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U.S. BASKETBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION
April 11, 2022 Dear Fellow College Basketball Fan: On behalf of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC), we are pleased to welcome you to the college basketball Awards Banquet. Tonight, we look forward to honoring the male and female freshman of the year, coach of the year, and player of the year. Voting for the awards was conducted by the more than 900-member sports information directors and sportswriters covering college basketball. The USBWA was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. Today, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. Since its founding, the USBWA has served the interests of writers who follow college and high school basketball in the United States, fighting for access to and professional relations with the people in the sport. The USBWA conducts a sports writing workshop annually at the NCAA Final Four for college and high school students. The USBWA also awards scholarships to students pursuing careers in sports journalism and to the sons and daughters of current members. The USBWA and MAC first teamed up for the Awards Banquet in 2005 when St. Louis hosted the men’s Final Four. In 2018, the USBWA/MAC partnership was rekindled when the Awards Banquet returned to the MAC. And tonight, after a couple years of being unable to gather due to COVID, the enthusiasm about the Awards Banquet burns as brightly as ever. The USBWA and MAC are excited to continue to build this exciting new tradition! Thank you for your support of tonight’s Awards Banquet honoring the nation’s best in college basketball! Malcolm Moran, President, U.S. Basketball Writers Association Aaron Pawlitz, Chairman, Planning Committee for the USBWA Awards Banquet, Missouri Athletic Club
The Missouri Athletic Club A TRADITION SINCE 1903 For more than a century, the Missouri Athletic Club has built a tradition of excellence unmatched by any city club in the United States. For the MAC’s prestigious membership, the Club has become a way of life, offering the finest in athletic facilities, plus gourmet dining and elegant guest accommodations. When the Club first opened in September 1903, just months before the St. Louis World’s Fair of 1904, the athletic tradition of the MAC was quickly established. Club Members officiated the Olympic games held in conjunction with the World’s Fair, and a full team of athletes representing the MAC also competed. Other events helped shape the early athletic involvement of the MAC, including monthly amateur boxing matches at the Club and the debut of water polo in St. Louis. Club athletes and teams excelled in local and national Amateur Athletic Union competitions. The MAC’s proud history of celebrating athletic excellence was enhanced in 1970 when MAC Member Jack Buck created the Sports Personality of the Year Banquet to honor the top local sports figure. Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Joe Torre, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Brett Hull, Tony LaRussa, Ozzie Smith, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner and Albert Pujols are among the sports legends who have come to the MAC to receive the prestigious award. In 1986, the Club took another major step in enhancing its athletic reputation by creating the MAC Collegiate Soccer Player of the Year Award. The MAC celebrates a proud past, but always has an eye on the future. In 1995, the MAC purchased the former Town and Country Racquet Club in suburban West St. Louis county, becoming one of the first private clubs in the country to offer its members two locations.
1903 MENS WINTER BASKETBALL TEAM
The Missouri Athletic Club is recognized as a Platinum Club of America, a distinction that puts the MAC in the top 5% of private clubs in America. In May of 2007, the MAC was again recognized for its prestige and history when the Downtown Clubhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the MAC remains the premier athletic, social and dining club in St. Louis. The MAC way of life is a proud one. As Club Members continue that heritage, they ensure the MAC remains a vital institution well into the future.
BELOW (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE; 1904 OLYMPICS; BASKETBALL LEAGUES AT THE MAC.
