Greg Wrubell's All-WCC postseason picks


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PROVO — The West Coast Conference will soon announce its annual all-league honors, and as is now customary, I have compiled my picks for postseason awards — even though I don't have a vote that counts. In the WCC, the only votes are cast by coaches, and none of the coaches may vote for members of their own team.

As opposed to a First/Second/Third Team format, the WCC implements one 10-player all-conference squad, and as you will see below, limiting the list to 10 top players was tough in a season that featured so many standout performances. The league is as deep as it has ever been, and the collection of talent is testament to the WCC's elevated national profile.

The WCC also names a Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year.

(Note: all statistics considered/referenced are for conference games only; only those stats are considered in the balloting)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Tyler Haws, BYU: I tend to award this recognition to the best player on the best team, but Haws was a few steps beyond any other league player this season, whether a Zag or a member of any other conference squad.

The nation's sixth-leading scorer overall, Haws averaged 23.5 points per WCC game on 48 percent shooting from the field while going 46 percent from the arc and 87 percent from the stripe. The gap between Haws' scoring average and second place was greater than the margin between second place and 15th place.

In addition to ranking first in scoring, he ranked fifth in 3-point percentage (46.0), fifth in free-throw percentage (87.0), and 15th in field-goal percentage (48.0). If the measure of a great shooter is 50 percent FG + 40 percent 3PFG + 90 percent FT = 180, Haws resides in that high-rent neighborhood, with a combined shooting percent that adds up to 181.

Haws was the focal point of every opposing game plan, yet still found a way to attempt and make more shots than any other league player, by a mile. A player who does not primarily operate with the ball in his hands, Haws is a study in constant motion, tirelessly working to find his sweet spots on the floor — which for him, could be almost anywhere on the playing surface. As comfortable shooting a tight-traffic 20-footer as he is a lay-up, Haws is a shot-maker extraordinaire, whose range only gets deeper with experience. Look for even more impressive numbers during his senior season.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Jared Brownridge, Santa Clara: The league's second-leading scorer as a true freshman, Brownridge finished his season with a bang, scoring 38 points in a win at Pepperdine. Brownridge's 50 3-pointers made tied for the league lead, and he was fourth in the conference in free-throw percentage. He set the Santa Clara freshman records for points in a game and points in a season.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Kyle Collinsworth, BYU: An all-around impact player on both ends of the floor, Collinsworth consistently guarded multiple positions, from point guard to power forward. The league leader in steals, Collinsworth tied for seventh in defensive rebounds per game as the only guard in the defensive-rebounding top 10.

The also-receiving-votes category could include blocked-shots leader Brendan Lane of Pepperdine and Jito Kok of San Diego, who finished second to Lane in shot swats. USD's Christopher Anderson is also a defensive buzz-saw, finishing second to Collinsworth in steals.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Dave Rose, BYU: Mark Few led Gonzaga to its 13th regular-season title in the last 14 years, and 11th outright title — and I could never argue against him winning this award. That said, Dave Rose proved expert at pushing all the right buttons in leading his team back from a 0-2 league start to win 13 of the remaining 16 games and finish second to the Zags — BYU's best finish in three seasons of WCC membership.

Rose converted starting point guard Matt Carlino into a sixth man, and late in the season moved Carlino's replacement, Skyler Halford, to the bench in favor of Anson Winder. He also moved highly touted rookie Eric Mika out of the starting five as part of a tactical plan, and every one of these moves paid the desired dividends. Bouncing back from staggering preseason cancer surgery, Rose was the team's inspirational leader through more in-season adversity than the program had before experienced during his tenure. Ninth among active Division I head coaches in career win percentage, Rose has the universal admiration of his conference coaching colleagues, while his team has the attention of every league foe heading into Las Vegas.

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM (listed alphabetically, by institution)

Kyle Collinsworth, BYU: 13th in scoring (14.1 ppg), 5th in rebounding (7.6 rpg), 9th in FG% (51.4), 4th in assists (4.6 apg), 1st in steals (2.1 spg), 10th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7). Scored in double figures in 16 of 18 conference games as arguably the best all-around player in the WCC.

