Photo by: Ryan Kuttler / NUSports.com
Collins Named Big Ten Coach of the Year in Impressive Northwestern Awards Haul
3/7/2023 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Audige becomes NU's first defensive player of the year since 1994
CHICAGO – Chris Collins' selection as Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the coaches and media headlines Northwestern's impressive haul of 2022-23 Big Ten Men's Basketball Postseason Awards. Senior guard Chase Audige was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the All-Big Ten Second (coaches) and Third (media) Teams, and senior guard Boo Buie was named to the All-Big Ten First (media) and Second (coaches) Teams. Additionally, assistant coach Chris Lowery received the inaugural Howard Moore Assistant Coach of the Year award, and senior forward Robbie Beran was named the team's Big Ten Sportmanship honoree.
Collins becomes the second Northwestern coach to be named as Big Ten Coach of the Year, and first since Bill Carmody won the award in 2004. He led the Wildcats to a second-place finish, NU's best Big Ten finish since 1958-59, securing a school-record 12 Big Ten wins along the way. The 'Cats earned the No. 2 seed in this season's Big Ten Tournament, the program's highest seed in the event. Over the course of 10 seasons, Collins has won 155 games at Northwestern, third-most in program history, and collected his 150th win this past February with a victory at Ohio State. Collins guided Northwestern to its first defeat of an AP No. 1 team when the 'Cats took down then-No. 1 Purdue 64-58 on February 12. Northwestern earned a 4-1 record this season against AP ranked foes, the most such wins in a single-season in school history. Northwestern compiled a three-game win streak against ranked opponents, its first since 1954-55. Under Collins, Northwestern grabbed its latest AP poll ranking during Week 15 of the season at the nation's No. 21 team.
Playing from the No. 2 seed, the Wildcats will face the winner of No. 7 Illinois and No. 10 Penn State at 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday, March 10 in the Big Ten Conference Tournament quarterfinals at the United Center in Chicago on BTN.
Collins becomes the second Northwestern coach to be named as Big Ten Coach of the Year, and first since Bill Carmody won the award in 2004. He led the Wildcats to a second-place finish, NU's best Big Ten finish since 1958-59, securing a school-record 12 Big Ten wins along the way. The 'Cats earned the No. 2 seed in this season's Big Ten Tournament, the program's highest seed in the event. Over the course of 10 seasons, Collins has won 155 games at Northwestern, third-most in program history, and collected his 150th win this past February with a victory at Ohio State. Collins guided Northwestern to its first defeat of an AP No. 1 team when the 'Cats took down then-No. 1 Purdue 64-58 on February 12. Northwestern earned a 4-1 record this season against AP ranked foes, the most such wins in a single-season in school history. Northwestern compiled a three-game win streak against ranked opponents, its first since 1954-55. Under Collins, Northwestern grabbed its latest AP poll ranking during Week 15 of the season at the nation's No. 21 team.
Audige was selected as Big Ten Defensive Player fo the Year, becoming the second Wildcat ever to win the award, and first since Pat Baldwin in 1994. The senior's 74 steals this season lead the Big Ten and ranks eighth nationally. Additionally, Audige's 74 thefts are tied for second-most in a single-season in Northwestern history, matching Baldwin's 1993 total and trailing only Baldwin's 1991 total of 90. Audige has also been named as one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. Audige was additionally selected as Second Team All-Big Ten by the media and Third Team All-Big Ten by the coaches. On the offensive end of the floor, Audige posted 14.1 points and 2.8 assists per game. The Coram, N.Y. native has scored in double figures in 23 games this season, highlighted by a career-high 28 points in an 83-45 win over DePaul on December 17. Audige shared the Defensive Player of the Year award with Rutgers' Caleb McConnell.It's official ??
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 7, 2023
Your BIG TEN COACH OF THE YEAR pic.twitter.com/W0lWqUcyT9
Buie was selected as First Team All-Big Ten by the media and Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches. A finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation's top point guard, Buie ranks fourth in the league in points (17.5) and sixth in assists (4.6). He is the first Wildcat to average 17 or more points per game since John Shurna posted 20.0 points per game in 2011-12. Buie is one of only three high-major players in the country averaging at least 17 points and 4.5 assists per game this season. His 532 points scored this season are the 10th-most in a single-season in program history. In league play, Buie upped his game, posting 19.1 points per game against Big Ten foes, including 12 outings of 20 or more points in conference play. At Illinois he scored a career-high 35 points, the most points scored by a Wildcat in over 10 seasons. He was named Big Ten Player of the Week, the second such honor of his career, after helping the 'Cats defeat No. 1 Purdue behind 26 points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks. Buie leads all Big Ten players in free throw percentage, making 87.6% of his shots from the charity stripe.The DPOY, @ChaseAudige ?? pic.twitter.com/C5DqAKShgs
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 7, 2023
Chris Lowery was announced as the inaugural winner of the Howard Moore Assistant Coach of the Year award. In his first season on the staff, Lowery has been credited for the elevated play of Northwestern's defense, which ranks second in the Big Ten and 18th nationally, allowing just 62.3 points per game. Northwestern's 62.3 points per game allowed marks a 7.6 point improvement over last year's average of 69.9 points per game. The Wildcats have limited opponents to just 41.2% from the field, the second-best mark in the Big Ten. Lowery is the first recipient of the award, named after Wisconsin assistant coach Howard Moore.Floor General. First Team All-B1G. pic.twitter.com/ynCss99VC6
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 7, 2023
Additionally, four-year starter and captain Robbie Beran was selected as a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.A game changing addition.
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 7, 2023
The first ever Howard Moore B1G Assistant Coach of the Year, @CoachCLow ?? pic.twitter.com/2HKEMcTjBC
Playing from the No. 2 seed, the Wildcats will face the winner of No. 7 Illinois and No. 10 Penn State at 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday, March 10 in the Big Ten Conference Tournament quarterfinals at the United Center in Chicago on BTN.
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