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
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U S BWA PLAYER O F T HE YEAR
Aliyah Boston
U S BW A C O AC H O F T HE YEAR
Dawn Staley
Brett Ledbetter Q&A Moderator
Tom Ackerman
USBWA College Basketball Awards Master of Ceremonies Tom Ackerman is Sports Director at KMOX, overseeing a department that serves as the flagship station for the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues. He is also the lead sports anchor on KMOX’s “Total Information A.M.” and a host on the Cardinals Radio Network. In 1997, KMOX Radio hired Ackerman to work as a host, play-by-play announcer, anchor and reporter. He’s interviewed the biggest names in sports, covering Super Bowls, World Series, All-Star Games and Final Fours. He’s traveled throughout the NFL, launching his career in 1999 with his extensive coverage of the Rams’ Super Bowl title. For the past decade, Ackerman has called college basketball play-by-play for the University of Missouri, the Missouri Valley Conference and various national rivalry games, including Syracuse-Georgetown, Kansas-Kansas State and North Carolina-N.C. State. He’s also handled play-by-play duties for the Missouri Valley Football Conference. In addition to the Jack Buck Awards, Ackerman emcees dozens of area events each year. A member of the “Red Ribbon Panel” that votes on the Cardinals Hall of Fame, Ackerman is also involved in the production of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Dinner, the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame induction and the Musial Awards. Ackerman has performed as a narrator for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and a public address announcer at the Edward Jones Dome. Active in the community, Ackerman has a passion for helping local charities, volunteering for countless organizations each year. In 2013, Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club honored Ackerman for his role in raising funds to improve sports facilities for children in the inner city. Ackerman is a past recipient of the Riverfront Times’ “Best Reporter” (Radio/TV) award and has been recognized and featured in the St. Louis Business Journal. Ackerman began his broadcasting career calling play-by-play for Indiana University basketball, football, and baseball for WIUS-AM in Bloomington (1993-1997). A St. Louis native, Tom is a graduate of Indiana University and St. Louis Country Day School. He and his wife, Angie, live in St. Louis with their daughters, Erika and Audrey.
Brett is a performance consultant, author and speaker. His work focuses on character development, priority alignment, behavior management and self-awareness. He’s authored four books: What Drives Winning, What’s Really Important, What Drives Winning Teams and What Drives Winning Environments. All four books are currently being taught as masterslevel courses at the University of Florida. Brett has also given three TEDx talks: What Drives Winning, Building Your Inner Voice and How to Stop Comparing and Start Competing. He has co-founded the What Drives Winning conference with hall-of-fame coach Becky Burleigh, producing six conference events with top minds in sports. Brett currently works with several Division 1 athletic departments — including Gonzaga, Oregon and Oklahoma State to name a few — that hire him as a thinking partner for athletic directors, coaches and athletes. He also applies his high-performance training within education, military, sport and business sectors. TO LEARN MORE: Visit WhatDrivesWinning.com to view free conference videos, get the books or sign up to be part of the Coaching Lab, a community of coaches that meet twice per month.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Wayman Tisdale AWARD The USBWA has chosen a national freshman of the year since the 1988-89 season. In 2017-18, the award was named in Wayman Tisdale’s honor. The late Wayman Tisdale was a threetime USBWA All-American at the University of Oklahoma. Following a stint on the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team, Tisdale played 12 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 1997 to focus on a blossoming jazz music career. In March 2007, he was diagnosed with cancer and, following a courageous and difficult battle that included the amputation of his right leg in 2008, Tisdale passed away in May 2009.
P A S T w ay m a n t i s d a l e A W A R D w i n n e r s 2021 Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State 2020 Vernon Carey Jr., Duke 2019 Zion Williamson, Duke 2018 Trae Young, Oklahoma 2017 Lonzo Ball, UCLA 2016 Ben Simmons, LSU 2015 Jahlil Okafor, Duke 2014 Jabari Parker, Duke 2013 Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State 2012 Anthony Davis, Kentucky 2011 Jared Sullinger, Ohio State 2010 John Wall, Kentucky 2009 Tyreke Evans, Memphis 2008 Michael Beasley, Kansas State 2007 Kevin Durant, Texas 2006 Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina 2005 Marvin Williams, North Carolina
2004 Luol Deng, Duke 2003 Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse 2002 T.J. Ford, Texas 2001 Eddie Griffin, Seton Hall 2000 Jason Gardner, Arizona 1999 Quentin Richardson, DePaul 1998 Larry Hughes, Saint Louis 1997 None selected 1996 None selected 1995 None selected 1994 Joe Smith, Maryland 1993 Jason Kidd, California 1992 Chris Webber, Michigan 1991 Rodney Rogers, Wake Forest 1990 Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech 1989 Chris Jackson, LSU
JABARI SMITH
Auburn’s Smith Named National Freshman of the Year The 6-10 Sharpshooter has drawn comparisons to 2007 Tisdale Award winner Kevin Durant A year ago, Jabari Smith was wrapping up his senior season of high school and preparing for college. The 6-foot-10 forward from Fayetteville, Ga., was the 4th ranked player in the high school class of 2021 and became the highest ranked recruit to ever sign with Auburn. Smith has made history again by becoming the first player in Auburn history to win the Wayman Tisdale Award as the National Freshman Player of the Year. The Tigers’ diaper dandy averaged 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds. With a dead-eye ability to shoot as evidenced by 42% from 3-point range and at his size, Smith has drawn comparisons to the 2007 Tisdale Award winner Kevin Durant. He is a versatile scorer, with the ability to pull up from anywhere and create his own shot at all three levels. Scouts project that he could be a top-three pick in the NBA draft.