Tyler Haws, BYU: (see Player of the Year notes)

Sam Dower Jr., Gonzaga: 8th in scoring (15.1 ppg), 8th in rebounding (7.0 rpg), 2nd in FG% (60.0), 13th in FT% (81.4), 12th in blocked shots (0.8 bpg). Dower is a hard-to-handle big man whose versatility and ability to stretch the floor make him among the league's hardest guys to guard. A steady 15-and-7 performer, Dower's signature shot of the season was a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to win the game at Santa Clara.

Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga: 18th in scoring (12.6 ppg), 8th in assists (3.6 apg), 7th in FT% (86.5), 15th in 3PFG% (38.5), 7th in 3-pointers made (35), 14th in steals (1.2 spg). With numbers that may not jump off the page, Pangos was the driving force in the Gonzaga backcourt, playing through the pain of turf toe through most of the conference campaign, yet hitting big shot after big shot.

Anthony Ireland, Loyola Marymount: 3rd in scoring (18.3 ppg), 2nd in assists (5.4 apg), 4th in steals (1.4 spg), 15th in 3-pointers made (24), 7th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9), 2nd in minutes played (36.6 mpg). As was the case last year, I struggled a bit with Ireland, who again played for the league's last-place team. In the end, his steady and integral contributions as part an increasingly depleted roster earned him the all-league nod.

Stacy Davis, Pepperdine: 11th in scoring (14.6 ppg), 2nd in rebounding (8.2 rpg), 15th in FT% (80.2), 15th in blocked shots (0.7 bpg). Last season's WCC Newcomer of the Year, Davis was the inside anchor for a Pepperdine team that recorded a fifth-place finish and the school's highest conference win total in 10 years. Davis scored in double figures in 15 of 18 league games, recording four double-doubles.

Stephen Holt, St. Mary's: 7th in scoring (16.2 ppg), 10th in assists (3.4 apg), 12th in FG% (49.1), 10th in FT% (84.5), 10th in 3PFG% (42.4), 11th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7), 1st in minutes played (37.8 mpg). Taking over for Gaels' standout point guard Matthew Dellavedova, Holt brought a handy scoring touch to the position, with an aggressive mindset that positioned him second only to Haws in free-throw attempts and makes. His 35-point performance at Santa Clara was the league's fourth-best single-game performance in conference play.

Brad Waldow, St. Mary's: 9th in scoring (15.1 ppg), 1st in rebounding (8.3 rpg; 1st in offensive rebounding), 8th in FG% (51.4%), 6th in blocked shots (1.1 bpg). A big-bodied player blessed with soft hands and a deft touch around the basket, Waldow was a handful for BYU, and every other league team.

Johnny Dee, San Diego: 6th in scoring (16.3 ppg), 1st in FT% (96.7), 1st in 3-pointers made (50), 3rd in 3PFG% (51.0), 15th in steals (1.1 spg). Like Haws, Dee runs as much as he shoots. Known for his 3-point prowess, Dee is just as comfortable driving for crafty floaters, while his free-throw stroke is the best in the league; he made his last 24 attempts of the regular season.

Cole Dickerson, San Francisco: 10th in scoring (15.0 ppg), 5th in rebounding (7.6 rpg), 7th in FG% (51.4). A big man who can stretch the defense, Dickerson paired with Kruize Pinkins to form a formidable frontcourt tandem for a Dons squad that went 13-1 versus every team below USF in the league standings. USF's second-place finish was the best of the Rex Walters era.

Players also considered, or "The Next Ten"

Matt Carlino, BYU: 17th in scoring (12.6 ppg), 6th in assists (4.3 apg), 11th in 3PFG% (42.4) 4th in 3-pointers made (39), 1st in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.2). If there were a Sixth Man of the Year Award, Carlino would win it, having come off the bench in 16 of 18 conference games. Carlino deserves a great deal of credit for embracing his new role, while starting point guard Kyle Collinsworth deserves credit for his versatility that made the new Carlino plan feasible. Heading into the postseason, Carlino remains a huge barometer for the team's success.

