University of Kentucky guard Immanuel Quickley had a pretty quiet freshman season. The first half of his sophomore campaign was only marginally louder.

Then we entered a new year, a new decade, conference play, and, suddenly, we got a new Quickley.

And now Quickley has a new award. It's called the SEC Player of the Year.

The Maryland sophomore averages 16 points per game and makes 92% of his free throws and has been a lightning bolt for the Wildcats the past two-plus months. IQ also received First Team All-SEC honors.

And he wasn't alone among UK honorees.

SECSports.com tells us that head coach John Calipari was named SEC Coach of the Year while junior Nick Richards joined Quickley on First Team All-SEC.

Freshman Tyrese Maxey is part of Second Team All-SEC and is one of the SEC's All-Freshmen Team.

Richards was also named to the SEC's All-Defensive Team along with sophomore Ashton Hagans.

All tolled, that's eight awards of UK, more than any other SEC team.

The Cats begin SEC Tournament play in Nashville Friday at noon. They will take on the winner of the Tennessee/Alabama game.

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