American Athletic Conference tabs Tulane’s Melvin Frazier as Most Improved Player of the Year

NEW ORLEANS – Tulane men’s basketball junior guard Melvin Frazier has been named the 2018 American Athletic Conference Most Improved Player of the Year according to an announcement by the league office on Tuesday.

Following a poll of the conference’s 12 head coaches, a Green Wave player has now received the award in back-to-back seasons under second year head coach Mike Dunleavy, Sr., after Cameron Reynolds was honored in 2017. The recognition also comes just one day after Frazier was tabbed with an all-conference second team nod.

“First of all, congratulations to Melvin,” Dunleavy said. “He put a lot of work into his offensive game, including shooting from range and his ability to finish around the rim, especially with his left hand. It’s a well-deserved honor for him and it’s big for our staff and what we are selling to recruits. We’re going to recognize deficiencies in their games and work with them to improve on those. We’re showing those results in our first two years with two different players earning this award in our conference.”

Frazier’s breakthrough campaign has produced statistical improvements in every major category at both ends of the court, including scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. Through 29 games this season, he is averaging 15.9 points, nearly four and a half clicks higher than his 11.5 average last year. On the glass, his 5.6 rebounds are one full point higher, while his assists have nearly doubled to the tune of 2.9 per contest in 2017-18 over his 1.5 average as a sophomore.

Shooting the ball, Frazier has made 174 baskets at a 55.8 percent clip in 2017-18, far exceeding the 117 field goals at 43.8 percent he accomplished last season. That 12 percent increase overall showed up from distance as well, as he’s knocked down 38.6 percent of his 3-pointers this year, besting the 26.4 percent he achieved one year ago.

Frazier’s defensive prowess has also been on full display this winter and it has showed up in the numbers as well. His 63 steals bested all players in The American and his average of 2.2 ranks second, overshadowing his 56 heists and average of 1.9 per game that led the league last season.

“He became a better player overall,” Dunleavy said. “His defensive ability was already well-known, but I think he has taken that to a new level in terms of understanding concepts, reading situations and communicating with his teammates.”

Frazier currently stands third among all players in the conference in field goal percentage, fourth in scoring, fifth in minutes per game (34.4) and 11th in rebounding. He needs just 18 points to reach 1,000 for his career, as his 63 steals this year are tied for sixth most in a single season in program history.

The Avondale, La., native has scored at least 20 points 10 times this season and has compiled five double-doubles, while recording multiple steals on 18 occasions, including at least three heists in 13 contests. For Tulane, Frazier has led the the team in scoring a team-leading 15 times and has more double-figure scoring performances more than any other Green Wave player with 25. With the ball in his hands, he has topped all teammates in assists 11 times, which is tied for the team lead.

Seeded 10th in the 2018 American Athletic Conference Championship, Tulane (14-16, 5-13 AAC) will remain in Orlando to take on the No. 7 seed, Temple (16-14, 8-10 AAC), in the first round on Thursday, March 8 at the Amway Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT) and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.