Colorado University Athletics
Higgins Named All-Big 12 Third Team
March 08, 2009 | Men's Basketball
IRVING, Texas - University of Colorado men's basketball standout Cory Higgins was named to the Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Conference third team, announced Sunday by the conference office. The official All-Big 12 awards are selected by the league's head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.
Higgins, a sophomore guard from Danville, Calif. leads the Buffaloes in a majority of categories including points, rebounds, steals, free throws/attempts, defensive and total rebounds and minutes played. He also ranks second in assists and blocked shots, and ranks third in three-pointers made.
Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference, Higgins becomes the 14th CU player to be selected to either the first, second or third conference teams. He is the sixth third team selection and second straight in as many years to be named to the third team.
Throughout the 2008-09 season, Higgins was the only Big 12 player and a handful of Division I athletes to lead his team in four categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals).
Higgins was named one of three captains prior to the start of the season and has started every game at CU (62 consecutive). He has led the Buffs in scoring 18 times and finished the 16-game conference season as the top steals leader (2.1). During the 2008-09 campaign, he has maintained a nation ranking in three categories (points, FG%, FT%) and set the CU and Big 12 record for consecutive free throws made (45).
Higgins has netted 11 games over 20 points with a pair of 30-point efforts and was named conference player of the week Dec. 8-14.
Colorado's second season begins Wednesday, March 11 taking No. 5 seed Texas at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Basketball Championships. The game will be televised by the Big 12 Network seen locally on Altitude Sports & Entertainment beginning at 1 p.m. (MDT) from the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Complete Big 12 award winners listed below.
Oklahoma standout Blake Griffin, who set numerous records during his sophomore campaign, leads the 2009 edition of the All-Big 12 Men's Basketball honors as Player of the Year. Cole Aldrich (Kansas) and J.T. Tiller (Missouri) share the Defensive Player of the Year award, while Denis Clemente (Kansas State) is the top newcomer. Willie Warren (Oklahoma) is the Freshman of the Year, while LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor) and Matt Lawrence (Missouri) share the Sixth Man Award. Bill Self of Kansas is the Big 12 Coach of the Year.
Also announced Sunday was the Kansas City Star specialty teams voted by a group of media who regularly cover the Big 12. Higgins was the lone CU student-athlete listed and was named one of five to the All-Improved team.
2008-09 PHILLIPS 66 ALL-BIG 12 MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Blake Griffin, Oklahoma, F, So., 6-10, 251, Oklahoma City, Okla.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Cole Aldrich, Kansas, C, So., 6-11, 245, Bloomington, Minn.
J.T. Tiller, Missouri, G, Jr., 6-3, 200, Marietta, Ga.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Denis Clemente, Kansas State, G, Jr., 6-1, 175, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Willie Warren, Oklahoma, G, Fr., 6-4, 207, Fort Worth, Texas
SIXTH MAN AWARDS
LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor, G, So., 6-4, 201, Monroe, La.
Matt Lawrence, Missouri, G, Sr., 6-7, 203, St. Louis, Mo.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bill Self, Kansas [Career: 374-143, 16th season; At KU: 167-38, 6th season]
All-Big 12 First Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
Craig Brackins, Iowa State F 6-10 230 So. Raleigh, N.C.
Cole Aldrich, Kansas C 6-11 245 So. Bloomington, Minn.
Sherron Collins, Kansas** G 5-11 200 Jr. Chicago, Ill.
DeMarre Carroll, Missouri F 6-8 225 Sr. Birmingham, Ala.
Blake Griffin, Oklahoma** F 6-10 251 So. Oklahoma City, Okla.
All-Big 12 Second Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
Denis Clemente, Kansas State G 6-1 175 Jr. Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Willie Warren, Oklahoma G 6-4 207 Fr. Fort Worth, Texas
James Anderson, Oklahoma State G/F 6-6 195 So. Junction City, Ark.
A.J. Abrams, Texas G 5-11 161 Sr. Round Rock, Texas
Damion James, Texas G/F 6-7 222 Jr. Nacogdoches, Texas
All-Big 12 Third Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
Curtis Jerrells, Baylor G 6-1 201 Sr. Austin, Texas
Cory Higgins, Colorado G 6-5 185 So. Danville, Calif.
Leo Lyons, Missouri F 6-9 244 Sr. Kansas City, Kan.
Ade Dagunduro, Nebraska G 6-5 200 Sr. Inglewood, Calif.
Byron Eaton, Oklahoma State G 5-11 218 Sr. Dallas, Texas
Josh Carter, Texas A&M G/F 6-7 205 Sr. Dallas, Texas
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Listed alphabetically by school)
LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor), Kevin Rogers (Baylor), Jacob Pullen (Kansas State), J.T. Tiller (Missouri), Austin Johnson (Oklahoma),
Terrel Harris (Oklahoma State), John Roberson (Texas Tech), Alan Voskuil (Texas Tech)
Big 12 All-Defensive Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
Cole Aldrich, Kansas C 6-11 245 So. Bloomington, Minn.
J.T. Tiller, Missouri** G 6-3 200 Jr. Marietta, Ga.
Ade Dagunduro, Nebraska G 6-5 200 Sr. Inglewood, Calif.
Terrel Harris, Oklahoma State G 6-5 184 Sr. Dallas, Texas
Justin Mason, Texas G 6-2 194 Jr. Amarillo, Texas
Derrick Roland, Texas A&M G 6-4 190 Jr. Dallas, Texas
Big 12 All-Rookie Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
Marcus Morris, Kansas F 6-8 225 Fr. Philadelphia, Pa.
Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas** G 6-3 180 Fr. Hoboken, N.J.
Denis Clemente, Kansas State** G 6-1 175 Jr. Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Zaire Taylor, Missouri G 6-4 189 Jr. Staten Island, N.Y.
Willie Warren, Oklahoma** G 6-4 207 Fr. Fort Worth, Texas
** - Unanimous Selection
Ties in the voting created additional spots for Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man Award and on the third and all-defensive teams
2008-09 Big 12 Specialty Teams: The Kansas City Star (Selected by a panel of sportswriters to regularly cover the Big 12)
All-Freshman
Quincy Acy, Baylor
Robert Lewandowski, Texas Tech
Marcus Morris, Kansas
Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas
Willie Warren, Oklahoma
All-Newcomer (transfer)
Denis Clemente, Kansas State
Nick Okorie, Texas Tech
Juan Pattillo, Oklahoma
Zaire Taylor, Missouri
Jamie Vanderbeken, Iowa State
All-Defense
Cole Aldrich, Kansas
Ryan Anderson, Nebraska
Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Derrick Roland, Texas A&M
J.T. Tiller, Missouri
All-Improved
Craig Brackins, Iowa State
Chinemelu Elonu, Texas A&M
Taylor Griffin, Oklahoma
Cory Higgins, Colorado
Darren Kent, Kansas State
All-Reserve (tie in voting)
LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor
B.J. Holmes, Texas A&M
Gary Johnson, Texas
Keiton Page, Oklahoma State
Mike Singletary, Texas Tech
Paul Velander, Nebraska
All-Underrated
Ade Dagunduro, Nebraska
Terrel Harris, Oklahoma State
Austin Johnson, Oklahoma
Brady Morningstar, Kansas
Jacob Pullen, Kansas State
