Prince Ibeh didn't even start for Texas to begin the year. But when senior center Cameron Ridley went down with a foot injury one game before the beginning of conference play, Ibeh was presented with an opportunity.

Forty-eight blocks in the Big 12 later, the conference named Ibeh its Defensive Player of the Year on Sunday.

The senior center finished with 60 total blocks in the regular season, averaging two per game. Ibeh anchored a Texas defense that allowed just 67.8 points per game and finished 33rd nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, per Kenpom.

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A native of Garland, Ibeh averaged a career high 18 minutes per game this season. He turned that into career highs in points (4.1), rebounds (5.2), and blocks (2) per game.

Ibeh is just the third Longhorn player to earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors joining LaMarcus Aldridge (2006) and Dogus Balbay (2011)