Texas Tech University Athletics
Evans, Smith Earn All-Big 12 Basketball Awards
March 05, 2017 | Men's Basketball
Zach Smith secured All-Big 12 Honorable Mention status for the second consecutive season.
IRVING, Texas – Keenan Evans and Zach Smith captured All-Big 12 honors as announced Sunday by the conference office and selected by the league's coaches.
Evans picked All-Big 12 Third-Team accolades, while Smith came away with All-Big 12 Honorable Mention status for the second straight season. For Evans, he is the first Texas Tech player to be named to the All-Big 12 Third Team since Jaye Crockett during the 2013-14 season.
Evans has averaged 15.5 points per game on the strength of 19 consecutive games in double figures. He has improved his mark to 16.9 points per game in conference games which is the best scoring average for a Red Raider since Jarrius Jackson averaged 19.1 points per game during the 2006-07 season. Evans also ranks second on the Big 12 leaderboard with a 43.9 three-point percentage and 84.9 shooting clip at the free throw line. He also has dished out 3.1 assists per game and compiled a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio which rank inside the Big 12's Top 15.
Smith has piled up 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 assists per game. The 7.2 rebounds are fifth whereas the 1.4 blocks are seventh in the Big 12 rankings. Only Smith and Texas' Jarrett Allen are ranked among the Big 12's Top 7 in both categories. Smith has reached double figures in 12 of his last 18 games fueled by a career-high 25 points against LSU on Jan. 25 followed by a 21-point, 10-rebound effort versus then No. 3 Kansas on Feb. 11. He has secured a block in 25 of 30 games and his 135 career blocks are second on Texas's Tech list only behind Tony Battie at 162 rejections.
Texas Tech will meet Texas in the second game of Wednesday's opening round at the Big 12 Tournament. Tipoff is on-tap approximately 8 p.m. from the Sprint Center in Kansas City. The game will televised by ESPNU along with being available online at www.WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app. The winner of Wednesday's first round matchup will advance to face West Virginia in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/TexasTechMBB and @TexasTechMBB on Twitter and Instagram.
2016-17 Big 12 Awards
Player of the Year: Frank Mason III, Kansas
Defensive Player of the Year: Jevon Carter, West Virginia
Freshman of the Year: Josh Jackson, Kansas
Newcomer of the Year: Manu Lecomte, Baylor
Sixth Man Award: Tarik Phillip, West Virginia
Coach of the Year: Bill Self, Kansas
All-Big 12 First Team
Johnathan Motley, Baylor
Montè Morris, Iowa State
Josh Jackson, Kansas
Frank Mason III, Kansas
Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State
All-Big 12 Second Team
Nazareth Mitrou-Long, Iowa State
Devonte' Graham, Kansas
Jeffrey Carroll, Oklahoma State
Vladimir Brodziansky, TCU
Jevon Carter, West Virginia
All-Big 12 Third Team
Manu Lecomte, Baylor
Deonte Burton, Iowa State
Wesley Iwundu, Kansas State
Jarrett Allen, Texas
Keenan Evans, Texas Tech
Nathan Adrian, West Virginia
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention -- Listed alphabetically by school
Ishmail Wainright (Baylor), Matt Thomas (Iowa State), Landen Lucas (Kansas), D.J. Johnson (Kansas State), Kameron McGusty (Oklahoma), Phil Forte III (Oklahoma State), Jaylen Fisher (TCU), Kenrich Williams (TCU), Zach Smith (Texas Tech)
Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Jo Lual-Acuil, Baylor
Ishmail Wainright, Baylor
Vladimir Brodziansky, TCU
Nathan Adrian, West Virginia
Jevon Carter, West Virginia
Big 12 All-Newcomer Team
Manu Lecomte, Baylor
Jo Lual-Acuil, Baylor
Josh Jackson, Kansas
Kameron McGusty, Oklahoma
Alex Robinson, TCU
Jarrett Allen, Texas
Evans picked All-Big 12 Third-Team accolades, while Smith came away with All-Big 12 Honorable Mention status for the second straight season. For Evans, he is the first Texas Tech player to be named to the All-Big 12 Third Team since Jaye Crockett during the 2013-14 season.
Evans has averaged 15.5 points per game on the strength of 19 consecutive games in double figures. He has improved his mark to 16.9 points per game in conference games which is the best scoring average for a Red Raider since Jarrius Jackson averaged 19.1 points per game during the 2006-07 season. Evans also ranks second on the Big 12 leaderboard with a 43.9 three-point percentage and 84.9 shooting clip at the free throw line. He also has dished out 3.1 assists per game and compiled a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio which rank inside the Big 12's Top 15.
Smith has piled up 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 assists per game. The 7.2 rebounds are fifth whereas the 1.4 blocks are seventh in the Big 12 rankings. Only Smith and Texas' Jarrett Allen are ranked among the Big 12's Top 7 in both categories. Smith has reached double figures in 12 of his last 18 games fueled by a career-high 25 points against LSU on Jan. 25 followed by a 21-point, 10-rebound effort versus then No. 3 Kansas on Feb. 11. He has secured a block in 25 of 30 games and his 135 career blocks are second on Texas's Tech list only behind Tony Battie at 162 rejections.
Texas Tech will meet Texas in the second game of Wednesday's opening round at the Big 12 Tournament. Tipoff is on-tap approximately 8 p.m. from the Sprint Center in Kansas City. The game will televised by ESPNU along with being available online at www.WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app. The winner of Wednesday's first round matchup will advance to face West Virginia in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/TexasTechMBB and @TexasTechMBB on Twitter and Instagram.
2016-17 Big 12 Awards
Player of the Year: Frank Mason III, Kansas
Defensive Player of the Year: Jevon Carter, West Virginia
Freshman of the Year: Josh Jackson, Kansas
Newcomer of the Year: Manu Lecomte, Baylor
Sixth Man Award: Tarik Phillip, West Virginia
Coach of the Year: Bill Self, Kansas
All-Big 12 First Team
Johnathan Motley, Baylor
Montè Morris, Iowa State
Josh Jackson, Kansas
Frank Mason III, Kansas
Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State
All-Big 12 Second Team
Nazareth Mitrou-Long, Iowa State
Devonte' Graham, Kansas
Jeffrey Carroll, Oklahoma State
Vladimir Brodziansky, TCU
Jevon Carter, West Virginia
All-Big 12 Third Team
Manu Lecomte, Baylor
Deonte Burton, Iowa State
Wesley Iwundu, Kansas State
Jarrett Allen, Texas
Keenan Evans, Texas Tech
Nathan Adrian, West Virginia
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention -- Listed alphabetically by school
Ishmail Wainright (Baylor), Matt Thomas (Iowa State), Landen Lucas (Kansas), D.J. Johnson (Kansas State), Kameron McGusty (Oklahoma), Phil Forte III (Oklahoma State), Jaylen Fisher (TCU), Kenrich Williams (TCU), Zach Smith (Texas Tech)
Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Jo Lual-Acuil, Baylor
Ishmail Wainright, Baylor
Vladimir Brodziansky, TCU
Nathan Adrian, West Virginia
Jevon Carter, West Virginia
Big 12 All-Newcomer Team
Manu Lecomte, Baylor
Jo Lual-Acuil, Baylor
Josh Jackson, Kansas
Kameron McGusty, Oklahoma
Alex Robinson, TCU
Jarrett Allen, Texas
Players Mentioned
Guard
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