Evan Payne, Loyola Marymount: 5th in scoring (16.3 ppg), 11th in FT% (84.2), 9th in steals (1.4 spg), 15th in 3-pointers made (24), 7th in minutes played (33.4 mpg). Introduced himself to BYU with 27 points in 36 minutes during the Cougars' WCC opener in late December.

Brendan Lane, Pepperdine: 21st in scoring (12.0 ppg), 11th in rebounding (6.6 rpg), 11th in FG% (49.7), 1st in blocked shots (2.5 bpg). Like Pinkins to Dickerson, Lane was the productive inside complement to Stacy Davis in Malibu. A UCLA transfer with only a single season to play at Pepperdine, Lane made his year count, lifting the Waves to a fifth-place finish.

Ryan Nicholas, Portland: 19th in scoring (12.4 ppg), 3rd in rebounding (8.1 rpg; 1st in defensive rebounding). Nicholas is a hard-working banger who can also step outside to hit the 3-pointer.

Thomas van der Mars, Portland: 14th in scoring (13.9 ppg), 7th in rebounding (7.4 rpg), 1st in FG% (60.1). The native of the Netherlands had some all-league numbers for a Portland team that faded to the finish, losing its final four games (all on the road), ending league play with a 7-11 record. One of his best games was a 27-point, 18-rebound performance in the Pilots' triple-overtime win over BYU.

Christopher Anderson, San Diego: 1st in assists (5.6 apg), 2nd in steals (1.8 spg), 4th in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3), 6th in 3PFG% (44.6), 7th in minutes played (33.4 mpg). Johnny Dee's longtime backcourt mate, Anderson had an up-and-down season on offense but finished with a flourish, tying his career high with 22 points (including six 3-pointers) in the Toreros' regular-season finale against BYU.

Avry Holmes, San Francisco: 12th in scoring (14.5 ppg), 14th in FG% (48.5), 12th in assists (3.3 apg), 8th in FT% (85.7), 5th in 3-pointers made (37), 13th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5), 9th in minutes played (33.1 mpg). Really solid across-the-board numbers for the Dons' backcourt engine, who flies a little bit under the radar but was a huge part of USF's big season.

Kruize Pinkins, San Francisco: 16th in scoring (12.8 ppg), 10th in rebounding (6.7 rpg; 2nd in offensive rebounding), 5th in FG% (52.2). A 6'7", 230-pound post player, Pinkins was the missing inside piece for a USF team that featured one of the very best frontcourts in the WCC.

Jared Brownridge, Santa Clara: 2nd in scoring (18.4 ppg), 4th in FT% (87.7), 1st in 3-pointers made (50), 12th in 3PFG% (41.7), 4th in minutes played (34.6 mpg). Yet another player who arguably deserves a spot on the all-conference team, Brownridge will have to be content with his Newcomer of the Year award, and the knowledge that he could have three all-WCC teams in his future.

Brandon Clark, Santa Clara: 4th in scoring (17.9 ppg), 9th in assists (3.5 apg), 3rd in FT% (88.2), 6th in steals (1.6 spg), 10th in 3-pointers made (30), 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5), 6th in minutes played (33.4 mpg). The longer I went with the "also considered" list, the more I saw all-league numbers from guys like Clark.

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

Eric Mika, BYU: 27th in scoring (10.4 ppg), 16th in rebounding (5.9 rpg; 7th in offensive rebounding), 4th in FG% (53.7), 14th in blocked shots (0.8 bpg). An effective on-top-of-the-basket scorer and athletic, aggressive force in the middle, Mika had some trouble staying on the floor due to foul trouble, which moved him to the bench at the start of games late in the season.

Evan Payne, Loyola Marymount: see "also considered" notes above.

Jeremy Major, Pepperdine: 5th in assists (4.4 apg), 4th in steals (1.7 spg), 8th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8). Ran the show for the Waves in his first season at Malibu, and gave Marty Wilson a very effective floor leader.

Alec Wintering, Portland: 3rd in assists (5.3 apg), 10th in steals (1.4 spg), 2nd in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4). Like Major, a rookie who was handed the point-guard reins and responded well. Suffered a late-season calf injury that contributed to the Pilots' rough finish.

Jared Brownridge, Santa Clara: See Newcomer of the Year and "also considered" notes above.

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