Rick Barnes honored as Big 12 Coach of the Year; 5 Longhorns named All-Big 12

Texas Longhorns head coach Rick Barnes has been named Big 12 Coach of the Year. The award, along with other Big 12 regular season awards, were voted on by the conference coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for themselves, or for players on their own team.

Coaches had voted Texas eighth in the preseason poll, but Barnes guided the young Longhorns to a surprisingly successful regular season and third place finish in the conference. Though ballots are not released, Barnes likely won the award over Oklahoma's Lon Kruger and Kansas' Bill Self, coaches of the only two teams to finish ahead of Texas in the conference standings.

Along with Barnes, five Longhorns were honored on the All-Big 12 team. Junior forward Jonathan Holmes led the way, garnering Second-Team All-Big 12 honors. Sophomore center Cameron Ridley, freshman guard Isaiah Taylor, and sophomore guard Javan Felix made All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.

Taylor also took one of five spots on the Big 12 Newcomer team. Sophomore guard Demarcus Holland was awarded as one of five players on the Big 12 All-Defensive team, along with teammate "Killa Cam" Ridley.

For the major awards, Iowa St. Cyclones senior forward Melvin Ejim received Player of the Year honors. Fellow Cyclone DeAndre Kane, a senior playing in his first Big 12 season, took home Newcomer of the Year. Kansas Jayhawks freshmen teammates Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins were awarded Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively. The 6th Man of the Year award was shared by Phil Forte of the Oklahoma St. Cowboys and Tyler Neal of the Oklahoma Sooners.