The All-Big 12 first team announcement is out and here are your winners: Baylor Bears G LaceDarius Dunn, Colorado Buffaloes G Alec Burks, Kansas Jayhawks F Marcus Morris, Kansas State Wildcats G Jacob Pullen, Texas Longhorns G/F Jordan Hamilton and Missouri Tigers G Marcus Denmon.
Can you argue with any of those?
OK, you can argue with plenty of them but you can't argue that these guys have a legitimate case for All-Big 12 first team. Burks, Morris and Pullen were all Big 12 player of the year candidates -- Morris won it -- and they all clearly deserve spots on the first team.
Morris headlines the group as the player of the year and leader of the 29-2 Kansas Jayhawks. Burks is averaging nearly 20 points per game and hitting on nearly 45 percent of his shots. Pullen, a preseason All-American, started the year off slow but rebounded in a big game, especially K-State's six-game winning streak. Denmon was a bit of a surprise this year as he finished the regular season averaging 16.8 points per game for Mizzou. Dunn was expected to be good in 2010-11 and he was averaging almost 20 points per game.
Burks and Pullen were the only two unanimous selections on the first team.
Big night for all these players, especially the guys close to Kansas City -- Morris, Pullen and Denmon. It's been a lot of fun watching these guys all year. Morris has been so consistent all year, and such a force on the boards (although Markieff was better at times throughout the season). Pullen clinched this with his run in the last few weeks while Denmon was the surprise out of all three.
For more on the local guys, check out Rock M Nation, Rock Chalk Talk and Bring On The Cats.