Frazier Named First Team All-Big Ten
By: Nick Foley
Updated: March 5, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - Penn State junior guard Tim Frazier (Houston, Texas) has posted one of the finest statistical seasons in Penn State history and was recognized Monday with his selection to the All-Big Ten first-team by members of the conference media.
Frazier, who became the first Nittany Lion ever to lead the Big Ten in assists and also led the conference in steals while finishing second in Big Ten scoring, is the sixth Nittany Lion ever to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors and the third guard joining Joe Crispin (2001) and Talor Battle (2009 & 2011). Frazier also became the first Lion named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team by the conference coaches since the award began in 2006.
One of two NCAA Division I players averaging at least 17 points and 6.3 assists per game, Frazier was joined on the All-Big Ten first-team by 2012 Big Ten Player of the Year Draymond Green (Michigan State), Jared Sullinger(Ohio State), Robbie Hummel (Purdue) and John Shurna (Northwestern). All four forwards also earned first-team selection by the Big Ten coaches who named Frazier to the All-Big Ten second-team and placed Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor on the first-team.
Michigan State's Tom Izzo was named the 2012 Big Ten Coach of the Year by both coaches and media. The coaches named Aaron Craft (Ohio State) the Defensive Player of the Year, Cody Zeller (Indiana) Freshman of the Year and D.J. Byrd (Purdue) Sixth Man of the Year. The media selected Trey Burke (Michigan) as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Draymond Green was the onlyunanimous first-team selection and was named Big Ten Player of the Year by both the coaches and media.
Frazier posted 2.4 steals per game to lead the Big Ten in conference games as he joined Dan Earl (1996) and Titus Ivory (2001) as just the thirdLion to lead the Big Ten in steals. He was joined on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team by Craft, Victor Oladipo (Indiana), Green, and Josh Gasser (Wisconsin).
Frazier's 19.6 ppg in conference play finished second only to Shurna's 20.0 ppg and rank as the fifth most in conference play among major conference players on the year. He stands 12th in the NCAA and leads the Big Ten with 6.3 assists per game having posted 194 on the year to set a new Penn State season record. Frazier leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth among major conference players with 16 20-point games on the year and has posted 21-straight double-digit scoring games and 29 total on the year while leading the Lions in scoring in 24 games.
