There are still three games to go, but the Conference USA awards are beginning to come into focus. I vote on all-conference regardless of position. In other words, the five best players belong on the first team, the second five belong on the second team, etc. Here’s how it would stack up if the season ended today.

1st team
G - Stefon Jackson, UTEP
G - Derrick Rose, Memphis
G - Robert McKiver, Houston
G - Robert Vaden, UAB
F - Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis

2nd team
G - Jermaine Taylor, UCF
G - Ben Uzoh, Tulsa
G - Mark Dorris, Marshall
F - David Gomez, Tulane
F - Joey Dorsey, Memphis

3rd team
G - Jeremy Wise, Southern Miss
G - Dave Noel, UCF
F - Dion Dowell, Houston
F - Robert Dozier, Memphis
F - Lawrence Kinnard, UAB

All-Freshman team
G- Derrick Rose, Memphis
G - Glenn Andrews, Tulsa
G - Randy Culpepper, UTEP
G - R.L. Horton, Southern Miss
F - Papa Dia, SMU

Player of the year: Tie, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis, and Robert Vaden, UAB
Freshman of the year: Derrick Rose, Memphis
Defensive player of the year: Antonio Anderson, Memphis
Sixth man of the year: Lawrence Kinnard, UAB
Coach of the year: Mike Davis, UAB

Any thoughts? The coach of the year award always produces some interesting discussion for Memphis fans, most of whom will argue that John Calipari should get it. I’ve been a pretty big critic of Mike Davis, but I’m absolutely astounded that UAB is on the verge of making the NCAA Tournament given the roster flux this season. From the start of the conference season, he’s done a very good job and deserves to be recognized for that.