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2010 Lou Henson All-America
Team |
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April
2, 2010
Keith Benson recipient of 2010 Lou Henson Player of
the Award
 INDIANAPOLIS
(IN) -- Following a season in which he improved in
almost every statistical category, Oakland’s Keith
Benson has been named the winner of the inaugural
Lou Henson Player of the Year Award. In an era when
guard play dominates the college game, the junior
center’s combination of size, length and athleticism
almost makes him a throwback.
His across the board improvement showed in his 17
ppg (vs. 14.3 ppg last season), 10.5 rpg (vs. 7.8
rpg last season) and 3.4 bpg (vs. 2.4 bpg last
season). His rebounding average ranked 14th
nationally and his blocked shot average was good
enough for eighth nationally. Not surprisingly, he
broke the single-season school records in both those
categories.
Benson’s scoring proficiency has been given a boost
by his ability to finish with both hands and the
development of a reliable mid-range jumper. In games
against Michigan State and Kansas this past season
he posted scoring efforts of 20 and 21 points
respectively.
The award is named in honor of Lou Henson, who
retired after a spectacular coaching career that
lasted 41 years. When he left the game in 2005 he
was sixth all-time in career Division I wins with
779.
He is the winningest coach in Illinois basketball
history with 423 victories. During his 21 seasons
(1975-1996) at the school, Henson led the Fighting
Illini to 16 postseason appearances, including 12
NCAA Tournaments and a Final Four appearance in
1989.
Henson is also the all-time winningest coach in New
Mexico State history with 289 victories, and he
coached the Aggies to a Final Four appearance in
1970. He is one of only 12 coaches in the history of
the game to take two schools to the Final Four |
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Award
Selection Committee: Stephen Bardo (ESPN), Dr.
McKinley Boston (New Mexico State), Jimmy Collins
(Illinois-Chicago), Mark Coomes (Retired Head
Coach), Gene Cross (Former Head Coach Toledo), Chris
Crutchfield (Oral Roberts), Tom Douple (Summit
League), Joe Dwyer (CollegeInsider.com), Rob Evans
(Arkansas), Steve Fisher (San Diego State), John
Giannini (La Salle), Ed Groom (Great West
Conference), Ted Gumbart (Atlantic Sun Conference),
Lou Henson (Former Head Coach Illinois and New
Mexico State), Kyle B. Kallander (Big South
Conference), Jon Kasper (Big Sky Conference), Angela
Lento (CollegeInsider.com), Marvin Menzies (New
Mexico State), Scott Nagy South (Dakota State),
Frank Sullivan (America East Conference), Riley
Wallace (CollegeInsider.com). |
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