Providence guard Marshon Brooks goes up for a layup, but UConn center Hasheem Thabeet goes up higher to reject the idea - MICHAEL MCANDREWS / HARTFORD COURANTIt should be no surprise that UConn Huskies junior center Hasheem Thabeet has repeated as Big East Defender of the Year.

Thabeet had 136 blocks (4.53 per game) this season with 89 of them coming during Big East play. The 4.5 blocks per game is good for second in the nation this season behind Jarvis Varnado of Mississippi State.

He ranks second all-time in Big East Conference play behind former Georgetown Hoya Patrick Ewing and ranks second in UConn men’s history behind Emeka Okafor.

Here are the other Big East Awards that were handed out today. Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Scholar-Athlete will be announced in a press conference on Tuesday.

Defensive Player of the Year
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut

Most Improved Player
Dante Cunningham, Villanova

Sixth Man Award
Corey Fisher, Villanova

Sportsmanship Award
Alex Ruoff, West Virginia