Greg McDermott and Ty-Shon Alexander
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Basketball's Alexander & McDermott Honored By USBWA
3/10/2020 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
McDermott earns coaching honor; Alexander recognized again
OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton Basketball's Greg McDermott and Ty-Shon Alexander have been honored by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. McDermott was recognized as the District VI Coach of the Year, while Alexander has been chosen as an All-District VI selection for the second straight season.
This year marks the fourth straight season Creighton has had a player honored with USBWA All-District acclaim, as Marcus Foster was recognized in both 2016-17 and 2017-18 before Alexander got the nod for the first time a year ago. Foster was CU's first honoree by the USBWA since Doug McDermott won the Oscar Robertson Trophy as the USBWA National Player of the Year in 2013-14. McDermott was a three-time All-District selection and two-time District Player of the Year.
Alexander leads Creighton and ranks third in the BIG EAST with 16.9 points per game while also adding 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a team-high 1.3 steals per game. The junior from Charlotte, N.C., ranks second in the BIG EAST in free throw percentage (.860), fourth in minutes per game (34.7) and three-pointers per game (2.61), sixth in three-point percentage (.399) and eighth in steals per contest (1.3). He is one of two players in Creighton history with 80 or more three-pointers in consecutive seasons and one of 10 men in the Bluejay recordbook with multiple seasons of 500 points or more. On Sunday Alexander was named First Team All-BIG EAST for the first time in his career.
McDermott becomes Creighton's first USBWA District Coach of the Year honoree since Dana Altman in 2002-03. He's led a Creighton team that was picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST Conference to the No. 7 national ranking, a 24-7 overall record, and a share of its first BIG EAST Conference title. Under his guidance, McDermott's team has beaten a school-record six top-25 teams this season, including three top-10 wins. Creighton also set a school-record for single-season home attendance (311,651) and matched its best ranking (No. 7) in program history. Last week McDermott was named one of 10 semifinalists nationally for the 2020 Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year. Now in his 10th year on The Hilltop, McDermott owns a record of 231-116 with the Bluejays to up his career record to 511-311 in 26 seasons as a head coach.
Luka Garza (Iowa) was named District VI Player of the Year. District VI consists of schools from the seven state region of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Creighton is one of four schools with a USBWA All-District VI honoree each of the last four seasons, joining Kansas, South Dakota State and Iowa State.
Ranked seventh nationally, Creighton (24-7) returns to action on Thursday at 11:00 am Central with a quarterfinal round game in the BIG EAST Tournament Presented by Jeep.
DISTRICT I (ME, VT, NH, RI, MA, CT)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Fatts Russell, Rhode Island
COACH OF THE YEAR
Joe Gallo, Merrimack
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Paul Atkinson, Yale
Alpha Diallo, Providence
David Duke, Providence
Juvaris Hayes, Merrimack
Anthony Lamb, Vermont
Max Mahoney, Boston University
Tre Mitchell, Massachusetts
Jordan Roland, Northeastern
Fatts Russell, Rhode Island
Christian Vital, UConn
DISTRICT II (NY, NJ, DE, DC, PA, WV)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Myles Powell, Seton Hall
COACH OF THE YEAR
Kevin Willard, Seton Hall
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Saddiq Bey, Villanova
AJ Brodeur, Penn
Desure Buie, Hofstra
Nate Darling, Delaware
Collin Gillespie, Villanova
Elijah Hughes, Syracuse
Jalen Pickett, Siena
Myles Powell, Seton Hall
Lamar Stevens, Penn State
Oscar Tshiebwe, West Virginia
DISTRICT III (VA, NC, SC, MD)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Vernon Carey Jr., Duke
COACH OF THE YEAR
Tony Bennett, Virginia
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Cole Anthony, North Carolina
Garrison Brooks, North Carolina
Vernon Carey Jr., Duke
Anthony Cowan Jr., Maryland
Mamadi Diakite, Virginia
Markell Johnson, N.C. State
Tre Jones, Duke
Nathan Knight, William & Mary
Landers Nolley II, Virginia Tech
Jalen Smith, Maryland
DISTRICT IV (KY, TN, MS, AL, GA, FL)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Immanuel Quickley, Kentucky
COACH OF THE YEAR
John Calipari, Kentucky
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Samir Doughty, Auburn
Anthony Edwards, Georgia
Kira Lewis Jr., Alabama
Jordan Nwora, Louisville
Reggie Perry, Mississippi State
Immanuel Quickley, Kentucky
Nick Richards, Kentucky
Terry Taylor, Austin Peay
