejim, Iowa State | F | 6-6 | 220 | Jr. | Toronto, Ontario/Brewster Academy [N.H] |
| Amath M'Baye, Oklahoma | F | 6-9 | 208 | Jr. | Bordeaux, France/University of Wyoming |
| Steven Pledger, Oklahoma | G | 6-4 | 219 | Sr. | Chesapeake, Va./Atlantic Shores Christian School |
| Le'Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State | G/F | 6-7 | 230 | So. | Dallas, Texas/Lincoln |
| All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Listed alphabetically by school) | |||||
| Cory Jefferson (Baylor), Korie Lucious (Iowa State), Tyrus McGee (Iowa State), Elijah Johnson (Kansas), Shane Southwell (Kansas State), Michael Cobbins (Oklahoma State), Jaye Crockett (Texas Tech), Eron Harris (West Virginia), Deniz Kilicli (West Virginia) | |||||
| Big 12 All-Defensive Team | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Chris Babb, Iowa State | G | 6-5 | 225 | Sr. | Arlington, Texas/The Oakridge School/Penn State |
| Travis Releford, Kansas | G | 6-6 | 210 | Sr. | Kansas City, Mo./Bishop Miege |
| Jeff Withey, Kansas** | C | 7-0 | 235 | Sr. | San Diego, Calif./Horizon |
| Angel Rodriguez, Kansas State | G | 5-11 | 180 | So. | San Juan, Puerto Rico/Krop [Fla.] |
| Michael Cobbins, Oklahoma State | F | 6-8 | 220 | So. | Amarillo, Texas/Palo Duro |
| Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State** | G | 6-4 | 225 | Fr. | Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus |
| Big 12 All-Rookie Team | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| Isaiah Austin, Baylor | C | 7-1 | 220 | Fr. | Arlington, Texas/Grace Preparatory Academy |
| Will Clyburn, Iowa State | G | 6-7 | 205 | Sr. | Detroit, Mich./Romulus/Marshalltown CC/Utah |
| Georges Niang, Iowa State | F | 6-7 | 235 | Fr. | Methuen, Mass./The Tilton School |
| Ben McLemore, Kansas** | G | 6-5 | 185 | Fr. | St. Louis, Mo./Christian Life Center [Texas] |
| Amath M'Baye, Oklahoma | F | 6-9 | 208 | Jr. | Bordeaux, France/University of Wyoming |
| Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State** | G | 6-4 | 225 | Fr. | Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus |
|
** - Unanimous Selection Ties in the voting created an additional spot on the All-Defensive and All-Rookie Teams |
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