Freshman of the Year - Shivaughn Wiggins, Mount Saint Mary's
Player of the Year - Jamal Olasewere, LIU-Brooklyn
Coach of the Year -Tim O'Shea, Bryant
I have no issue with any of these marks. Shivaughn WIggins' insertion into the starting lineup was a big part of MSM's late season charge, winning seven in a row and nine of ten to wind up fifth in the conference regulr season standings after opening 2-6. Wiggins averaged 15.4 points, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game in the last 11 games.
Jamal Olasewere and his 19.2 points, 8.4 rebounds per game averages were clearly deserving of the conference palyer of the year, and O'Shea has done yeoman's work at Bryant, where he has not only led the biggest single-season win improvement by a squad that finished 2-28 last season, but also got the team postseason eligible in the first year they were able to do so after transitioning to Division I.
That said, I have a bone to pick (yes, berate my homerish rant as you please).
2012-13 Northeast Conference Men’s Basketball First Team All-Conference
Alex Francis BRY F 6-6 205 Jr
Shane Gibson SHU G 6-2 180 Sr
Velton Jones RMU G 6-0 170 Sr
Jamal Olasewere LIU F 6-7 225 Sr
Kyle Vinales CCSU G 6-1 180 So
2012-13 Northeast Conference Men’s Basketball Second Team All-Conference
Ike Azotam QU F 6-7 231 Jr
Jason Brickman LIU G 6-0 165 Jr
Jalen Cannon SFC F 6-6 230 So
Dyami Starks BRY G 6-2 195 So
Jonathon Williams WC F 6-6 225 Sr
2012-13 Northeast Conference Men’s Basketball Third Team All-Conference
Frankie Dobbs BRY G 6-3 185 Sr
C.J. Garner LIU G 5-10 160 Sr
Matt Hunter CCSU G 6-5 190 Jr
Lucky Jones RMU G/F 6-6 205 So
Kenneth Ortiz WC G 6-0 200 Jr
Now, maybe a case can be made that since Monmouth, St. Francis (PA), and Fairleigh Dickinson had such poor seasons that their players deserve less consideration for such awards. But to have a first, second, and (for the first time) third team all-conference, and to haveone-third of the teams on your conference get no recognition? That's just lazy.
How about Kinu Rochford, who finished ninth in the conference in scoring for FDU, or Rashad Whack, who finished 15th in scoring and second in steals? Those players I would consider more worthy than the ridiculously bipolar seasons that Robert Morris' Velton Jones and Lucky Jones had this season.
You need to work on this, Northeast Conference. Seriously.