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Best of the Big Ten Illinois' Williams, Ohio State's O'Brien take honors
Updated: Monday March 05, 2001 2:30 PM
PARK RIDGE, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois sophomore Frank Williams was named Big Ten men's basketball player of the year Monday in separate balloting by conference coaches and media members. Ohio State's Jim O'Brien was selected Big Ten coach of the year by the media. Williams is the first Illini player to be chosen player of the year since the award was created in 1985. He led Illinois in scoring, assists and steals this season, averaging 15 points, four assists and about three steals per game. "I think it means a lot to Frank, but it won't mean as much to Frank as most individuals. He's not hung up on that stuff. He's not a press clipping guy. He just plays and that's one of the things I love about him," Illinois coach Bill Self said.
Williams, who will make a decision after the season on whether to stay in school or try for the NBA, showed measured improvement from his freshman season when he was much more erratic. "Over the course of the season, he has been consistent. He's put us on his back when he had to and he's been one of five when he didn't have to," Self said. "He reads the situation well and has made tremendous improvement both on and off the court." Williams was joined on the coaches' first team by Joe Crispin of Penn State, Kirk Haston of Indiana, Jason Richardson of Michigan State and Ken Johnson of Ohio State, who also was named defensive player of the year. The members of the media first team are Charlie Bell of Michigan State, Williams, Haston, Johnson and Richardson. Jared Jeffries of Indiana was named Freshman of the Year by both coaches and media. Iowa coach Steve Alford was also impressed by the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Williams, who helped Illinois share the Big Ten title with Michigan State. "He's a very strong point guard with a great body. ... He's a better decision maker, he chooses when to take it to the basket or when to shoot the jump shot," Alford said. "He's a go-to guy who learned more this year than last about getting his teammates involved." The Big Ten tournament begins Thursday at the United Center in
Chicago. Illinois and Michigan State are the 1-2 seeds with their
performances perhaps deciding whether they get a No. 1 seed in the
NCAA tournament.
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