BOULDER – The University of Colorado men's basketball team took time from its preparation for the Pac-12 Tournament to celebrate the season at its annual Awards Banquet Sunday morning at the George Boedecker, Jr., Practice Gym at the CU Events Center.
McKinley Wright IV received the Chauncey Billups Award as the team's Most Valuable Player. The Chauncey Billups MVP Award is one of five voted on by Colorado men's basketball student-athletes. Tyler Bey won the Most Improved Player and Best Defender awards, Evan Battey was voted Most Inspirational and Alexander Strating won the Tebo Family P.A.S.S. Award.
In addition, two statistical champion awards were handed out. Bey won the Stephane Pelle Rebounding Award while Wright earned the Jay Humphries Assist Award.
Wright is the Chauncey Billups Award recipient for the second-straight year, joining Josh Scott as the only multiple winners. Scott won three times between 2013-16. Wright is averaging 13.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while leading the Buffaloes in assists and steals – all while dealing with a shoulder injury that has kept him less than 100 percent since the beginning of the conference season.
Wright won the Jay Humphries Award, named after the Buffaloes' all-time leader in assists (562 from 1980-84). His 142 assists currently rank 13th on CU’s single-season list and his 4.9 per game average ranks third in the Pac-12.
Bey doubled up on the Most Improved and Best Defender Awards, winning the latter for the second time. He leads Colorado at 13.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, essentially doubling his numbers from his freshman campaign. He ranks among the Pac-12’s top 10 in rebounding, field goal shooting and blocked shots. Bey has also been solid from the free throw line at 76 percent, while leading the Buffaloes in free throws made and attempted (82-108).
Bey won the Stephane Pelle Rebounding Award, named after Colorado's all-time rebound leader. He is putting together one of the best rebounding seasons in team history. Bey enters the Pac-12 Tournament 17th on CU’s single-season list at 289, with a very good chance to become the 12th Buff to reach 300 rebounds in a season.
Battey was voted as the team's Most Inspirational Player. After missing two years of basketball with academic and medical issues, Battey has had a solid first-year and has become an integral, emotional and energetic leader for the Buffaloes. He is averaging 8.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while ranking third on the team in shooting at 50 percent. Battey is coming off a career-night, leading the Buffaloes in the season finale against USC with a career-high 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Strating earned the Tebo Family P.A.S.S. Award, given out for the second time. Named in honor of Stephen Tebo, a long-time supporter of the Colorado basketball program, the award was created to recognize the player, or players, that best exemplified the virtues of Perseverance, Attitude, Selflessness and Success. Strating has been a key do-it-all player for the Buffaloes, seeing valuable minutes in 25 games.
Head coach Tad Boyle honored Colorado's lone senior Namon Wright, who played in 44 games for the Buffaloes, averaging 8.8 points and 3.3 rebounds over two seasons. This year he averaged 7.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14 games, including a Colorado career-high 25 points, in the opener against Drake, before a foot injury put an early end to his senior season. Wright is scheduled to graduate in May with his degree in Sociology
Colorado is 19-11 overall and faces California on Wednesday to open the Pac-12 Tournament.
McKinley Wright IV received the Chauncey Billups Award as the team's Most Valuable Player. The Chauncey Billups MVP Award is one of five voted on by Colorado men's basketball student-athletes. Tyler Bey won the Most Improved Player and Best Defender awards, Evan Battey was voted Most Inspirational and Alexander Strating won the Tebo Family P.A.S.S. Award.
In addition, two statistical champion awards were handed out. Bey won the Stephane Pelle Rebounding Award while Wright earned the Jay Humphries Assist Award.
Wright is the Chauncey Billups Award recipient for the second-straight year, joining Josh Scott as the only multiple winners. Scott won three times between 2013-16. Wright is averaging 13.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while leading the Buffaloes in assists and steals – all while dealing with a shoulder injury that has kept him less than 100 percent since the beginning of the conference season.
Wright won the Jay Humphries Award, named after the Buffaloes' all-time leader in assists (562 from 1980-84). His 142 assists currently rank 13th on CU’s single-season list and his 4.9 per game average ranks third in the Pac-12.
Bey doubled up on the Most Improved and Best Defender Awards, winning the latter for the second time. He leads Colorado at 13.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, essentially doubling his numbers from his freshman campaign. He ranks among the Pac-12’s top 10 in rebounding, field goal shooting and blocked shots. Bey has also been solid from the free throw line at 76 percent, while leading the Buffaloes in free throws made and attempted (82-108).
Bey won the Stephane Pelle Rebounding Award, named after Colorado's all-time rebound leader. He is putting together one of the best rebounding seasons in team history. Bey enters the Pac-12 Tournament 17th on CU’s single-season list at 289, with a very good chance to become the 12th Buff to reach 300 rebounds in a season.
Battey was voted as the team's Most Inspirational Player. After missing two years of basketball with academic and medical issues, Battey has had a solid first-year and has become an integral, emotional and energetic leader for the Buffaloes. He is averaging 8.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while ranking third on the team in shooting at 50 percent. Battey is coming off a career-night, leading the Buffaloes in the season finale against USC with a career-high 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Strating earned the Tebo Family P.A.S.S. Award, given out for the second time. Named in honor of Stephen Tebo, a long-time supporter of the Colorado basketball program, the award was created to recognize the player, or players, that best exemplified the virtues of Perseverance, Attitude, Selflessness and Success. Strating has been a key do-it-all player for the Buffaloes, seeing valuable minutes in 25 games.
Head coach Tad Boyle honored Colorado's lone senior Namon Wright, who played in 44 games for the Buffaloes, averaging 8.8 points and 3.3 rebounds over two seasons. This year he averaged 7.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14 games, including a Colorado career-high 25 points, in the opener against Drake, before a foot injury put an early end to his senior season. Wright is scheduled to graduate in May with his degree in Sociology
Colorado is 19-11 overall and faces California on Wednesday to open the Pac-12 Tournament.
