Alan Anderson Named Team MVP
3/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 14, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The 2005 Michigan State Men's Basketball Bust was held Monday evening (March 14) at the Holiday Inn South in Lansing, Mich. Senior forward Alan Anderson (Minneapolis, Minn.) picked up team MVP honors as voted on by both the team and the media. Eight different players received awards and Peter Gent was recognized with the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
This is the second time in his career that Anderson has earned Team MVP honors. In 2003, he shared the team vote with Chris Hill. This year, he leads the Spartans in both scoring (13.6 ppg) and ranks second in rebounding (5.4 rpg). A Second-Team All-Big Ten selection as choosen by the league's media and a First-Team USBWA All-District 5 honoree, Anderson leads the Big Ten in free-throw percentage (.861). His .927 free-throw percentage in Big Ten games is tied for the third-best effort in league history. He has led the team in scoring a squad-high 11 times. He has scored in double figures a team-best 24 times, including the last 14 contests. Over the last five games, Anderson is averaging 20.4 points and 6.2 rebounds.
Anderson also shared the John E. Benington Best Defensive Player Award with senior guard Kelvin Torbert (Flint, Mich.). The two players shared the same award as freshmen in 2002. For Torbert, it is the fourth straight year he has received the honor, joining Charlie Bell (1998-2001) as the only four-time winners in school history. While Torbert ranks fifth on the team in steals (19) and third in blocks (10), it is his ability to shut down opposing players that makes him a repeat winner.
Senior guard Chris Hill (Indianapolis, Ind.) and sophomore center Drew Naymick (Muskegon, Mich.) shared the Scholar-Athlete Award. Hill is a three-time Academic All-American, including a two-time first-team honoree. This year, he was named the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year, posting a 3.75 grade-point average in finance. On the court, Hill leads the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.93-to-1) and ranks fourth in the league in assists (4.4 apg). He ranks second in MSU history and fifth in Big Ten history with 304 made 3-point field goals. Naymick owns a equally-impressive 3.78 grade-point average. Both are members of MSU's Honors College. Hill also received the honor in 2003 and 2004.
Senior guard Tim Bograkos (Flint, Mich.) received two awards. For the second straight season, he earned the Antonio Smith Glue and Guts Award. Bograkos also took home the Unsung Player Award, an honor he shared in both 2002 and 2004. While his statistics are not flashy, he would rank at the top of the conference if the Big Ten kept stats for floor burns and hustle plays. Over the course of his four years, he has appeared in 122 games, starting 11.
Junior guard Maurice Ager (Detroit, Mich.) received the Most Improved Player Award. After shooting a combined 39.2 percent in his first two seasons, Ager is shooting 48.6 percent from the floor this year. He led Michigan State in scoring for much of the year and currently ranks second, averaging 13.3 points per game, up from 8.5 as a sophomore. For his efforts, he was named Second-Team All-Big Ten by the league's coaches. He leads MSU with five 20-point games this year. This is the second straight year that he has earned the award.
The Stephen G. Scofes Inspirational Player Award was presented to sophomore forward Delco Rowley (Indianapolis, Ind.). Although he has seen limited playing time over the past two seasons and been forced to overcome various injuries, Rowley's attitude has remained positive, always pushing his teammates to excel. On the court, he is averaging 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds. He is one of just three Spartans to grab 10 or more rebounds in a game this year, recording 12 against Florida A&M (Nov. 19) in the season opener.
Junior center Paul Davis (Rochester, Mich.) was the recipient of the Chairman of the Boards Award, presented to MSU's leading rebounder. This season, Davis is averaging a career-high 7.4 rebounds, ranking fourth in the Big Ten. He has led MSU in rebounding in 19 games, including seven games with double-figure rebounds. Over the last 10 games, he is averaging 8.9 rebounds. As a team, Michigan State leads the Big Ten in rebounding margin (+8.1) and ranks sixth in the nation.
Senior captains Anderson, Bograkos, Hill and Torbert each were presented with Captain Awards.
Peter Gent is the recipient of the 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award. A member of the Spartan basketball team from 1961-64, he led the Spartans in scoring from 1962-64, becoming the first player in Michigan State history to lead the team in scoring for three straight seasons. When he finished his three-year career, his 1,146 points ranked second in school history. After leaving Michigan State, he played five seasons with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. At the conclusion of his playing days, he authored several books, including the best seller North Dallas Forty.
2005 Michigan State Basketball Bust AwardsScholar-Athlete Award: Chris Hill and Drew NaymickUnsung Player Award: Tim BograkosMost Improved Player Award: Maurice AgerJohn E. Benington Best Defensive Player Award: Alan Anderson and Kelvin TorbertStephen G. Scofes Inspirational Player Award: Delco RowleyAntonio Smith Glue and Guts Award: Tim BograkosChairman of the Boards Award: Paul DavisCharles S. Phillips MVP (Media): Alan AndersonMVP (Team): Alan AndersonDistinguished Alumnus Award: Peter Gent
