|
For Immediate Release: April 3, 2002 Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240 FOUR
BRONCS HONORED, INDEPENDENT AWARDS ANNOUNCED
EDINBURG, TX–The University of
Texas-Pan American won three of the six individual awards and had three
players named All-Independent as the 2001-2002 awards were announced.
The awards were voted on by the head men’s basketball coaches and
sports information directors at independent schools. Senior guard Mire Chatman (Garland,
TX/South Garland HS/Southwestern Christian JC) of the Broncs, who was
named second team All-Independent, Newcomer of the Year and Defensive
Player of the Year last season, was one of three multiple award winners
this year. Chatman, who ranked third in Division I in scoring (26.2
points per game) and steals (3.6 per game) this season, was named Player
of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year while also receiving first
team All-Independent honors. Texas-Pan American Head Coach Bob
Hoffman was named Coach of the Year. In his third season at UTPA,
Hoffman led the Broncs to their best season in 12 years, posting a 20-10
record, winning the championship of the San Juan Shootout, and receiving
consideration for a berth in the National Invitational Tournament. Senior center Marcus Quinn (Midwest
City, OK/Choctaw HS/Eastern Oklahoma State) was also named first team
All-Independent. Quinn was UTPA’s leading rebounder, averaging 7.2
rebounds per game, and their second leading scorer, averaging 12.5
points per game. He also led the Broncs in field goal percentage (55.4
per cent), blocked shots (1.1 per game), and his five doubles-doubles
were the most of any Bronc. Junior guard Kevin Mitchell
(Copperas Cove, TX/Copperas Cove HS/McLennan CC) made the second team.
Mitchell led UTPA by averaging five assists per game. He was the
quarterback of the Broncs’ high-powered offense that ranked 24th
nationally in scoring (79.6 points per game) and 21st
nationally in field goal percentage (47.7 per cent). “I was very pleased to see us receive as many honors as we did,” said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. “Mire had an outstanding season, and these awards reflect the kind of season that he had and that our team had. It was good to see Marcus and Kevin honored as well. Marcus and Kevin played integral roles in our success this year, and it was good to see their performances recognized. The awards reflect positively on Mire, Marcus, and Kevin, as well as our team, our whole athletic program, and our university. The awards are a positive reflection on everyone associated with our program.” 2001-2002
MEN’S BASKETBALL ALL-INDEPENDENT AWARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR-Mire Chatman, Texas-Pan American DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR-Mire Chatman, Texas-Pan American NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR-Andrew Wisniewski, Centenary CO-FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR-Jeff Dancy, Lipscomb Otis Daniels, Gardner-Webb Jakob Sigurdarson, Birmingham Southern COACH OF THE YEAR-Bob
Hoffman, Texas-Pan American ALL-INDEPENDENT FIRST TEAM: Mire Chatman, Texas-Pan American Brian Evans, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Bruce Fields, Gardner-Webb Marcus Quinn, Texas-Pan American Andrew Wisniewski, Centenary ALL-INDEPENDENT SECOND TEAM: Kevin Atamah, Centenary Jeff Dancy, Lipscomb Brian Hamilton, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Kevin Mitchell, Texas-Pan American T.R. Reed, Birmingham Southern Nick Wise, Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne Members of the first and second
All-Independent Teams are listed alphabetically. Three players were
chosen as Freshmen of the Year and six players were named to the
All-Independent Second Team because of ties in the voting. MBB-32-02 0040302 |