STORRS, Conn. – It was announced by the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. that UConn junior guard Kemba Walker (Bronx, N.Y.) has been presented with the Bob Cousy Award as the Nation’s top point guard. Walker will lead UConn against Kentucky in the Final Four on Saturday, April 2 at 8:49 p.m. Eastern time. The game will be televised on CBS.
The award is presented annually to the nation’s top point guard and is named for former Boston Celtic and Hall of Famer Bob Cousy. The other 2011 finalists included Norris Cole (Cleveland State), Jimmer Fredette (BYU), Nolan Smith (Duke) and Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin).
“I am thrilled that Kemba has been named the winner of the Bob Cousy Award. He is having one of the great seasons ever in college basketball history,” said Jim Calhoun, head coach of the Huskies and member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2005. “Beyond the stats, game-winning shots and accolades, he epitomizes the leadership that a great point guard must have and what he has done to lead our young team to a BIG EAST Championship and to a spot in the Final Four has been unforgettable.”
Walker has already been named a First-Team All-American by the USBWA, the Associate Press and Sporting News Magazine. Walker is still a finalist for the prestigious Wooden Award and NABC Player of the Year.
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Walker has filled the stat sheet averaging 23.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game. The Bronx native set a new UConn single-season record with 931 points this year. On the season, he’s one of two players (Norris Cole – Cleveland State) to average over 20 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Among other records broken during Walker’s outstanding season include; Minutes total and per game (1,466 – 37.6 mpg), free throws attempted (302), free throws made (247) and field goals attempted (705). Walker also ranks second all-time with 305 field goals made, fourth all-time in single-season scoring average (23.9) and second in UConn history with 490 career free throws. He ranks seventh all-time with 1,749 career points.
Walker is also a finalist for the Naismith Award, presented to the nation’s top player. AT&T wireless customers — and sports fans on other wireless networks — will be able to text their votes for the player of their choice by texting VOTE to 345345. Fans will be eligible to cast their vote for the winner until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 2, 2011. AT&T is making the voting open to other wireless carriers, allowing even more fans to participate. Other wireless carriers must opt-in for their subscribers to participate. Standard messaging rates apply. Fans are allowed one vote per 24-hour period.
En route to the Final Four, UConn defeated No. 14 Bucknell in the NCAA Second Round, 81-52, before advancing past No. 6 Cincinnati in the NCAA Third Round, 69-58. UConn then earned a trip to the Final Four with a 74-67 victory over No. 2 San Diego State in the Sweet 16 and a thrilling 65-63 result over Arizona in the Elite Eight.
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