Breein Tyree, Ole Miss
Devin Vassell, Florida State
DISTRICT V (OH, IN, IL, MI, MN, WI)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Obi Toppin, Dayton
COACH OF THE YEAR
Anthony Grant, Dayton
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Kamar Baldwin, Butler
Ayo Dosumnu, Illinois
Markus Howard, Marquette
John Mooney, Notre Dame
Daniel Oturu, Minnesota
Zavier Simpson, Michigan
Xavier Tillman, Michigan State
Obi Toppin, Dayton
Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State
Cassius Winston, Michigan State
DISTRICT VI (IA, MO, KS, OK, NE, ND, SD)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Luka Garza, Iowa
COACH OF THE YEAR
Greg McDermott, Creighton
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Ty-Shon Alexander, Creighton
Udoka Azubuike, Kansas
Kristian Doolittle, Oklahoma
Devon Dotson, Kansas
Marcus Garrett, Kansas
Luka Garza, Iowa
AJ Green, UNI
Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State
Joe Weiskamp, Iowa
Douglas Wilson, South Dakota State
DISTRICT VII (TX, AR, LA)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jared Butler, Baylor
COACH OF THE YEAR
Scott Drew, Baylor
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Mason Jones, Arkansas
Desmond Bane, TCU
Skylar Mays, LSU
Jared Butler, Baylor
Jhivvan Jackson, UTSA
Isaiah Joe, Arkansas
Javion Hamlet, North Texas
Markquis Nowell, Little Rock
Nijal Pearson, Texas State
Sha'markus Kennedy, McNeese
DISTRICT VIII (WY, UT, ID, NM, CO, NV, MT)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sam Merrill, Utah State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Mark Pope, BYU
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Timmy Allen, Utah
Trevon Allen, Idaho
Yoeli Childs, BYU
Bryce Hamilton, UNLV
Jerrick Harding, Weber State
Jalen Harris, Nevada
Sam Merrill, Utah State
Sayeed Pridgett, Montana
Trevelin Queen, New Mexico State
McKinley Wright IV, Colorado
DISTRICT IX (CA, OR, WA, HI, AZ, AK)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Payton Pritchard, Oregon
COACH OF THE YEAR
Brian Dutcher, San Diego State
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Malachi Flynn, San Diego State
Jordan Ford, Saint Mary's
Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
Remy Martin, Arizona State
Zeke Nnaji, Arizona
Onyaka Okongwu, USC
Filip Petrusev, Gonzaga
Payton Pritchard, Oregon
Isaiah Stewart, Washington
Tres Tinkle, Oregon State
This year marks the fourth straight season Creighton has had a player honored with USBWA All-District acclaim, as Marcus Foster was recognized in both 2016-17 and 2017-18 before Alexander got the nod for the first time a year ago. Foster was CU's first honoree by the USBWA since Doug McDermott won the Oscar Robertson Trophy as the USBWA National Player of the Year in 2013-14. McDermott was a three-time All-District selection and two-time District Player of the Year.
Alexander leads Creighton and ranks third in the BIG EAST with 16.9 points per game while also adding 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a team-high 1.3 steals per game. The junior from Charlotte, N.C., ranks second in the BIG EAST in free throw percentage (.860), fourth in minutes per game (34.7) and three-pointers per game (2.61), sixth in three-point percentage (.399) and eighth in steals per contest (1.3). He is one of two players in Creighton history with 80 or more three-pointers in consecutive seasons and one of 10 men in the Bluejay recordbook with multiple seasons of 500 points or more. On Sunday Alexander was named First Team All-BIG EAST for the first time in his career.
McDermott becomes Creighton's first USBWA District Coach of the Year honoree since Dana Altman in 2002-03. He's led a Creighton team that was picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST Conference to the No. 7 national ranking, a 24-7 overall record, and a share of its first BIG EAST Conference title. Under his guidance, McDermott's team has beaten a school-record six top-25 teams this season, including three top-10 wins. Creighton also set a school-record for single-season home attendance (311,651) and matched its best ranking (No. 7) in program history. Last week McDermott was named one of 10 semifinalists nationally for the 2020 Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year. Now in his 10th year on The Hilltop, McDermott owns a record of 231-116 with the Bluejays to up his career record to 511-311 in 26 seasons as a head coach.
Luka Garza (Iowa) was named District VI Player of the Year. District VI consists of schools from the seven state region of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Creighton is one of four schools with a USBWA All-District VI honoree each of the last four seasons, joining Kansas, South Dakota State and Iowa State.
Ranked seventh nationally, Creighton (24-7) returns to action on Thursday at 11:00 am Central with a quarterfinal round game in the BIG EAST Tournament Presented by Jeep.
