Napier, Cronin earn top awards in the American

Connecticut guard Shabazz Napier was named the American Athletic Conference's inaugural player of the year and Mick Cronin of Cincinnati was named the coach of the year on Wednesday.

Napier, a 6-foot-1 senior, averaged 17.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists in leading the No. 21 Huskies to a 24-7 record, including 12-6 in the conference. The Huskies ended tied for third in the AAC and enter the tournament as the fourth seed.

Cronin, in his eighth season as coach of the Bearcats, led the team to a 26-5 and a 15-3 record in the American. Cincinnati tied with Louisville for the top spot.