Smith Named to Bob Cousy Award Watch List
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Naismith Basketball Memorial Hall of Fame has announced that Braden Smith is one of 20 players named to the Bob Cousy Award watch list, given to the nation’s top point guard.
Smith, who was named a preseason first-team All-American, is looking to become the first player in the 23-year history of the award to be a repeat winner after he was selected the recipient a year ago.
Other Big Ten players on the watch list include Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz, Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau, Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton and UCLA’s Donovan Dent.
Smith, a senior guard from Westfield, Indiana, is the lone returning first-team All-American in the country after averaging 15.8 points, 8.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds a year ago. He won the Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard last season and has 1,375 points, 758 assists and 535 rebounds in his three seasons at Purdue. He is the only player in Big Ten history, and one of 16 players in NCAA history, to have even 1,300 career points, 700 assists and 500 rebounds, and he has a full season to play.
Smith needs just 125 points and 242 assists to become the first player in NCAA history with 1,500 points, 1,000 assists and 500 rebounds.
Purdue wraps up its exhibition season on Wednesday, when UIndy visits Mackey Arena The regular-season opener is Nov. 4, when the Boilermakers host Evansville.