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Category: College

Jayhawks the favorite again in the preseason Big 12 men’s basketball poll

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IRVING, Texas – For the 16th time in the 22-year history of the Big 12, Kansas men’s basketball has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the conference regular-season championship as the league released its coaches’ preseason poll Thursday.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams in the poll and KU received a unanimous nine first-place votes and a total of 81 points. West Virginia was second in the poll receiving 71 points, followed by TCU (64). Three teams – Texas (49), Baylor (47) and Oklahoma (43) were clumped in spots 4-6, followed by Texas Tech (36), Kansas State (27), Iowa State (22) and Oklahoma State (10).

Kansas has won, or tied for, 17 of the 21 Big 12 regular-season titles, including the last 13 consecutive, a streak which ranks tied for first all-time in NCAA Division I history with UCLA (1967-79).

Preseason top-5 in most publications, Kansas returns two starters and six letterwinners from last season’s 31-5 team, which won the Big 12 race with a 16-2 conference record. Senior guards Devonte’ Graham and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk return as regular starters, while junior guard Lagerald Vick was also in the rotation with six starts. Sophomore center Udoka Azubuike had six starts in his 11 games played in 2016-17 before an injury ended his 2016-17 season.

Expect to see returning sophomore forward Mitch Lightfoot’s minutes increase. Redshirt sophomore guard Malik Newman, who sat out last year after transferring from Mississippi State, will play a significant role as will guards Marcus Garrett and Sam Cunliffe and forward Billy Preston. Garrett and Preston are freshmen, while Cunliffe is a sophomore who will sit out the fall semester after transferring from Arizona State last December. Last season, Garrett was the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, while Preston became KU’s 42nd McDonald’s All-American.

Graham is the 2017-18 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, as selected by the league coaches, while Newman is the league’s preseason newcomer of the year. Graham was a preseason all-conference first-team selection while Newman and Mykhailiuk were on the preseason league honorable mention team. Additionally, Graham is one of 20 listed on the preseason Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Watch List, an award won by KU’s Frank Mason III in 2016-17. Newman is one of 20 listed on the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List entering 2017-18.

Historically, the preseason favorite has gone on to finish first in the regular season 14 times, which does not include 1996-9,7 as a coaches’ poll was not conducted. Kansas has been the preseason favorite in 13 of its 17 Big 12 regular-season titles, missing 1996-97 (no poll), 2005-06 (third) and 2010-11 (second).

2017-18 Big 12 Coaches’ Preseason Poll
Place. School (first-place votes) – total points
1. Kansas (9) – 81
2. West Virginia (1) – 71
3. TCU – 64
4. Texas – 49
5. Baylor – 47
6. Oklahoma – 43
7. Texas Tech – 36
8. Kansas State – 27
9. Iowa State – 22
10. Oklahoma State – 10

— KU Athletics —

Mizzou’s Porter, Jr. named preseason SEC Co-Player of the Year; Tigers picked 5th

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Mizzou Men’s Basketball’s Michael Porter, Jr. (Columbia, Mo.) was picked as the Southeastern Conference Preseason Co-Player of the Year by a panel of SEC and national media members, it was announced by the league office on Wednesday. Porter was joined in a three-way tie for the preseason honor with Georgia senior forward Yante Maten and Texas A&M sophomore forward Robert Williams.

Porter was also named Preseason First-Team All-SEC, adding to a run of honors that include: Athlon Sports Preseason All-America First Team (Oct. 9), Blue Ribbon Preseason All-America First Team (Sept. 18) and NBC Sports Preseason All-America First Team.

Considered the nation’s No. 1 recruit coming out of high school, the current Tiger averaged an impressive 36.2 points and 13.6 rebounds per game as a senior at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, Washington, in 2016-17. Prior to his stint in the Northwest, Porter led Father Tolton Catholic High School to Columbia’s first high school state basketball championship in 54 years as a junior in 2015-16. The 6-10 forward averaged an outstanding 28.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game during that campaign.

Porter’s selection as a conference preseason player of the year marks the first time since prior to the 2012-13 campaign that a Mizzou student-athlete received the honor. Mizzou guard Phil Pressey was selected as the SEC’s Preseason Player of the Year by league media, along with a preseason first-team nod.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Missouri Western sweeps weekly MIAA soccer honors

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An undefeated weekend road trip to Oklahoma that produced four Missouri Western goals and none for their opponents helped the Griffon women’s soccer program sweep the MIAA’s weekly student-athlete awards.

