2005-06 Postseason Awards

    
April 6th, 2006 by CHN
» Tags
Collegehoops.net, the web's most popular independent college basketball site, announced the remainder of their 2006 postseason awards today.  Ben Howland, coach of national runner-up UCLA was named the 2006 Collegehoops.net Coach of the Year.  Fellow Final Four participant George Mason was named the 2006 Collegehoops.net Program of the Year for their impressive run through the NCAA Tournament.  A complete list of postseason awards is included below:
 

Collegehoops.net Coach of the Year

 

Ben Howland, UCLA

 

From beginning to end, 2005-06 was a magical season for the UCLA Bruins.  It began with an 11-1 start, continued with a Pac-10 regular season title, was followed by a Pac-10 Tournament title, and culminated with a run to the NCAA Tournament Finals.  All of this occurred despite a continual string of injuries, including the season-ending loss of  starter Josh Shipp.  This improbable success falls firmly on the shoulders of Ben Howland, who has almost personally turned around this West Coast Power.  After going 10-19 in the season before his arrival, the Bruins have improved from 11, to 18, to 32 wins.

 

Collegehoops.net Program of the Year

 

George Mason

 

Even before their surprising run to the Final Four, George Mason was already having an impressive season.  The Patriots finished tied atop the CAA with a 15-3 record, finished the regular season with an RPI of 26, and a non-conference RPI of 30.  After a disappointing loss to Hofstra in the CAA Tournament, including an unfortunate punching incident by senior guard Tony Skinn, the Patriots were sweating out an NCAA Tournament bid.  However, Coach Jim Larranaga's handling of this situation, and their monster-slaying NCAA Tournament run makes them worthy of being 2006 Program of the Year.

 

Collegehoops.net Most-Improved Player

 

Joakim Noah, Florida

 

Noah, who blossomed into a media darling during Florida's National Championship Run, exemplifies an improved player.  After averaging just 9 minutes per game in 2004-05, Noah exploded with averages of 14.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, and 2.4 bpg.  Impressively, he put up these numbers in just 24.9 mpg and is primed to improve once again with full starters minutes next year.

 

Collegehoops.net Conference of the Year

 

Missouri Valley Conference

 

This award goes to a conference that features impressive top-to-bottom team success, an exciting conference race, challenging scheduling, and a lack of off-the-court distractions.  The MVC had a banner year this season with four NCAA Tournament bids, six teams in the RPI Top 40, the sixth overall conference RPI rating, and two teams in the Sweet Sixteen.  All in all, this was one of the easiest postseason awards to give in 2006.

 

Collegehoops.net All-Favorite Team

 

G Kyle Lowry, Villanova

G Mike Gansey, West Virginia

F Brandon Roy, Washington

F Adam Morrison, Gonzaga

F Glen Davis, LSU

Whether because of sheer physical talent, basketball savvy, impressive hustle, and a sterling personality, the Collegehoops.net All-Favorite Team is for players who make it fun and exciting to be college basketball fans. 

 

 
- About Collegehoops.net (CHN).  CHN is the most popular independent college basketball website, visited by over 100,000 die-hard college basketball fans per week.  Email shawn@collegehoops.net for more information.

CHN All-Americans >> CHN All-Rookie Team >> Unsung All-Americans