March 9, 2008

University of Dayton senior guard Brian Roberts was named the winner of the White-Allen Most Valuable Player Award for the third straight season Sunday afternoon at UD's men's basketball banquet. The event was held at the Time Warner Cable Flight Deck at the University of Dayton Arena.

Roberts, a 2004 graduate of Toledo St. John's High School, is just the sixth Flyer to earn three MVP awards. Ryan Perryman was the last to accomplish it (1996-98), and he was preceded by Roosevelt Chapman (1982-84), Jim Paxson (1977-79), Donald Smith (1972-74) and Henry Finkel (1963-66).

One of the premier players in the country, Brian Roberts is enjoying one of the finest seasons in Flyer history. He was named First Team NABC All-District, and is now on the ballot for NABC All-America consideration. He is a finalist for four of the most prestigious college basketball awards in the country -- the Los Angeles Athletic Club's John R. Wooden Award, the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Naismith Trophy, the Basketball Hall of Fame's Bob Cousy Award and the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

With the A-10 tournament yet to play, Roberts is already in the top five career scorers at UD with 1,887 points. He leads Dayton in scoring (19.0), assists (3.7), minutes (34.5), 3-pt. FG's (3.0), 3-pt. FG% (.460, 87-189) and FT% (.873, 103-118), and is in the top five of the A-10 in five statistical categories.

The White-Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy is sponsored by Tim White and White-Allen Auto Group, Inc. The award is selected by members of the team. The White-Allen Trophy has been awarded annually since 1953. White-Allen now sponsors the MVP award for UD's men's and women's basketball, football and volleyball teams.

Roberts also earned the Alex Schoen Memorial Free Throw Trophy as the team's top free throw shooter for the second straight year. Not only does Roberts lead the Flyers in free throw percentage, he is also second in the Atlantic 10. He is in the top 20 nationally in both 3-pt. FG% and FT%.

The Schoen Trophy is named in honor of Alex Schoen, Sr., the captain of UD's first varsity basketball team in 1903-04. Awarded since 1950, it is sponsored by Alex Schoen, Jr. It goes to the UD player with the highest FT% with a minimum of 1.5 free throws per game attempted.

Senior forward Jimmy Binnie was named the winner of the Dr. George Rau Spirit Award, which is given annually to the player who displays true team spirit, on and off the court. As part of the first senior class brought to UD by head coach Brian Gregory and his staff, Binnie has been a critical part of the program's transition and elevation. Binnie has started all 29 games this season and is averaging career bests in scoring (6.1) and rebounding (3.9).

The Harry O'Rourke Insurance Agency sponsors the Rau Award, which began following the long-time Flyer team physician's death in 1972.

Senior wingman Andres Sandoval was named the recipient of the Chris Daniels Memorial Most Improved Player Award. Not only are Sandoval's numbers up from last year (6.5 ppg compared to 5.9, .411 FG% compared to .336, and .320 3-pt. FG% compared to .293), but he has stepped up his play when the team has needed it most down the stretch. Inserted into the lineup for good 15 games ago, he averages 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds as a starter. He has produced eight double-digit scoring performances in the second half of the 2007-08 season, after just doing it once in the first half.

UD's Chris Daniels Memorial Award is sponsored by Skelton Sports, and is presented in memory of Flyer center Chris Daniels. Originated in 1994-95 as the most improved player award, this award was renamed for Chris Daniels following his death in 1996.

Sophomore guard Marcus Johnson was named the first repeat winner of the Uhl Family Endowed Scholarship. Former Flyers Bill Uhl, Sr. and Bill Uhl, Jr., have endowed a men's basketball scholarship, to be given to a returning Flyer basketball player. Originally awarded in 2003, it was the first endowed award of this type in the University of Dayton Athletics Division. It is given annually to the UD player who best exemplifies the qualities of good sportsmanship and character, and follows the University's creed of "Learn, Lead and Serve" on and off the court. Previous recipients have been Keith Waleskowski, Mark Jones, Warren Williams and Jimmy Binnie.

Johnson has played in all 29 games for the Flyers, starting 28. He is third on the team in scoring (9.4) and FT% (.760, 73-96), and second in rebounding (5.2) and blocked shots (12).

Sophomore guard London Warren was named the winner of the Best Defender Award. Despite averaging just 18.2 minutes a game, he leads the Flyers with 39 steals, and despite being the shortest player in the regular rotation, he is also fourth on the team in blocked shots (8). In addition, since the defensive possession does not end until you rebound the ball, it is worth noting that the percentage of defensive rebounds of his total rebounds (81%, 65 of 80) is the highest on the team. First presented in 1994-95, the Best Defender Award is determined by the coaching staff.

Sophomore forward Kurt Huelsman was presented the John L. Macbeth Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award, which goes to the member of the team with the highest cumulative grade point average after a minimum of five semesters of class work. Huelsman, a business major was nominated for ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America and Academic All-Atlantic 10 this season. The Macbeth Scholar-Athlete Award is presented in memory of Dayton businessman John L. Macbeth, and is sponsored by Mrs. John L. Macbeth and family. It has been awarded since 1959.

Freshman forward Chris Wright took home the "Shorty" Sharpenter Memorial Rebounding Trophy. Wright averaged 6.0 rebounds a game in the 13 games he played before suffering an ankle injury in the A-10 season opening win against Rhode Island. Despite the injury, he leads the team with three double-doubles (tied with Marcus Johnson) and is second on the team in dunks (16). He also leads the team in FG% (.605, 52-66), and is second in scoring (10.4) and FT% (.811, 30-37).

The Sharpenter Award is named for Hall of Famer Ned "Shorty" Sharpenter, and has been sponsored by his family since its inception in 1979.

Wright was also presented the Thomas M. Luppe Award, which is presented each year to the first-year player on the team who best demonstrates the courage, desire and integrity of former Flyer freshman Tom Luppe. The Luppe Award honors Thomas M. Luppe, who died in 1963 while playing in a UD freshman game.

UD finished the regular season 20-9, its eighth year of at least 18 wins in the last nine. In addition, the Flyers won 20 games in the regular season for the first time since 2003-04. Dayton will face Saint Louis in the First Round of the Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship on Wednesday at 12 noon EST.

2007-08 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS

WHITE-ALLEN MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Brian Roberts ALEX SCHOEN FREE THROW PERCENTAGE Brian Roberts JOHN L. MACBETH SCHOLAR-ATHLETE Kurt Huelsman THOMAS M. LUPPE MEMORIAL AWARD Chris Wright DR. GEORGE RAU SPIRIT AWARD Jimmy Binnie "SHORTY" SHARPENTER TOP REBOUNDER Chris Wright DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR London Warren Chris Daniels MEMORIAL AWARD Andres Sandoval UHL FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Marcus Johnson