Missouri Western broke Central Missouri’s streak of three-straight sweeps of the weekly awards and Sarah Lyle became the first goalkeeper other than UCM’s Ana Dilkes to receive the award this season.

Lyle helped Missouri Western complete its record breaking ninth shutout of the season Sunday at Northeastern State after combining with Lexie Martin for the record-tying eighth shutout of the season, Friday at Central Oklahoma. The senior keeper had four saves over the two games to improve her season record to 12-2.

Menke picked up her third MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week honor of the season by scoring her 12th and 13th goals of the year. The junior leads the MIAA and ranks 11th in the nation in goals scored. She put the Griffons up 2-0 at Central Oklahoma and scored the Griffons’ only goal at Northeastern State.

Blessie was named MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week after helping Missouri Western limit its two opponents to a total of 17 shots, five shots on goal and five corner kicks. The senior helped out the offensive effort as well, adding the first goal of the Central Oklahoma win and an assist on Menke’s goal at UCO.

The Griffons are 12-2 overall and 6-1 in MIAA play entering the next-to-last week of the regular season. Missouri Western stands alone in second place in the MIAA standings and makes trips to Washburn and Emporia State this weekend.

— MWSU Athletics —

Mizzou women picked third in preseason SEC media poll

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball was picked to finish third in the Southeastern Conference by a select voting panel of both SEC and national media members. The selection is the highest predicted finish for Mizzou since the Tigers joined the league.

The only two teams picked to place higher than Mizzou in 2017-18, South Carolina and Mississippi State, earned trips to last season’s National Championship game.

Sophomore guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) was one five players in the league to receive Preseason All-SEC recognition in the media poll. Cunningham was the only other player outside of South Carolina’s A’ja Wilson to garner votes for Preseason SEC Player of the Year.

In 2016-17, Cunningham averaged a team-best 17.5 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game and 3.4 assists per contest. She earned First Team All-SEC honors and received AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition after pouring in 19.1 points per game during league play and reaching double figures in 26 of 31 games. Cunningham has 989 career points heading into her junior season, the second-most by any Tiger sophomore through two campaigns in program history.

As a team, Mizzou is coming off back-to-back 22-win seasons and victories in consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in program history. The Tigers finished tied for third in the SEC last season, their highest conference finish since 1990. Mizzou went 15-1 at home in 2016-17 and the Tigers are 31-4 at Mizzou Arena since Feb. 5, 2015.

PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
Order of Finish
1. South Carolina
2. Mississippi State
3. Missouri
4. Tennessee
5. Texas A&M
6. Kentucky
7. LSU
8. Georgia
9. Alabama
10. Auburn
11. Vanderbilt
12. Florida
13. Ole Miss
14. Arkansas

Player of the Year
A’ja Wilson, South Carolina

Preseason All-SEC
Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
Morgan William, Mississippi State
Sophie Cunningham, Missouri
A’ja Wilson, South Carolina
Mercedes Russell, Tennessee

— Mizzou Athletics —

Griffon men’s golf finishes tied for sixth in final fall event

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TOPEKA, Kan. – The Missouri Western men’s golf team finished tied for sixth place with a three round total of 909 in the Washburn Invitational at the Topeka Country Club.

Kevin Kim led Missouri Western in all three rounds with a 226 and finished in the top 30 of the individual field. Patrick McCarthy shot a 228 in the two-day event. Tom Buffington carded a 230, which included a 71 in the second round the lowest single round by any Griffon for the tournament. Lucas Horseman recorded a 231 and Jacob Majeske rounded out the MWSU scorecard with a 232.

Lindenwood won the team title with an 872 in a sudden playoff over Central Oklahoma. Blake Allen of Washburn won the individual championship with a 213 on the third hole of a sudden death playoff.

Missouri Western concluded the fall season of its schedule in the Washburn Invitational. The Griffons finished sixth place or better in four of their five fall tournaments.

— MWSU Athletics —

KU’s Newman named to Jerry West Award watch list

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Kansas sophomore Malik Newman has been named one of 20 candidates for the 2018 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday.

Named after Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player Jerry West, the annual honor, in its fourth year, recognizes the top shooting guard in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

The 2017-18 Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and preseason honorable mention all-conference selection, Newman transferred to Kansas from Mississippi State following the 2015-16 season. The Jackson, Mississippi, native averaged 11.3 points and started 22 of 29 games at Mississippi State his freshman season. He scored a career-high 25 points against Ole Miss (Jan. 23, 2016) which included seven 3-point field goals made.

