The SEC coaches’ awards are out, and big blue nation has every right to feel slighted. Despite a strong finish to the regular season and an impressive climb to No. 15 in the rankings, the Wildcats were almost completely shut out of the SEC coaches’ honors.
Otega Oweh: The Lone Nominee
Otega Oweh stood alone as the only Wildcat to earn a spot on the prestigious lists, making the All-SEC Second Team. Oweh’s well-rounded play and consistent impact on both ends of the floor didn’t go unnoticed, but the lack of Kentucky representation across the board is glaring.
The Amari Williams Snub
The most frustrating omission for Kentucky fans is the exclusion of Amari Williams from the All-SEC teams. Statistically, Williams was a force, putting up numbers that easily rivaled—and even surpassed—those of Florida’s Alex Condon, who made the All-SEC Third Team.
Williams was a nightly double-double threat, anchoring the Wildcats on both ends of the court. His presence in the paint was undeniable, but apparently not enough to catch the eyes of the SEC coaches.
Auburn’s Bruce Pearl took home Coach of the Year honors, while his star player, Johni Broome, earned SEC Player of the Year and a First Team nod. It’s hard to argue against Broome’s accolades, given his dominant play throughout the season.
Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler was another big winner, snagging Defensive Player of the Year while also being named to the All-SEC First Team and the All-Defensive Team. His defensive prowess and energy were key components of Tennessee’s success this season.
The Full List of Honors
Coach of the Year: Bruce Pearl, Auburn
Player of the Year: Johni Broome, Auburn
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk, South Carolina
Newcomer of the Year: Chaz Lanier, Tennessee
Freshman of the Year: Tre Johnson, Texas
Sixth-Man of the Year: Caleb Grill, Missouri
Defensive Player of the Year: Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
All-SEC First Team
- Johni Broome, Auburn
- Walter Clayton Jr., Florida
- Mark Sears, Alabama
- Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M
- Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
All-SEC Second Team
- Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
- Tre Johnson, Texas
- Chaz Lanier, Tennessee
- Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina
- Otega Oweh, Kentucky
All-SEC Third Team
- Chad Baker-Mazara, Auburn
- Alex Condon, Florida
- Jason Edwards, Vanderbilt
- Mark Mitchell, Missouri
- Sean Pedulla, Ole Miss
Moving Forward
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope now has even more fuel to motivate his squad heading into the postseason. Being overlooked by the SEC coaches is just another reason for the Wildcats to show they belong among the conference's elite.
The snubbing of Amari Williams will undoubtedly be a topic of conversation moving forward. His numbers speak for themselves, but it seems the SEC coaches were not listening. Now, it’s up to Williams and the Wildcats to make their case where it matters most—on the court.
Stay tuned for more coverage as Kentucky aims to turn frustration into motivation and make noise in the postseason.