Anthony Davis and John Calipari were recognized by SEC coaches on Tuesday afternoon. (Chet White, UK Athletics)
After completing just the third perfect regular season in Southeastern Conference play since 1956, the top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats appeared poised to similarly rule postseason conference awards. That’s exactly what they did.Five of UK’s six top contributors, as well as head coach John Calipari, were recognized by the 12 SEC coaches for outstanding seasons, headlined by star freshman Anthony Davis. Not only was Davis voted SEC Player of the Year, he also received Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Davis becomes just the third freshman in SEC history to take the top conference honor, joining Chris Jackson of LSU in 1989 and John Wall of Kentucky two seasons ago. The 6-foot-10 Chicago native is also the fourth UK player in five seasons to win SEC Freshman of the Year, joining Terrence Jones (2011), DeMarcus Cousins (2010) and Patrick Patterson (2008).Calipari also won Coach of the Year and Darius Miller Sixth Man of the Year. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist joined Davis on the SEC first team, the freshman team and the defensive team, while sophomores Doron Lamb and Jones were each named second-team All-SEC.The five Wildcats honored set a school record for most in a single season in school history. Joe B. Hall to be inducted into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of FameLegendary coach Joe B. Hall, who won nearly 300 games over 13 seasons at Kentucky, will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in November. The Cynthiana, Ky., native was an assistant under Adolph Rupp for eight years before taking over as head coach in 1973. He would take three teams to the Final Four in his tenure, including 1978, when he won a the program’s fifth national championship and National Coach of the Year honors.Lexington businessman Jim Host, the founder of Host Communications, will be also be inducted at the Midland Theater in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 18.