Big East Conference

Villanova’s Brunson Named BIG EAST Player of the Year
Wildcats’ Spellman Chosen Freshman of the Year
Xavier’s Mack Named Coach of the Year

 
NEW YORK – Villanova guard Jalen Brunson, a junior who has directed the Wildcats to a 27-4 record and 14-4 BIG EAST mark, has been named BIG EAST Player of the Year.  His teammate, Omari Spellman, has been chosen for BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and Xavier head coach Chris Mack was named BIG EAST Coach of the Year.  The winners were selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players. 
 
Brunson, a 6-2 junior from Lincolnshire, Ill., is considered a leading candidate for National Player of the Year honors.  Known for his all-around skills, leadership and a coolness under pressure, Brunson is averaging a team-leading 19.0 points per game.  He leads all BIG EAST players with an assist/turnover ratio of +2.9 and ranks fifth in assists with a 4.8 average going into this week’s BIG EAST Tournament.  Brunson is one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Player of the Year Award and is on the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 List.  For a second consecutive season, he is one of 10 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the nation’s top point guard. Brunson is the third Wildcat guard in the last four seasons to earn BIG EAST Player of the Year honors.  Josh Hart won last year and Ryan Arcidiacono shared the honor with Providence’s Kris Dunn in 2014-15.
 
Spellman received all nine possible votes from the conference’s coaches in the balloting.  The 6-9 forward has been a force in the Wildcat frontcourt all season long.  A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Spellman is the BIG EAST’s top freshman scorer with a 10.9 average.  His rebound mark of 7.8 ranks fourth in the BIG EAST.  Spellman has blocked a team-high 46 shots.  The Preseason BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, he has posted 12 double-doubles this season.  Spellman was named BIG EAST Freshman of Week five times.  He is only the third Villanova player to win Freshman of the Year honors.  The others were Scottie Reynolds in 2006-07 and Tim Thomas in 1996-97. 
 
Mack directed Xavier to its first BIG EAST regular-season title with a 15-3 league record and a 27-4 overall mark.  The overall win total is the highest in school history in the regular season.  This week, the Musketeers are ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press poll and No. 2 in the USA Today poll.  During the season, Mack became the school’s all-time leader in victories when he won his 203rd career game.  In nine seasons at his alma mater (’92), he is 213-95 (.692).  Xavier has won at least 20 games in each of the last five seasons.  This year, Mack is a semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy Coach of the Year award.