Tulsa’s Frank Haith Named AAC Coach of the Year, Martins Igbanu Gets 6th Man of the Year Award
3/11/2020 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PROVIDENCE, RI –– After being picked 10th in the American Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane basketball team ended the year with a share of the regular season title and for that Head Coach Frank Haith was selected as The American Coach of the Year for 2019-20, it was announced today.
Martins Igbanu, who has come off the bench since the start of the league season, was also named Wednesday as the American Athletic Conference's Sixth Man of the Year.
Under Haith, Tulsa has posted an overall 21-10 record and a 13-5 mark in league play. The 21 wins is the third time in his six years as the Tulsa coach that the Hurricane has won 20+ games. He has led the Hurricane to the school's 11th conference regular season title and the first league crown in six years as a member of the American Athletic Conference.
In each of Haith's six seasons at the Tulsa helm, the Hurricane has finished ahead of its expected preseason coaches' poll position. Until this year, no team had finished among the top-3 in the final league standings that had a preseason poll position worse than seventh.
Haith became the ninth coach in school history to receive coach of the year accolades and it marks the second time in his career. He was named the Associated Press Big XII Coach of the Year in 2012.
As Tulsa's sixth man, Martins Igbanu averaged 16.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, shot 61-percent from the field and 70-percent from the free throw line coming off the bench. In 18 consecutive games in a reserve role, Igbanu had 13 games scoring in double-digits, including six contests with 20 or more points. He also had three double-doubles and four double-figure rebounding games.
Overall, the 6'8" senior forward is averaging a team-leading 13.6 points and 5.0 rebounds this season. He also leads the Hurricane in field goal percentage at 56-percent, while having converted nearly 70-percent of his free throws.
Igbanu tallied a career-high 30 points against UCF and also had games of 29, 28, 24, 23 and 20 points during the last 12 contests.
Tulsa will open play in the American Athletic Conference Championship on Friday night in the quarterfinal round against the winner of #6 Memphis vs. #11 ECU at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE AWARD WINNERS
Coach of the Year
Frank Haith, Tulsa
Player of the Year
Precious Achiuwa, Fr., F, Memphis
Sixth Man of the Year
Martins Igbanu, Sr., F, Tulsa
Defensive Player of the Year
Trevon Scott, R-Sr., F, Cincinnati
Freshman of the Year
Precious Achiuwa, F, Memphis
Most Improved Award
Trevon Scott, R-Sr., F, Cincinnati
Sportsmanship Award
Trevon Scott, R-Sr., F, Cincinnati
-ForOurCity-
Martins Igbanu, who has come off the bench since the start of the league season, was also named Wednesday as the American Athletic Conference's Sixth Man of the Year.
Under Haith, Tulsa has posted an overall 21-10 record and a 13-5 mark in league play. The 21 wins is the third time in his six years as the Tulsa coach that the Hurricane has won 20+ games. He has led the Hurricane to the school's 11th conference regular season title and the first league crown in six years as a member of the American Athletic Conference.
In each of Haith's six seasons at the Tulsa helm, the Hurricane has finished ahead of its expected preseason coaches' poll position. Until this year, no team had finished among the top-3 in the final league standings that had a preseason poll position worse than seventh.
Haith became the ninth coach in school history to receive coach of the year accolades and it marks the second time in his career. He was named the Associated Press Big XII Coach of the Year in 2012.
As Tulsa's sixth man, Martins Igbanu averaged 16.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, shot 61-percent from the field and 70-percent from the free throw line coming off the bench. In 18 consecutive games in a reserve role, Igbanu had 13 games scoring in double-digits, including six contests with 20 or more points. He also had three double-doubles and four double-figure rebounding games.
Overall, the 6'8" senior forward is averaging a team-leading 13.6 points and 5.0 rebounds this season. He also leads the Hurricane in field goal percentage at 56-percent, while having converted nearly 70-percent of his free throws.
Igbanu tallied a career-high 30 points against UCF and also had games of 29, 28, 24, 23 and 20 points during the last 12 contests.
Tulsa will open play in the American Athletic Conference Championship on Friday night in the quarterfinal round against the winner of #6 Memphis vs. #11 ECU at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE AWARD WINNERS
Coach of the Year
Frank Haith, Tulsa
Player of the Year
Precious Achiuwa, Fr., F, Memphis
Sixth Man of the Year
Martins Igbanu, Sr., F, Tulsa
Defensive Player of the Year
Trevon Scott, R-Sr., F, Cincinnati
Freshman of the Year
Precious Achiuwa, F, Memphis
Most Improved Award
Trevon Scott, R-Sr., F, Cincinnati
Sportsmanship Award
Trevon Scott, R-Sr., F, Cincinnati
-ForOurCity-
Players Mentioned
F
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