Senior Kelan Martin has earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors as announced by the conference office Sunday, March 4. Martin led the BIG EAST in scoring during conference play at 23.6 points per game and was a unanimous selection to the six-player first team.

Martin previously earned second-team honors as both a sophomore and a junior. Martin is the third Bulldog to earn All-BIG EAST first-team accolades in Butler's five-year tenure as a member of the conference, joining Andrew Chrabascz (2017) and Kellen Dunham (2015).

Martin was one of three unanimous selections to the All-BIG EAST first team, joining Villanova's Jalen Brunson and Xavier's Trevon Bluiett. Mikal Bridges (Villanova), Marcus Foster (Creighton) and Shamorie Ponds (St. John's) rounded out the six-player team, which is selected by the league's head coaches who are not allowed to vote for their own players.

"The BIG EAST is an elite league with a number of great players," said Butler coach LaVall Jordan. "Kelan's level of play so far this season stacks up with anyone in both our conference and on a national level. People see the scoring and the box score, but his impact on our success is much larger than those numbers. His game and his leadership continues to grow. This is a well-deserved honor for Kelan."

Martin has four 30-point games this season, all coming against BIG EAST opponents. He also has 19 games of scoring 20 or more points, including 12 of the team's 18 conference games.

The 6-7 forward now has 1,961 career points. With his 35 points Saturday night at Seton Hall, he passed both Matt Howard and Dunham to move into third place on Butler's all-time scoring list. His 657 points during his senior campaign are already fifth on Butler's single-season list.

Through 31 games, Martin is averaging 21.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this season. He is shooting 85.8 percent from the free throw line and 37 percent from three-point range. His percentage from behind the arc increases to 43 percent in BIG EAST play where his 58 three-pointers in 18 conference games are second in the league.

The BIG EAST Player of the Year will come from the All-BIG EAST First Team.  The conference will announce Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year and the BIG EAST Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, March 7.  The announcement will be made on the first day of the BIG EAST Tournament Presented by Jeep at Madison Square Garden at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Other league individual awards -- BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man Award and Sportsmanship Award -- will be announced Monday, March 5.

The Bulldogs open BIG EAST Tournament play Thursday with a quarterfinal match-up against third-seeded Seton Hall. Butler finished the regular season with a record of 19-12, including a 9-9 mark in BIG EAST play. The Bulldogs are the No. 6 in the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament.

ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
*Kelan Martin, Butler, F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Louisville, Ky.
Marcus Foster, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-3, 210, Wichita Falls, Tex.
Shamorie Ponds, St. John's, G, So., 6-1, 165, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mikal Bridges, Villanova, G/F, Jr., 6-7, 210, Malvern, Pa.
*Jalen Brunson, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-2, 190, Lincolnshire, Ill.
*Trevon Bluiett, Xavier, G, Sr., 6-6, 205, Indianapolis, Ind.
 
ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Khyri Thomas, Creighton, G, Jr., 6-3, 210, Omaha, Neb.
Marcus Derrickson, Georgetown, F, Jr., 6-7, 250, Bowie, Md.
Markus Howard, Marquette, G, So., 5-11, 175, Chandler, Ariz.
Angel Delgado, Seton Hall, C, Sr., 6-10, 245, Bajos De Haina, D.R.
Desi Rodriguez, Seton Hall, F, Sr., 6-6, 220, Bronx, N.Y.

BIG EAST HONORABLE MENTION
Andrew Rowsey, Marquette, G, Sr., 5-11, 180, Lexington, Va.
Kyron Cartwright, Providence, G, Sr., 5-11, 185, Compton, Calif.

BIG EAST ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Mitch Ballock, Creighton, G, 6-5, 205, Eudora, Kan.
Jahvon Blair, Georgetown, G, 6-3, 189, Brampton, Ont.
*Jamorko Pickett, Georgetown, G, 6-8, 190, Washington, D.C.
Nate Watson, Providence, C, 6-10, 260, Arlington, Va.
*Omari Spellman, Villanova, F, 6-9, 245, Cleveland, Ohio
*Naji Marshall, Xavier, F, 6-7, 218, Atlantic City, N.J.
*Denotes unanimous selection