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Deapite averaging 12 points and almost eight rebounds per game, Utah freshman Jordan Loveridge was left off the all-rookie team in the conference when the awards were announced this afternoon.
Loveridge averaged 12 points and 8.6 rebounds over his last five games. He has been playing his best basketball in the last few weeks.
"He's paid much better attention to detail defensively," Larry Krystkowiak said. "He's also developed into one of our best passers, and that's helped the offense out a lot.
With Loveridge not even making honorable mention, two selections are of the curious variety. Josh Scott made the freshman team. The Colorado center averaged 10 points and almost six rebounds per game.
Arizona big man Kaleb Tarczewski is an even more egregious selection, scoring 6.6 points and averaging 5.9 rebounds per game. Indeed, Arizona's best lineup comes when Tarczewski isn't on the floor.
It's certainly possible that Loveridge was a victim of Utah's record. But when you have a freshman who is top five in the conference in two categories, you have to think there would be a spot on the all-rookie team for him.
Tony Jones