Sword Named Second Team All-SEC By League Coaches
He’s the first MSU player to be recognized since Dee Bost and Arnett Moultrie were tabbed first team in 2012.
In 2013, Sword was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
“It’s something I wanted to achieve since I came here,” the Montgomery, Ala., native said. “If it didn’t happen, that would have been OK too. I just go out, play hard and do whatever I can to help my team win.”
Despite missing most of preseason and the first four games following back surgery, the 6-foot-3 Sword led MSU in points scored (296) and average (11.0). Five times, he totaled 20-plus points, and on Feb. 25 at home against Kentucky, he became the 34th player in Mississippi State history to reach 1,000 points for a career. He also has 144 steals, the ninth most in the MSU record books.
In SEC play, he averaged 14.4 points, the 11th best in the SEC.
“He just means the world to this team because he’s the guy on the perimeter that the other team has to worry about,” MSU coach Rick Ray said. “He’s at the top of the scouting report. I think he’s done a really good job knowing that all eyes are on him and still coming through in each game.”
Mississippi State (13-18, 6-12), which ended the regular season with a 52-43 win against Missouri, begins SEC Tournament play on Wednesday at 6 p.m. against Auburn at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. With Ray at the helm, the Bulldogs are 2-2 in this event.
SEC Honors
First Team All-SEC
Bobby Portis, Arkansas – F, 6-11, 242, So., Little Rock, Ark.
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky – F, 7-0, 240, Jr., Olathe, Kan.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky – F, 6-11, 250, Fr., Piscataway, N.J.
Jarell Martin, LSU – F, 6-10, 236, So., Baton Rouge, La.
Jordan Mickey, LSU – F, 6-8, 235, So., Dallas, Texas
Stefan Moody, Ole Miss – G, 5-10, 179, Jr., Kissimmee, Fla.
Josh Richardson, Tennessee – G, 6-6, 200, Sr., Edmond, Okla.
Danuel House, Texas A&M – G, 6-7, 207, Jr., Fresno, Texas
Damian Jones, Vanderbilt –C, 6-10, 240, So., Baton Rouge, La.
Second Team All-SEC
Craig Sword, Mississippi State – G, 6-3, 194, Jr., Montgomery, Ala.
Levi Randolph, Alabama – G, 6-5, 210, Sr., Madison, Ala.
Michael Qualls, Arkansas – G, 6-6, 210, Jr., Shreveport, La.
KT Harrell, Auburn – G, 6-4, 212, Sr., Montgomery, Ala.
Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida – F, 6-8, 218, Jr., Portsmouth, Va.
Marcus Thornton, Georgia – F, 6-8, 235, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.
Devin Booker, Kentucky – G, 6-6, 206, Fr., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Aaron Harrison, Kentucky – G, 6-6, 212, So., Richmond, Texas
Jalen Jones, Texas A&M – G/F, 6-7, 223, Jr., Dallas, Texas
SEC All-Freshman Team
Anton Beard, Arkansas – G, 6-0, 190, Fr., North Little Rock, Ark.
Devin Robinson, Florida – F, 6-8, 178, Fr., Chesterfield, Va.
Devin Booker, Kentucky – G, 6-6, 206, Fr., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Trey Lyles, Kentucky – F, 6-10, 235, Fr., Indianapolis, Ind.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky – F, 6-11, 250, Fr., Piscataway, N.J.
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky – G, 5-9, 155, Fr., Lima, Ohio
Wade Baldwin IV, Vanderbilt – G, 6-3, 195, Fr., Belle Mead, N.J.
Riley LaChance, Vanderbilt – G, 6-2, 194, Fr., Brookfield, Wisc.
SEC All-Defensive Team
Marcus Thornton, Georgia – F, 6-8, 235, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky – F, 7-0, 240, Jr., Olathe, Kan.
Jordan Mickey, LSU – F, 6-8, 235, So., Dallas, Texas
Josh Richardson, Tennessee – G, 6-6, 200, Sr., Edmond, Okla.
Damian Jones, Vanderbilt –C, 6-10, 240, So., Baton Rouge, La.
SEC Coach of the Year: John Calipari, Kentucky
SEC Player of the Year: Bobby Portis, Arkansas
SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Levi Randolph, Alabama
SEC Freshman of the Year: Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky
SEC Sixth-Man of the Year: Devin Booker, Kentucky
SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentuck