With February now a week old and teams over halfway through their conference slates, now might be a good time to hand out the mid-season player (and coach) awards and make revised picks for conference winners.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Pre-season coaches' pick: No. 5 North Carolina (20-3, 7-1 ACC)
Updated pick: No. 5 North Carolina (20-3, 7-1 ACC)
UNC has a slightly tougher schedule than No. 10 Duke (19-4, 6-2 ACC), with two of their last three games at No. 19 Virginia and at Cameron Indoor. But it's tough to see Blue Devils doing better than splitting their season series with the Tar Heels, which is likely what it would take to win the ACC crown. And while the Seminoles are currently tied atop the conference standings, expect their anemic offense to translate into a couple bad losses down the stretch.
Big East Conference
Pre-season coaches' pick: No. 2 Syracuse (23-1, 10-1 Big East) and UConn (15-7, 5-5 Big East)
Updated pick: No. 2 Syracuse (23-1, 10-1 Big East)
With a two-game lead on everyone else in the conference, it's tough to see anyone but the Orange winning the Big East regular season championship, even with the meat of their schedule (game against No. 14 Georgetown, two games against Louisville and UConn) coming up in the final month of the season.
Big Ten Conference (or whatever it's called these days)
Pre-season coaches' pick: No. 3 Ohio State (20-3, 8-2 Big Ten)
Updated pick: No. 3 Ohio State (20-3, 8-2 Big Ten) and No. 11 Michigan State (18-5, 7-3 Big Ten)
Tom Izzo's teams always seem to peak near the end of the season (last year notwithstanding). And considering how mightily OSU struggled on the road, the Spartans should be in good shape for the conference crown when they host the Buckeyes on the last day of the season. Expect at least a co-Big Ten championship for MSU.
Big 12 Conference
Pre-season coaches' pick: No. 7 Kansas (18-5, 8-2 Big 12) and Texas A&M (12-10, 3-7 Big 12)
Updated pick: No. 4 Missouri (21-2, 8-2 Big 12)
With Kansas, Missouri and No. 6 Baylor (21-2, 8-2 Big 12) all tied atop the Big 12 standings, this should be the most exciting race to watch. Baylor has the toughest remaining schedule with a game against Kansas, one at Missouri and two against fourth-seeded Iowa State (17-6, 7-3 Big 12). Missouri, meanwhile, is coming off a come-from-behind GameDay win over Kansas on Saturday, and has looked like the better team for the large part of the season. Expect the Tigers to come out on top of this race by a game.
Pac-12 Conference
Pre-season coaches' pick: Don't care enough to do the research
Updated pick: Washington (16-7, 9-2 Pac-12)
Washington is currently leading this train wreck of a conference, so that's a good enough reason for me to pick ‘em.
And now for the individual awards…
Player of the Year
F – Thomas Robinson, Kansas: This one is a no-brainer. Robinson, the nation's second-leading rebounder, has taken the least talented Kansas team in years and turned them into a Final Four contender. Aside from West Virginia's Kevin Jones, there isn't anyone in the country that's had to carry his team like Robinson.
Defensive Player of the Year
F – Anthony Davis, Kentucky: The freshman is averaging a 4.8 blocks per game. Case closed.
Coach of the Year: Frank Haith, Missouri: The Tigers underwent a coaching change and lost starting forward Laurence Bowers to injury before the season…and still haven't missed a beat. The former Miami coach has led the Tigers to a 21-2 record so far and the nation's No. 4 ranking.
All-America First Team
G – Marcus Denmon, Missouri (17.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 spg): Denmon has been the star of the most surprising team in the nation, and his 29-point, nine-rebound outburst carried the Tigers past Kansas on Saturday.
G/F – Harrison Barnes, UNC (17.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 44.1% 3-point shooting): Barnes is the most dynamic scorer on the best offensive team in the nation.
F – Thomas Robinson, Kansas (18.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.2 bpg): His numbers only tell half the story – Robinson has single-handedly carried Kansas to a top-10 ranking.
F – Anthony Davis, Kentucky (13.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 4.8 bpg): "The Eyebrow" has already set the Kentucky and SEC freshman record for blocked shots.
C – Jared Sullinger, Ohio State (17.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 58.1% field goal shooting): No one can score inside like Sully, and his Buckeyes (No. 3 in the country) haven't fallen off at all despite losing three starters.
Honorable mentions: F Kevin Jones, West Virginia; G Will Barton, Memphis; F Draymond Green, Michigan State; F Kevin McDermott, Creighton
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