Poor wireless connection from the Hyatt Regency, where the Big East awards banquet was held, prevented this from being sent sooner. Anyway, as most of you probably know by now ...


Hasheem Thabeet was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year.

"I'd like to thank the guards for letting guys go by so I can block shots," Thabeet said with a smile.

Thabeet, a 7-3 sophomore from Dar Es Salaam , Tanzania , set a BIG EAST record by blocking 94 shots in conference play. He is first in the league in blocked shots in all games (4.6) and in BIG EAST play (5.2). In two seasons of conference competition, Thabeet’s blocked shot average of 4.5 is the highest in the history of the BIG EAST. This season, he is averaging 8.0 rebounds.

Other awards winners were Notre Dame sophomore forward Luke Harangody, Player of the Year; Mike Brey, Harangody’s head coach, Coach of the Year for a second straight year; ittsburgh freshman center DeJuan Blair and Syracuse freshman guard Jonny Flynn will share BIG EAST Rookie of the Year honors; Pitt’s Sam Young, a junior forward, is the BIG EAST Most Improved Player; Georgetown ’s Patrick Ewing, Jr. has been named the first winner of the new Sixth Man Award; a pair of senior guards, Ronald Ramon of Pittsburgh and Darris Nichols of West Virginia, will share the BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award.

ALSO ...

Jim Calhoun was named USBWA District 1 Coach of the Year, and A.J. Price was named USBWA District 1 Player of the Year. Price and Jeff Adrien were named to the District 1 first team.