Smith was Auburn’s leading scorer helping the Tigers go 28-6 overall and 15-3 in the Southeastern Conference. They went wire-towire in conference play to win the outright regular-season title, the program’s first outright league championship since 1999. In Auburn’s opening round victory in the NCAA Tournament, Smith led the way for the Tigers delivering a dominating 20 points and 14 rebounds. The Tisdale Award caps off a season filled with accolades for the 18-year-old. Smith was named the SEC Freshman of the Week five times throughout the season, so it was no surprise he was named the conference’s Freshman of the Year. He also made the All-SEC first team. Smith also made his mark with several national awards including being named to USA Today’s All-American squad as a member of the second team, the Sporting News’ All-American second team and the USBWA’s All-American second team.
WOMEN’S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Tamika Catchings AWARD The USBWA has been presenting the women’s freshman of the year since 1998. In 2019, the award was named after Tamika Catchings, the 1998 recipient of the award. During that 1997-98 season, she averaged 18.2 points per game to lead the Tennessee Lady Volunteers to a national championship in a 39-0 season. During her collegiate career, Catchings set program records for most points with 711, including a 35-point game against DePaul. She went on to become a three-time USBWA All-American and the association’s National Player of the Year in the 1999-2000 season as she finished her career at Tennessee with 2,133 career points and 1,004 career rebounds. In her four seasons playing for the legendary Pat Summitt, the Lady Vols won four SEC titles and compiled a 134-10 record, including a 54-2 mark in conference play. She was a three-time first-team All-SEC selection. Catchings played for the United States on Olympic gold-medal winning teams in 2004, ‘08, ‘12 and ‘16.
PAST TAMIKA CATCHINGS AWARD winners 2021 Paige Bueckers, UConn; Caitlin Clark, Iowa 2020 Aliyah Boston, South Carolina 2019 Rhyne Howard, Kentucky 2018 Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M 2017 Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon 2016 Kristine Anigwe, California 2015 Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State 2014 Diamond DeShields, North Carolina 2013 Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame 2012 Elizabeth Williams, Duke 2011 Odyssey Sims, Baylor 2010 Brittney Griner, Baylor 2009 Shekinna Stricklen, Tennessee 2008 Maya Moore, UConn 2007 Tina Charles, UConn
2006 Courtney Paris, Oklahoma 2005 Tasha Humphrey, Georgia; Candice Wiggins, Stanford 2004 Tiffany Jackson, Texas 2003 Seimone Augustus, LSU 2002 Jacqueline Batteast, Notre Dame 2001 Alana Beard, Duke 2000 LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State 1999 Linda Froehlich, UNLV 1998 Tamika Catchings, Tennessee 1997 Shea Ralph, UConn 1996 Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee 1995 Korie Hlede, Duquesne 1994 Leslie Johnson, Purdue 1993 Katie Smith, Ohio State 1992 Niesa Johnson, Alabama
Aneesah Morrow
Morrow Captures Catchings Award The DePaul Scoring Sensation is Nation’s Top Freshman DePaul freshman Aneesah Morrow had no trouble adjusting to college basketball. She wasted no time at the next level, opening eyes in her collegiate debut with a 31-point performance, the most by a DePaul freshman in her collegiate debut. This would just be the beginning of a record-shattering freshman campaign. In BIG EAST-only games, Morrow broke 11 conference records including rebounds in a season (305). She set a new overall single-game rebounding mark with 27 at Seton Hall and set a freshman single-game scoring record with 41 points at Creighton. She is the only player to ever win 13 BIG EAST Freshman of the Week awards and to sweep the Player of the Week and Freshman honors three times. Morrow also earned the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) National Freshman of the Week honor on five separate occasions.
