Mitch Ballock Earns BIG EAST's Sportsmanship Award

OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton senior Mitch Ballock has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award. He is the first Bluejay to be recognized with the honor since joining the league eight seasons ago.

Per the BIG EAST, the Sportsmanship Award winners are strong contributors to their respective teams on and off the court. The league's head coaches nominate and select the award winners. They are not permitted to vote for their own players.

Ballock set BIG EAST records by playing and starting in more regular-season BIG EAST games (74) than any player in league history. In 2019, he tied a BIG EAST single-game record by making 11 three-pointers in a game vs. DePaul. The Eudora, Kan., native ranks third in Creighton history with 300 career three-pointers made, and he is the only Creighton player in history with at least 300 three-pointers and 300 assists. Ballock's 182 treys in league action is fifth all-time. A three-time member of the BIG EAST All-Academic Team, he's also active in the community.

Three other awards were announced on Monday morning by the league. BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors will be shared by Connecticut forward Isaiah Whaley and St. John's guard Posh Alexander. The BIG EAST Most Improved Player award will be shared by St. John's guard-forward Julian Champagnie and Xavier forward Zach Freemantle. UConn's Tyler Polley has been tabbed the winner of the BIG EAST Sixth Man Award.

The BIG EAST will announce the remaining individual awards: Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete on Wednesday, March 11.

Ranked 14th nationally, Creighton (18-7, 14-6 BIG EAST) heads to Madison Square Garden in New York City this week to open play in the BIG EAST Tournament. The second-seeded Bluejays will play either Butler or Xavier on Thursday at 5 p.m. Central on FS1.

BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Isaiah Whaley, Connecticut
Posh Alexander, St. John's

BIG EAST Most Improved Player
Julian Champagnie, St. John's
Zach Freemantle, Xavier

BIG EAST Sixth Man Award
Tyler Polley, Connecticut

BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award
Mitch Ballock, Creighton

Mitch Ballock Earns BIG EAST's Sportsmanship Award

Players Mentioned

Mitch Ballock

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