Buddy Hield Falls Couple Votes Short of Being Named AP Player of the Year

Michigan State's Denzel Valentine was selected Thursday as The Associated Press' Player of the Year, taking it in a close vote over Buddy Hield.

Bill Self of Kansas was chosen the AP's Coach of the Year with Xavier's Chris Mack finishing second.

"We spent time together this summer at a basketball camp, and we built a relationship,'' Valentine said of his fellow senior.

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"During the season we would give each other words of encouragement,'' Valentine said. "He was first person to text me when I got hurt, and I thought that was pretty big time of him. He deserves everything he's getting.''

Valentine, who missed four games after having minor knee surgery, 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. Hield and Valentine were the only unanimous selections to the AP All-America team. (ESPN)

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