The 6-foot, 1-inch power forward averaged 21.9 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. Morrow led the nation in field goals, rebounds, double-doubles, rebounds per game and offensive rebounds per game while also ranking third in points and sixth in steals. She had a remarkable streak of 23 consecutive games of delivering a double-double. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Morrow scored 28 points and grabbed 17 boards. The scoring sensation also was a force on the glass as she entered the postseason as the nation’s leader in double-doubles (26), rebounds per game (14), total rebounds (434) and offensive rebounds per game (5.9). The first Blue Demon to ever win BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, she can now add another first to her resume. Morrow is the first player in DePaul history to win the Tamika Catchings Trophy awarded to the top freshman in the nation.
COACH OF THE YEAR
HENRY IBA AWARD For more than four decades, Henry P. “Han” Iba reigned as the “Iron Duke of Defense” in college basketball, including 36 years at Oklahoma State University (formerly Oklahoma A&M). He led them to the NCAA championship in 1945 and ’46, and he directed the U.S. Olympic team to two gold medals in 1964 and ’68 and one silver medal in ’72. His A&M/OSU teams won 655 games and lost 316 for a .675 percentage. He also coached A&M baseball until 1941 and he assumed the role of athletic director less than a year after arriving on campus. His teams were know for tough man-to-man defense and the “Iba deep freeze” in the final minutes of close games.
PAST henry iba AWARD winners 2021 Juwan Howard, Michigan 2020 Anthony Grant, Dayton 2019 Rick Barnes, Tennessee 2018 Tony Bennett, Virginia 2017 Mark Few, Gonzaga 2016 Chris Mack, Xavier 2015 Tony Bennett, Virginia 2014 Gregg Marshall, Wichita State 2013 Jim Larrañaga, Miami (Fla.) 2012 Frank Haith, Missouri 2011 Mike Brey, Notre Dame 2010 Jim Boeheim, Syracuse 2009 Bill Self, Kansas 2008 Keno Davis, Drake 2007 Tony Bennett, Washington State 2006 Roy Williams, North Carolina 2005 Bruce Weber, Illinois 2004 Phil Martelli, St. Joseph’s 2003 Tubby Smith, Kentucky 2002 Ben Howland, Pittsburgh 2001 Al Skinner, Boston College 2000 Larry Eustacy, Iowa State 1999 Cliff Ellis, Auburn 1998 Tom Izzo, Michigan State 1997 Clem Haskins, Minnesota 1996 Gene Keady, Purdue 1995 Kelvin Sampson, Oklahoma 1994 Charlie Spoonhour, Saint Louis 1993 Eddie Fogler, Vanderbilt 1992 Perry Clark, Tulane 1991 Randy Ayers, Ohio State
1990 Roy Williams, Kansas 1989 Bob Knight, Indiana 1988 John Chaney, Temple 1987 John Chaney, Temple 1986 Dick Versace, Bradley 1985 Lou Carnesecca, St. John’s 1984 Gene Keady, Purdue 1983 Lou Carnesecca, St. John’s 1982 John Thompson, Georgetown 1981 Ralph Miller, Oregon State 1980 Ray Meyer, DePaul 1979 Dean Smith, North Carolina 1978 Ray Meyer, DePaul 1977 Eddie Sutton, Arkansas 1976 Johnny Orr, Michigan 1975 Bob Knight, Indiana 1974 Norm Sloan, N.C. State 1973 John Wooden, UCLA 1972 John Wooden, UCLA 1971 John Wooden, UCLA 1970 John Wooden, UCLA 1969 Maury John, Drake 1968 Guy Lewis, Houston 1967 John Wooden, UCLA 1966 Adolph Rupp, Kentucky 1965 Bill Van Breda Kolff, Princeton 1964 John Wooden, UCLA 1963 Ed Jucker, Cincinnati 1962 Fred Taylor, Ohio State 1961 Fred Taylor, Ohio State 1960 Pete Newell, California
Tommy Lloyd
Lloyd Wins Henry Iba Award The Arizona Coach Claims the National Honor in His First Season Over the past two decades, Gonzaga coach Mark Few has built his program into a national powerhouse. Playing an integral role in that success was Few’s assistant coach Tommy Lloyd, who developed a reputation as the best recruiter of overseas talent in the college game. Some of the international Gonzaga standouts that Lloyd helped recruit include Ronny Turiaf (France), Elias Harris (Germany), Domantis Sabonis (Lithuania) and Joel Ayayi (France). Prior to the start of the 2020-21 season, the storied University of Arizona program hired Lloyd as head coach. Lloyd took over a Wildcats program that finished the 2020-21 season at 17-9, finishing fifth in the Pac-12. At the start of the season, the Associated Press left Arizona unranked in the AP Top 25 and projected that the men’s program would finish fourth in the Pac-12 conference. Lloyd greatly exceeded expectations in his first season as a head
