As expected, junior guard Jerica Coley repeated as Sun Belt Player of the Year. Coley's 26.1 points per game leads the nation in scoring. She's also third in the conference in blocked shots (1.76 per game, 60th nationally) and free throw percentage (83.8, 44th nationally). She also leads FIU in assists (3.4 per game) and steals (2.2 per game).
The best statistic to demonstrate Coley's worth to FIU: she accounts for 42.6 percent of the Panthers' scoring.
Forward Marita Davydova was voted to Third Team All-Sun Belt after averaging 10.2 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game.
On the men's side, FIU junior forward Tymell Murphy made First Team All-Sun Belt as voted on by 11 media members (yes, I was one) and 11 conference coaches.
Murphy's team high 15.1 points per game was pedestrian compared to his No. 8 in the nation field goal percentage (58.8 percent from the field). There's no statistic for measuring the timing of Murphy's points. Malik Smith seemed to come up with the end-of-game baskets. Murphy came up with the ones that halted opponent's runs and calmed FIU down. Also, Murphy pulled down a team-high 6.9 rebounds and was 95th in the nation (second on FIU behind Deric Hill) with 1.79 steals for the nation's seventh best team of thieves.
I'm not exactly sure how a team that's get a No. 4 seed and a bye in the conference tournament gets voted only one all-conference player among three teams. And I thought Richard Pitino was an easy Coach of the Year call. I might be on the island there as Middle Tennessee State's Kermit Davis received that honor.
Congrats to Jerica, Marita, and Tymell! Well deserved!
Posted by: pikedanny | March 06, 2013 at 12:54 PM
Coley is the real deal...Congrats to all of FIU Basketball.
Posted by: REALLY?? | March 06, 2013 at 01:23 PM
What a great season of B-Ball on both sides.. Now the fun starts. If FIU does make it to the Semi's (which means they would need to beat the #1 seed) will that game be on TV?
The only game I see scheduled so far is the Sunbelt Finals ONLY.. Is that correct?!?!
Good Luck on Saturday!
Go Panthers!
Posted by: Gooch7 | March 06, 2013 at 02:12 PM
Congrats are in order to #HolyColey, Tymell Murphy, and Marita. Agree with DJN, obviously in a non-subjective way, that Richard Pitino deserved the Coach of the Year honors.
Congrats to all, and let's make some noise in the tournament!
Posted by: FIU Fanatic | March 06, 2013 at 03:56 PM
FIU men's & women's BB game will streamed free on the sun belt tourny site.
Posted by: FIU4Ever | March 06, 2013 at 06:08 PM
Nice, we'll be able to stream via Sunbelt!
Good luck to both teams...
Posted by: chiaPanther | March 07, 2013 at 12:22 PM