Acuff Wins SEC Player of Year, Razorbacks Secure Top Seed

0:00On March 10, Darius A. Cuff Jr., from Arkansas, takes home southeastern conference player of the year, honors from the Associated Press. The 6-foot-3 freshman from Detroit is averaging 22.2 points and 6.4 assists per game, putting him on track to lead. The league in both categories for the first time since Pete Moravitch did it back in 1970. Meanwhile, the 17th ranked Razorbacks grabbed the number 3 seed in this week's SEC tournament in Nashville, Tennessee. Their set to battle in bracket play against 15 other teams, all chasing the 4th ranked Florida Gators, who are defending national champions, with 11 straight wins and 20 out of their last 22. Todd Golden earned coach of the year nods after guiding Florida to the top seed with a strong late push. He shook up his starting lineup and staff following last season's title run in San Antonio, picking up most votes from beat reporters. A. Cuff dominated the voting too, grabbing all but 3 player of the year ballots and sweeping freshman honors nearly unanimously.

1:03He's the league leader in minutes played and assists a turnover ratio, plus 2nd and 3 points shooting at 43.7%. SEC coaches matched the AP picks for both him and Golden on Monday. Other standouts include Tennessee's Jacopie Gillespie as newcomer of the year for his 18 points, 5 assists and steals per game. First teamers like Alabama's Laveron Philan and Florida's Thomas Hall join a Cuff up top, setting the stage for an intense tournament showdown ahead.