coach as he guided the Wildcats to a 33-4 record, swept the Pac-12 regular-season and postseason titles and led his team to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He inherited a solid roster that he kept intact and then made it even better with the addition of a few transfers. Lloyd then put his own mark on the team, installing the offense he ran at Gonzaga and pushing the pace. The Wildcats took big strides increasing points per game from 75.4 the prior season to 84.7. Lloyd put together one of the best starts to a coaching career in college basketball history. His 33 wins put him among the top 10 in NCAA history for a coach in his first year. To cap off the historic season, Lloyd is the 2022 Henry Iba Coach of the Year winner, the same award his old boss Mark Few won in 2017. He is the first coach in Arizona history to win the Iba Award.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD The USBWA has presented the Coach of the Year in Women’s Basketball since 1990. Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer was the inaugural winner of the award and the most recent winner in 2021. Other coaches to win the award multiple times are Kim Mulkey (3), Muffet McGraw (3) and Geno Auriemma (6).
PAST women’s coach of the year winners 2021 Tara VanDerveer, Stanford 2020 Dawn Staley, South Carolina 2019 Kim Mulkey, Baylor 2018 Vic Schaefer, Mississippi State 2017 Geno Auriemma, UConn 2016 Geno Auriemma, UConn 2015 Courtney Banghart, Princeton 2014 Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame 2013 Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame 2012 Kim Mulkey, Baylor 2011 Kim Mulkey, Baylor 2010 Connie Yori, Nebraska 2009 Geno Auriemma, UConn 2008 Geno Auriemma, UConn 2007 Gail Goestenkors, Duke 2006 Sylvia Hatchell, North Carolina
2005 Pokey Chatman, LSU 2004 Joe Curl, Houston 2003 Geno Auriemma, UConn 2002 Brenda Frese, Minnesota 2001 Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame 2000 Andy Landers, Georgia 1999 Carolyn Peck, Purdue 1998 Pat Summitt, Tennessee 1997 Wendy Larry, Old Dominion 1996 Leon Barmore, Louisiana Tech 1995 Geno Auriemma, UConn 1994 Ceal Barry, Colorado 1993 Jim Foster, Vanderbilt 1992 Chris Weller, Maryland 1991 Debbie Ryan, Virginia 1990 Tara VanDerveer, Stanford
Dawn Staley
Twice as Nice for Staley The Two-time Player of the Year, Captures Her Second USBWA Coach of the Year Award Dawn Staley has made an unprecedented impact on college basketball. No one in the history of the game, has accomplished what she has as both a player and coach. As a player at the University of Virginia, Staley won the USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Award as national player of the year in 1991 and again in 1992. Now, as a coach at South Carolina, she has bee every bit as prolific. Staley is the 2022 USBWA Female Basketball Coach of the Year for the second time, after winning her first in 2020. This year, Staley led South Carolina to a 15-1 conference record, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and the national championship. The Gamecocks dominated the SEC conference this season, leading to its third regular-season title in the past three years as she was named the conference’s coach of the year for the fifth time. Staley’s squad won all but three of the
team’s 15 conference wins were by double-digits. Catapulting South Carolina into the national spotlight, Staley has made the Gamecocks a mainstay in the battle for SEC and national championships. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks have reached many firsts – National Championship, NCAA Final Fours, No. 1 rankings, SEC regular-season and tournament titles, SEC Player of the Year, National Player of the Year, WNBA No. 1 Draft pick and No. 1 recruiting classes – to name the most notable. Her 13 seasons at the helm for the Gamecocks include: two NCAA National Championships, four NCAA Final Fours in the last six tournaments (2015, 2017, 2021, 2022), and ranking in the AP Top 25 every week since Dec. 10, 2012, including 95 weeks in the top five, 25 weeks ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, including the firstever final No. 1 ranking in program history (2019-20).