This past August Newman led Kansas in scoring in its 4-0 exhibition trip to Italy averaging 18.5 points per game. Included was a 32-point effort in the finale against the Italy All-Stars.

By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2018 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. West and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2018 Jerry West Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show presented by Wendy’s in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 6, 2018.

Jerry West attended West Virginia University and averaged 24.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per game in his three varsity seasons. He led his team to the NCAA Championship game in 1959 and was named a consensus All-American in 1959 and 1960. In the summer of 1960, he was co-captain of the U.S. men’s basketball team and won an Olympic gold medal. As a professional player, West played 14 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers making the All-NBA First Team 10 times. West won an NBA championship in 1972 and was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1969 despite his team not winning the championship. In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Previous winners of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award include Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016) and D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015).

For more information on the 2018 Jerry West Award, log onto www.HoophallAwards.com.

2018 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Candidates
Allonzo Trier – Arizona
Mustapha Heron – Auburn
Jerome Robinson – Boston College
TJ Haws – BYU
Marcus Foster – Creighton
Grayson Allen – Duke
KeVaughn Allen – Florida
Rob Gray – Houston
Malik Newman – Kansas
Hamidou Diallo – Kentucky
Bruce Brown Jr. – Miami
Lonnie Walker – Miami
Quinndary Weatherspoon – Mississippi St.
E.C. Matthews – Rhode Island
Khadeen Carrington – Seton Hall
Shamorie Ponds – St. John’s
Tyus Battle – Syracuse
Andrew Jones – Texas
De’Anthony Melton – USC
Daxter Miles Jr. – West Virginia

*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2017-18 season*

— KU Athletics —

MWSU men’s golf in seventh after day one at Washburn Invitational

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TOPEKA, Kan. – The Missouri Western men’s golf team is in seventh place with a 598 after two rounds in the Washburn Invitational at the Topeka Country Club.

Kevin Kim led Missouri Western on the first day with a 148, which placed him inside the top-20. Patrick McCarthy finished a stroke behind Kim with a 149. Tom Buffington shot a 152 in the day’s two rounds. Lucas Horseman and Jacob Majeske both carded a 154 to round out the MWSU scorecard.

Washburn led the team standings with a 580. The Ichabod’s Blake Allen led the individual field with a 137. The final round of the event is Tuesday, Oct. 17.

— MWSU Athletics —

Missouri State/Kansas State to play exhibition for hurricane relief

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MANHATTAN, Kan. – Missouri State University and Kansas State University have formally announced plans for a men’s basketball exhibition game this Saturday (Oct. 21) to benefit the American Red Cross’ hurricane relief efforts. The game will tip off at 12 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan.

In lieu of admission, K-State Athletics is suggesting fans contribute $5 per person to the Red Cross’ on-going disaster relief. Staff will also accept cash donations on site, and shopping carts will be provided at the northwest and northeast entrances for fans who choose to contribute non-perishable food items.

NCAA regulations prohibit Division I programs from playing on the road for preseason exhibitions. However, the game was granted an exemption from the NCAA to be played on K-State’s campus as a charity event.

“Life is about giving back and serving others in need,” said MSU head coach Paul Lusk. “This is a great opportunity for our program to do that. We are excited to partner with Kansas State in the hurricane relief efforts.”

The NCAA waiver will also allow the Bears to retain their home exhibition game, which is slated for Wednesday, Nov. 1 at JQH Arena against Southwest Baptist University at 7 p.m.

“We are grateful that the NCAA has given us a chance to help those in need with this game,” said MSU Director of Athletics Kyle Moats. “We have been working on this for a couple of weeks, and we were elated that the game is now a reality.

“So many people have tangible needs and have lost so much with the recent hurricanes, and we are honored to be joining Kansas State to provide some needed resources.”

The Bears were part of a similar charity exhibition game at Missouri Southern on November 5, 2011. That event served to benefit the Missouri Southern Foundation’s Tornado Emergency Relief Fund to aid relief efforts for a tornado that killed 153 people earlier that year near Joplin.

Kansas State coach Bruce Weber has eight returning lettermen, including three starters, from a 23-14 NCAA Tournament team. The Wildcats’ staff includes former Missouri State assistants Brad Korn and Jermaine Henderson, as well as former Southern Illinois head coach Chris Lowery.

Missouri State returns five lettermen, four starters and three additional squad members from a 17-16 campaign. The Bears have also added seven newcomers to the 2017-18 roster, including fifth-year graduate transfers Tanveer Bhullar (New Mexico State) and J.T. Miller (Howard), in addition to two freshmen, a sophomore transfer and a pair of junior transfers.

