HOUSTON (AP) — Denzel Valentine of Michigan State is The Associated Press Player of the Year, edging out Oklahoma's Buddy Hield by three votes. Valentine is the first Spartans player to win the award.
Bill Self of Kansas won Coach of the Year after leading the Jayhawks to a 12th straight Big 12 title and the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Self and Valentine accepted the awards Thursday in Houston ahead of the Final Four.
Valentine received 34 of 65 votes from the national media panel that selects the weekly AP Top 25. Hield was the only other player to receive votes.