N A T I O N A L W O M E N ’ S P L AY E R O F T H E Y E A R
ANN MEYERS DRYSDALE AWARD The USBWA has named a National Women’s Player of the Year since the 1987-88 season. In 2012, the award was named after Ann Meyers Drysdale, the four-time AllAmerican at UCLA from 1975-78. She was one of the first women to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. Her career escalated women’s basketball to a new level. Meyers was the first high school player to make the United States national team and the first woman to receive a full athletic scholarship to UCLA. Her highoctane approach translated into wins and awards as she finished her stellar career at UCLA owning 12 of 13 school records. A supremely talented all-around player with natural basketball ability and instincts, Meyers was the first player, male or female, named to the All-America team in four straight seasons. She also played on the first women’s Olympic team in 1976. After an All-America career, she became the first woman player drafted into the Women’s Basketball League and made history by becoming the first female player to try out with an NBA team, the Indiana Pacers. Meyers pushed the envelope in women’s basketball, bringing a feel and sense for the game that few players ever experience.
PAST ANN MEYERS DRYSDALE winners 2021 Paige Bueckers, UConn 2020 Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon 2019 Megan Gustafson, Iowa 2018 A’ja Wilson, South Carolina 2017 Kelsey Plum, Washington 2016 Breanna Stewart, Connecticut 2015 Breanna Stewart, Connecticut 2014 Breanna Stewart, Connecticut 2013 Brittney Griner, Baylor 2012 Brittney Griner, Baylor 2011 Maya Moore, Connecticut 2010 Tina Charles, Connecticut 2009 Maya Moore, Connecticut 2008 Candace Parker, Tennessee 2007 Candace Parker, Tennessee 2006 Ivory Latta, North Carolina 2005 Seimone Augustus, LSU
2004 Alana Beard, Duke 2003 Diana Taurasi, Connecticut 2002 Sue Bird, Connecticut 2001 Ruth Riley, Notre Dame 2000 Tamika Catchings, Tennessee 1999 Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee 1998 Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee 1997 Kate Starbird, Stanford 1996 Saudia Roundtree, Georgia 1995 Rebecca Lobo, Connecticut 1994 Lisa Leslie, USC 1993 Sheryl Swoopes, Texas Tech 1992 Dawn Staley, Virginia 1991 Dawn Staley, Virginia 1990 Jennifer Azzi, Stanford 1989 Clarissa Davis, Texas 1988 Sue Wicks, Rutgers
Aliyah Boston
Boston Wins Player of the Year South Carolina’s Double-Double Machine Dominated South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston was the most dominant women’s basketball player this year, putting together an eyeopening, historic season. The 6-foot-5 junior forward notched 27 consecutive double-doubles, the longest streak in the nation and the longest streak in SEC history. Along with her first-ever 20-20 game in three college seasons, Boston was the first player — male or female — to have 25 or more points, 20 or more boards and shoot better than 90% at the foul line since UCLA’s Bill Walton did it in 1972 Final Four against Louisville, according to Stats Perform. Boston dominated SEC play in leading the Gamecocks to a 15-1 conference record. The two-way star is also regarded as one of the top defenders in the game. She captured both the SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Awards in
voting by the league coaches. It was the third consecutive season that she earned the defensive honor. The native of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, led South Carolina’s charge to the 2022 national championship. Boston delivered more dominating performances in March highlighted by 28 points, including all 13 for top-seeded South Carolina in the fourth quarter, and 22 rebounds to send the Gamecocks to the Elite Eight with a 69-61 victory over North Carolina. Heading into the Final Four, she led South Carolina in points (16.8), rebounds (12.2) and blocks per game (2.5). This season marks the second time Boston has been honored by the USBWA. In 2020, she won the Tamika Catchings Award as the Freshman of the Year. Tonight, she is adding the Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year Award to her trophy case.
