FAYETTEVILLE -- Somebody finally beat Kentucky's basketball team.
Congratulations Bobby Portis.
Arkansas' 6-11 sophomore from Little Rock Hall was voted SEC Player of the Year by conference coaches.
Portis said he didn't expect Tuesday's announcement considering No. 1 Kentucky is 31-0.
"I was kind of shocked," Portis said. "I thought that the Kentucky players would dominate awards because of their record."
Portis has been a dominant player this season while leading the No. 21 Razorbacks (24-7, 13-5) to a second-place SEC finish. Arkansas recorded its most regular-season victories since 1995.
"I think I had a great year," Portis said. "I tried to stay consistent throughout the whole season and tried to be that man for my team. I'm just grateful and happy."
Portis ranks second in the SEC for all games in scoring (17.8 points), fourth in rebounding (8.7), first in field-goal shooting (56.3 percent) and sixth in blocked shots (1.5). He was even better in 18 SEC games, where he led in scoring (18.6 points), was second in rebounding (9.3) and fourth in blocked shots (1.9).
Led by Portis, Arkansas is considered a lock for its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2008.
"He made the difference in their team by far," Texas A&M Coach Billy Kennedy said. "He's a difference-maker in this league, and he's a difference-maker at the next level."
Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson said he wasn't surprised Portis beat out the Kentucky players for the SEC's top individual honor.
"He deserved it," Anderson said. "The numbers don't lie, No. 1 and No. 2, the impact he's had on what has taken place for our basketball team. Night in and night out, he's been the bell cow and we're winning. It just makes sense."
Portis became the second Razorback to be named SEC Player of the Year, following Corliss Williamson, his former AAU coach and mentor who won the award in 1994 and 1995.
"I don't look at this award for just me," Portis said. "I look at it for the entire state of Arkansas because I feel like Hogs basketball is on our way back to the glory days."
Portis said Tuesday afternoon he hadn't heard from Williamson, an assistant coach with the NBA's Sacramento Kings, but hoped they would talk soon.
"Hopefully, he'll call and tell me to try and do it twice," Portis said. "It's a motivation for me. I idolized Corliss a lot growing up, going to his house and seeing all his accomplishments, Sixth Man in the NBA and SEC Player of the Year twice. That's something I want to do also."
Anderson couldn't help but smile when asked his thoughts on Portis mentioning the possibility of winning a second Player of the Year award. That would mean Portis returning to Arkansas next season rather than entering the NBA Draft.
"Dreams do happen," Anderson said, drawing laughs from reporters. "Dreams do happen. Dreams do happen."
Kentucky junior center Willie Cauley-Stein, who along with freshman forward Karl-Anthony Towns represented the Wildcats on the nine-player All-SEC first team, had no complaints about Portis being the player of the year.
"Honestly, you can give him player of year," Cauley-Stein told the Lexington Herald-Leader. "I'll take 31-0 any day of the week.
"You know, he's a good player, but that's what it is. I'd rather be undefeated than get player of year."
Anderson said Portis is more concerned with team accomplishments than individual honors, but recognizes how important it is for him to play well for the Razorbacks to win.
"He's playing the game the right way," Anderson said. "He's developing, he's playing with a lot of confidence. I just think he's one of the best big forwards in the country."
Sports on 03/11/2015