DISTRICT I (ME, VT, NH, RI, MA, CT)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Fatts Russell, Rhode Island
COACH OF THE YEAR
Joe Gallo, Merrimack
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Paul Atkinson, Yale
Alpha Diallo, Providence
David Duke, Providence
Juvaris Hayes, Merrimack
Anthony Lamb, Vermont
Max Mahoney, Boston University
Tre Mitchell, Massachusetts
Jordan Roland, Northeastern
Fatts Russell, Rhode Island
Christian Vital, UConn
DISTRICT II (NY, NJ, DE, DC, PA, WV)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Myles Powell, Seton Hall
COACH OF THE YEAR
Kevin Willard, Seton Hall
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Saddiq Bey, Villanova
AJ Brodeur, Penn
Desure Buie, Hofstra
Nate Darling, Delaware
Collin Gillespie, Villanova
Elijah Hughes, Syracuse
Jalen Pickett, Siena
Myles Powell, Seton Hall
Lamar Stevens, Penn State
Oscar Tshiebwe, West Virginia
DISTRICT III (VA, NC, SC, MD)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Vernon Carey Jr., Duke
COACH OF THE YEAR
Tony Bennett, Virginia
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Cole Anthony, North Carolina
Garrison Brooks, North Carolina
Vernon Carey Jr., Duke
Anthony Cowan Jr., Maryland
Mamadi Diakite, Virginia
Markell Johnson, N.C. State
Tre Jones, Duke
Nathan Knight, William & Mary
Landers Nolley II, Virginia Tech
Jalen Smith, Maryland
DISTRICT IV (KY, TN, MS, AL, GA, FL)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Immanuel Quickley, Kentucky
COACH OF THE YEAR
John Calipari, Kentucky
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Samir Doughty, Auburn
Anthony Edwards, Georgia
Kira Lewis Jr., Alabama
Jordan Nwora, Louisville
Reggie Perry, Mississippi State
Immanuel Quickley, Kentucky
Nick Richards, Kentucky
Terry Taylor, Austin Peay
Breein Tyree, Ole Miss
Devin Vassell, Florida State
DISTRICT V (OH, IN, IL, MI, MN, WI)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Obi Toppin, Dayton
COACH OF THE YEAR
Anthony Grant, Dayton
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Kamar Baldwin, Butler
Ayo Dosumnu, Illinois
Markus Howard, Marquette
John Mooney, Notre Dame
Daniel Oturu, Minnesota
Zavier Simpson, Michigan
Xavier Tillman, Michigan State
Obi Toppin, Dayton
Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State
Cassius Winston, Michigan State
DISTRICT VI (IA, MO, KS, OK, NE, ND, SD)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Luka Garza, Iowa
COACH OF THE YEAR
Greg McDermott, Creighton
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Ty-Shon Alexander, Creighton
Udoka Azubuike, Kansas
Kristian Doolittle, Oklahoma
Devon Dotson, Kansas
Marcus Garrett, Kansas
Luka Garza, Iowa
AJ Green, UNI
Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State
Joe Weiskamp, Iowa
Douglas Wilson, South Dakota State
DISTRICT VII (TX, AR, LA)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jared Butler, Baylor
COACH OF THE YEAR
Scott Drew, Baylor
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Mason Jones, Arkansas
Desmond Bane, TCU
Skylar Mays, LSU
Jared Butler, Baylor
Jhivvan Jackson, UTSA
Isaiah Joe, Arkansas
Javion Hamlet, North Texas
Markquis Nowell, Little Rock
Nijal Pearson, Texas State
Sha'markus Kennedy, McNeese
DISTRICT VIII (WY, UT, ID, NM, CO, NV, MT)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sam Merrill, Utah State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Mark Pope, BYU
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Timmy Allen, Utah
Trevon Allen, Idaho
Yoeli Childs, BYU
Bryce Hamilton, UNLV
Jerrick Harding, Weber State
Jalen Harris, Nevada
Sam Merrill, Utah State
Sayeed Pridgett, Montana
Trevelin Queen, New Mexico State
McKinley Wright IV, Colorado
DISTRICT IX (CA, OR, WA, HI, AZ, AK)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Payton Pritchard, Oregon
COACH OF THE YEAR
Brian Dutcher, San Diego State
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Malachi Flynn, San Diego State
Jordan Ford, Saint Mary's
Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
Remy Martin, Arizona State
Zeke Nnaji, Arizona
Onyaka Okongwu, USC
Filip Petrusev, Gonzaga
Payton Pritchard, Oregon
Isaiah Stewart, Washington
Tres Tinkle, Oregon State
Players Mentioned
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