N A T I O N A L M E N ’ S P L AY E R O F T H E Y E A R
oscar robertson AWARD In 1998, the USBWA renamed its annual player of the year award the Oscar Robertson Trophy. At the University of Cincinnati, where he became known as “The Big O,” he led the Bearcats to the Final Four in 1959 and ’60. Robertson was a three-time first team All-American, and the first player to lead the NCAA in scoring three straight years. He was the first recipient of the Player of the Year Award in 1959. During his 14-year NBA career, ten with the Cincinnati Royals and four with the Milwaukee Bucks, Robertson led his teams to 10 playoff appearances, including an NBA championship with the Bucks in 1971. In 1961-62, he became the only player in NBA history ever to average a “triple double” for an entire season. His career record of 9,887 assists stood for 17 years and his 26,710 points and 25.7 points per game average rank him seventh on the list of all-time NBA scorers.
PAST oscar robertson AWARD winners 2021 Luke Garza, Iowa
1989 Danny Ferry, Duke
2020 Obi Toppin, Dayton
1988 Hersey Hawkins, Bradley
2019 Zion Williamson, Duke
1987 David Robinson, Navy
2018 Jalen Brunson, Villanova
1986 Walter Berry, St. John’s
2017 Frank Mason III, Kansas
1985 Chris Mullin, St. John’s
2016 Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
1984 Michael Jordan, North Carolina
2015 Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
1983 Ralph Sampson, Virginia
2014 Doug McDermott, Creighton
1982 Ralph Sampson, Virginia
2013 Trey Burke, Michigan
1981 Ralph Sampson, Virginia
2012 Anthony Davis, Kentucky
1980 Mark Aguirre, DePaul
2011 Jimmer Fredette, BYU
1979 Larry Bird, Indiana State
2010 Evan Turner, Ohio State
1978 Phil Ford, North Carolina
2009 Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
1977 Marques Johnson, UCLA
2008 Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
1976 Adrian Dantley, Notre Dame
2007 Kevin Durant, Texas
1975 David Thompson, N.C. State
2006 Adam Morrison, Gonzaga; J.J. Redick, Duke
1974 Bill Walton, UCLA
2005 Andrew Bogut, Utah
1973 Bill Walton, UCLA
2004 Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s
1972 Bill Walton, UCLA
2003 David West, Xavier
1971 Sidney Wicks, UCLA
2002 Jay Williams, Duke
1970 Pete Maravich, LSU
2001 Shane Battier, Duke
1969 Pete Maravich, LSU
2000 Kenyon Martin, Cincinnati
1968 Lew Alcindor, UCLA
1999 Elton Brand, Duke
1967 Lew Alcindor, UCLA
1998 Antawn Jamison, North Carolina
1966 Cazzie Russell, Michigan
1997 Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
1965 Bill Bradley, Princeton
1996 Marcus Camby, Massachusetts
1964 Walt Hazzard, UCLA
1995 Ed O’Bannon, UCLA
1963 Art Heyman, Duke
1994 Glenn Robinson, Purdue
1962 Jerry Lucas, Ohio State
1993 Calbert Cheaney, Indiana
1961 Jerry Lucas, Ohio State
1992 Christian Laettner, Duke
1960 Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati
1991 Larry Johnson, UNLV
1959 Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati
1990 Lionel Simmons, La Salle
Oscar Tshiebwe Oscar Wins the Oscar! The Kentucky Forward Awarded the Oscar Robertson Trophy Kentucky junior forward Oscar Tshiebwe becomes the second player in Kentucky history to win the Oscar Robertson Trophy, joining Anthony Davis who won in 2012. Tshiebwe was a dominant force offensively and defensively. He averaged a double-double on the season, with a team-best 17.3 points and a nation-leading 15.3 rebounds per game. Tshiebwe was very efficient offensively, shooting 60% from the field. On the defensive end, he was the only major conference player averaging at least 1.5 blocked shots and 1.5 steals per game. Tshiebwe grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo and didn’t play basketball until he was 14. While he has demonstrated a well-rounded game, Tshiebwe rebounds at an elite level. At 6’9”, 255 pounds and 6% body fat, plus a 7-foot-4 wingspan, he is wellsuited to physically dominate his opponents and be a force on the boards. Giving Tshiebwe a further edge is his relentless effort.
