UA’s Miller wins Pac-12 Coach of the Year, Markkanen makes All-Pac-12 First Team
Mar 6, 2017, 2:20 PM | Updated: 4:35 pm
Arizona head coach Sean Miller talks to Arizona forward Lauri Markkanen (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Utah, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona defeated Utah 66-56. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona head coach Sean Miller was named the 2017 Pac-12 Coach of the Year on Monday, leading a lengthy list of Wildcats honored by the Pac-12 for their regular season.
The Pac-12 also named UA freshman forward Lauri Markkanen among the 10-man All-Pac-12 First Team after the 7-footer from Finland averaged 14.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in league play.
Senior Kadeem Allen and sophomore Allonzo Trier were named to the five-man All-Pac-12 Second team. Allen was also on the conference’s All-Defensive Team.
Additionally, Arizona forward Rawle Alkins joined Markkanen on the All-Freshmen team.
Miller’s Coach of the Year award comes after he led Arizona to a 27-4 overall record with a 16-2 mark in conference play — UA’s only Pac-12 losses came to current No. 3 UCLA and No. 5 Oregon.
It is Miller’s third such honor in eight seasons with the Wildcats.
Joining Markkanen on the All-Pac-12 First Team are Oregon’s Dillon Brooks, Washington’s Markelle Fultz, Utah’s Kyle Kuzma, Cal’s Ivan Rabb, Stanford’s Reid Travis, Colorado’s Derrick White and the UCLA threesome of Lonzo Ball, Bryce Alford and T.J. Leaf.
