Witucky One of 16 Finalists Nationwide for Cousy Award

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Senior Kyle Witucky (Zanesville, Ohio / Zanesville) of The College of Wooster men’s basketball team was named one of 16 finalists for the 2006 Bob Cousy Award presented by The Hartford, an annual honor bestowed to the nation’s top collegiate point guard. The announcement was made Thursday by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in conjunction with The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

The finalists were chosen from across the country, with 12 coming from NCAA Div. I institutions, including Dee Brown of last year’s national runner-up University of Illinois and Syracuse University’s Gerry McNamara, who led the Orange to the 2003 national championship, as well as two from Div. II and two from Div. III schools. Witucky’s fellow Div. III finalist is Adam Dauksas of Illinois Wesleyan University. The two actually faced each other as sophomores in the 2004 NCAA Tournament “Sweet 16.”

“I’m thrilled for Kyle. He’s had a tremendous career and he’s very deserving of this recognition,” commented long-time Wooster head coach Steve Moore, a former collegiate point guard himself.

“As we’ve said all along, Kyle is all about team success,” he continued. “He’s the epitome of what we think a point guard should be. He’s led his team to an incredible record and lots of championships his four seasons.”

With Witucky starting at the point, which he’s done every game since coming to Wooster, the Fighting Scots record is 102-11, a winning percentage of over 90 percent (.903), and they’ve won the North Coast Athletic Conference championship twice (2002-03, 2004-05) and the conference tourney two times (2003, 2004). Also, Wooster advanced to the NCAA Div. III “Final Four” for the first time in school history in 2003 and nearly did it again in 2004, falling 70-64 in the national quarterfinals.

Statistically, Witucky, a Street & Smith’s preseason All-American for 2005-06, is one of six players on the Scots’ traditionally balanced team averaging more than 9.0 points (9.1). He’s currently leading the NCAC in assists (4.25 per game), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (+2.55), and 10th in 3-pointers (1.70 per game), while also ranking second on the squad in steals (27).

Witucky has been a two-time member of the All-NCAC Team, including first-team honors in 2004-05, during his career. He’s approaching the 1000-point milestone (966) and ranks third in team history in assists (376), second in 3-pointers made (188), fifth in 3-point percentage (.434), and eighth in steals (126). Also noteworthy, if Witucky plays in 10 more games, he will break the NCAA Div. III national record for games played in a career.

The winner of the 2006 Bob Cousy Award presented by The Hartford will be announced at this year’s Div. I “Final Four” in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 3. Bob Cousy helped College of Holy Cross to the 1947 NCAA championship as a freshman and then led the Boston Celtics to NBA championships in 1957 and 1959 through 1963. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971.

Beginning Feb. 3, fans can vote for their favorite candidate at www.cousyaward.com.