Tshiebwe averaged more rebounds per game (15.3) than any player has in at least the last 30 years and topped the nation in both offensive and defensive rebounding rate, per KenPom. His season this year will go down as one of the more impressive statistical seasons of the 2000s. He pulled down 20 rebounds against Duke in the team’s season opener, and later in the season grabbed 28 against Western Kentucky. In addition to the Oscar Robertson Trophy, Tshiebwe has racked up the postseason honors. He was named the Southeastern Conference’s Player of the Year, was also an All-SEC First Team selection and a member of the All-Defensive Team. He was also recognized as a First-Team All-American by the Associated Press, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and USA Today. Tshiebwe is the 56th player overall in Kentucky program history to earn All-America recognition.
Barry Hinson Featured Speaker
Porter Moser
Good Guy Award – Porter Moser Porter Moser is the 2022 recipient of the Good Guy Award presented by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association for his work with members of the media to promote college basketball. The University of Oklahoma head coach just completed his first season with the Sooners following a historic tenure at Loyola of Chicago. “He’s a purposeful and proven leader who prioritizes positive culture, accountability, academics, player development, innovation, transparent communication and a holistic approach to the student-athlete experience,” said OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione. Moser’s run at Loyola was one of the great stories in college basketball in recent years and drew the national spotlight to a program to a level that had not seen it in more than five decades. Over the last four seasons at Loyola University Chicago, Moser claimed three regular-season Missouri Valley Conference titles, won six NCAA Tournament games, secured two Sweet 16 berths and reached the 2018 Final Four. During that stretch, Moser totaled a record of 99-36 (.733) – tied for the 10th most wins by a Division I head coach since the start of the 2017-18 season. Moser led the Ramblers to a 26-5 record and Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles in the 2020-21 season. As an eight seed in the NCAA Tournament, his squad upset No. 1-seed Illinois in the second round to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second time since 2018. Prior to Loyola, Moser worked under legendary Saint Louis University coach Rick Majerus as an assistant from 2007 through 2011. He was an effective recruiter for a team that would go on to make three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. A Chicago area native, Moser grew up in Naperville, Ill. He was a twoyear starter at Creighton and helped lead the Jays to the 1989 Missouri Valley Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. He graduated in 1990 with a degree in business management.
Back by popular demand, Barry Hinson returns to the USBWA College Basketball Awards. The 2019 recipient of the Good Guy Award for his work with members of the news media to promote college basketball, Hinson was a hit with the MAC audience at this banquet. No stranger to college basketball local fans from his time as a head coach in the Missouri Valley Conference at Missouri State and Southern Illinois, the affable Hinson will share insights and stories from career in college coaching that spans three decades. Hinson is currently on the staff at his alma mater Oklahoma State working for head coach Mike Boynton. A 1983 graduate of OSU, Hinson owns a 321-246 (.566) career record as the head coach at Oral Roberts (1997-99), Missouri State (1999-08) and Southern Illinois (2012-2019), and also spent four seasons on Bill Self’s staff at Kansas (2008-12). After 16 seasons and 155 league victories, Hinson was known as the Dean of the Missouri Valley Conference. Only Henry Iba (21 years, 190 wins), Eddie Hickey (20, 163) and Dana Altman (16, 178) coached more seasons or won more games as a head coach in the history of that league. Hinson celebrated four postseason trips and three 20-win season during his nineyear stay at Missouri State. He and the Bears finished second in the Missouri Valley in both 2000 and 2006, and went to the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament three times. They earned trips to the NIT in 2000, 2005, 2006 and 2007, and he finished his tenure as the fourth winningest coach in program history with a 169-117 record.
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