— MSU Athletics —

KU’s Graham named a candidate for Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Kansas senior Devonte’ Graham has been named one of 20 candidates for the 2018 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday.

Named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor, now in its 15th year, recognizes the top point guard in NCAA Division I men’s basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates. Graham is vying to become the second-straight Jayhawk to win the award as Frank Mason III was KU’s first-ever Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award winner last season.

The 2017-18 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, Graham is one of two returning starters for Kansas this upcoming season. The Raleigh, North Carolina, native is a two-time All-Big 12 selection, earning second team honors last season and honorable mention accolades in 2015-16. Graham is KU’s leading returning scorer from 2016-17 at 13.4 points per game, which was 13th in the league. He ranked third in the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.3, second in 3-point field goals made per game (2.6) and sixth in assists (4.1). Graham enters the 2017-18 season with 1,075 career points, which is 45th on the KU record list. His 186 3-pointers made are eighth on the KU career chart.

By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2018 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award will be narrowed to 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2018 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show in Los Angeles on April 6, 2018.

Bob Cousy played for Holy Cross from 1946-50 winning an NCAA Championship in 1947. He was named a Consensus First-Team All-American in 1950. His success continued at the professional level as a six-time NBA Champion (1957, 1959-1963), NBA Most Valuable Player (1957) and 13-time NBA All-Star (1951-63). In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include: FRANK MASON III, KANSAS (2017), Tyler Ulis, Kentucky (2016), Delon Wright, Utah (2015), Shabazz Napier, Connecticut (2014), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011), Greivis Vasquez, Maryland (2010), Ty Lawson, North Carolina (2009), DJ Augustin, Texas (2008), Acie Law, Texas A&M (2007), Dee Brown, Illinois (2006), Raymond Felton, North Carolina (2005) and Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s (2004).

For more information on the 2018 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award log onto www.hoophallawards.com.

2018 Bob Cousy Award presented by College of the Holy Cross Candidates
Collin Sexton – Alabama
Manu Lecomte – Baylor
Jalen Adams – Connecticut
Trevon Duval – Duke
Jordan Bohannon – Iowa
Devonte’ Graham – Kansas
Quentin Snider – Louisville
Nate Mason – Minnesota
Joel Berry II – North Carolina
Bryant McIntosh – Northwestern
Matt Farrell – Notre Dame
Trae Young – Oklahoma
Kyron Cartwright – Providence
Shake Milton – SMU
Jaylen Adams – St. Bonaventure
Jordan McLaughlin – USC
Jalen Brunson – Villanova
Bryant Crawford – Wake Forest
Jevon Carter – West Virginia
Landry Shamet – Wichita St.

*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2017-18 season*

— KU Athletics —

MIAA announces weekly football honors

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Kansas City, Mo. (October 16, 2017) – Emporia State’s Braxton Marstall has been named the MIAA Football Offensive Athlete of the Week. Central Oklahoma’s Stephan Robinson earned the honor on defense and Fort Hay’s Brandon Brown earning the special teams recognition.

MIAA Football Offensive Athlete of the Week
Braxton Marstall QB, Emporia State University

Marstall, a junior from Emporia, became the first Hornet in history and the first player in the country this year to have three games with at least 420 yards passing as the Hornets defeated Lindenwood 41-30. Marstall went 36 of 61 for 421 yards and three touchdowns while throwing his first interception of the season. He also added 50 yards rushing on nine carries. He opened the game with a 72 yard pass to Louis Dailey on the first play from scrimmage and then capped the drive with a one yard pass to Denzel Strong. He also had TD passes of five yards to Justin Brown and 11 yards to Kai Callins. Marstall now sits fourth on the Hornets career passing list and third in career total offense at Emporia State.

MIAA Football Defensive Athlete of the Week
Stephan Robinson, DB, University of Central Oklahoma

Robinson, a junior from Oklahoma City, Okla., played out of position at safety on Saturday but still recorded two tackles along with two break-ups and a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Bronchos 27-13 win over Nebraska-Kearney.

MIAA Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Brandon Brown, K, Fort Hays State University

Brown, a senior from San Ramon, Calif., converted 3-of-4 field goal attempts in a 37-20 win over Washburn. He made attempts from 29, 30, and 47 yards, and converted all four of his extra-point attempts to remain a perfect 31-of-31 on the season in that category. His 30-yard field goal was the most crucial, converting through the teeth of a strong north wind to tie the game 20-20 late in the third quarter.

— MIAA Press Release —

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