Bobbitt named Big West Defensive Player of the Year
Junior point guard Roderick Bobbitt was named the Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year as part of the conference’s post-season awards announced on Monday morning.
Bobbitt, in his first season at the University of Hawai’i, leads the nation in steals with 95. He is the first UH player to receive the award.
Bobbitt was also named to the second team of the All-Big West Conference Team. Sophomore teammates Stefan Jankovic and Aaron Valdes received honorable mention.
Corey Hawkins from regular-season champion UC Davis was named the Player of the Year.
Below are the official releases from the conference:
Big West Announces Men’s Hoops All-Specialty Awards
IRVINE, CA – The 2015 Big West Men’s Basketball All-Specialty Awards announcement featured representatives from three different schools. UC Davis junior Josh Fox claimed the Best Sixth Player award, while Hawai‘i junior Roderick Bobbitt secured Defensive Player of the Year accolades. A repeat selection earned the Best Hustle award in UC Santa Barbara senior Zalmico Harmon.
The conference’s nine head coaches voted on the awards, but were not allowed to cast votes for their own players. This is the 15th straight year that the Big West has selected an All-Specialty Team.
Fox is the first UC Davis recipient of the Best Sixth Player award. After transferring into the Aggie program from City College of San Francisco, Fox became a major contributor to the program’s first Big West championship. Playing in all 29 games, Fox averaged a team third-best 9.4 points. He ranked second in rebounding (4.6 rpg). Fox also hit 60.2 percent (106-of-176) of his field goal attempts. The Daly City, Calif. native scored a season-high 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting in an early season triumph over Utah State, and registered 20 points in just 24 minutes against Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 17. The 6-6 forward recorded 14 points and six rebounds when the Aggies clinched the regular season title against UC Riverside on Mar. 5.
Bobbitt etched his name in the Big West record book in becoming the first player from Hawai‘i to earn an All-Specialty Award of any kind. In garnering the Defensive Player of the Year award, the 6-3 guard led the conference and the nation with 95 steals, while he ranked third in the country with 3.0 steals per game. The steal total places Bobbitt at No. 4 in Big West single-season history, and he is on the cusp of being just the fourth player to amass 100 steals in a season. Hailing from Oakland, Calif., Bobbitt set the UH single-game record with 10 steals against Hawai‘i-Hilo, finishing the night with 12 points and 10 assists as well to secure just the second triple-double in school history. The 10 thefts tied for second on the all-time Big West single-game list. Bobbitt recorded at least three steals in 16 contests, and notched eight in a game twice during conference play against CSUN and Long Beach State.
Harmon continued a trend of repeat recipients of the Best Hustle award. Going back to UC Santa Barbara’s Chris Devine (2008-09), and followed by Joe Harden of UC Davis (2010-11) and UC Irvine’s Adam Folker (2012-13), Harmon caught the eye of the conference coaches for the second straight season. The 6-0 point guard, known as the team’s energizer, ranks second in the Big West with a 2.51 assist-to-turnover ratio and is tied for fourth in assists (3.7 apg). Harmon also had the fourth-most steals on the team with 18. The Washington D.C. native is a prime reason that UCSB is 15-0 this season when limiting opponents to 60 points or less.
2014-15 BIG WEST BEST SIXTH PLAYER
Josh Fox, UC Davis
2014-15 BIG WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Roderick Bobbitt, Hawai‘i
2014-15 BIG WEST BEST HUSTLE PLAYER
Zalmico Harmon, UC Santa Barbara
— — —
Big West Announces 2014-15 Men’s Basketball Award Winners
Big West regular season champion UC Davis claimed two coveted awards to highlight the announcement of the 2014-15 men’s basketball all-conference team as voted on by the nine head coaches. Aggie senior Corey Hawkins claimed Big West Player of the Year honors with Jim Les collecting Coach of the Year accolades. Gabe Vincent of UC Santa Barbara took home Freshman of the Year hardware while UC Riverside junior Jaylen Bland rounded out the marquee list as Newcomer of the Year.
Hawkins is the first UC Davis recipient of Big West Player of the Year honors. The 6-3 guard averaged 20.6 points per game to become the conference’s scoring champion for the second time in the last three seasons. Ranking No. 7 nationally in scoring, Hawkins has produced a league-best 14 games of 20 points or more, including two performances of 33 points against Idaho (Dec. 6) and 30 versus UC Irvine (Mar. 7). The Goodyear, Ariz. native also tops the nation in three-point field goal percentage, hitting at a 49.7 percent (73-of-147) clip. Hawkins, who earned Big West Newcomer of the Year honors in 2013 after transferring from Arizona State, also sits on the conference leaderboard in rebounding (13th – 5.1 rpg), field goal percentage (5th – .498), free throw percentage (5th – .829), assists (7th – 3.5 apg), steals (7th – 1.3 spg) and three-pointers per game (2nd – 2.9 pg). In conference games only, Hawkins averaged 20.8 points as a primary cog in helping UC Davis win its first Big West regular season title. He ranks No. 2 on the Aggie career scoring list with 1,623 points in just three seasons. Hawkins also collected two Big West Player of the Week honors this season to give him four career nods.
Les orchestrated one of the most successful turnarounds in conference history to secure his first Coach of the Year honor at UC Davis. Taking a program which finished 9-22 overall and missed the Big West Tournament last season, Les defied the prognosticators who tabbed the Aggies to finish seventh in the preseason media poll. Les guided UC Davis to a final regular season mark of 24-5 and the program’s inaugural Big West championship with a 14-2 record. The 15-win turnaround ranks as the second-highest in conference history, just one short of tying the all-time record. In addition, UC Davis became the first school in the Big West’s 46-year history to finish last one season and win the outright championship the next. The Aggies finished their home slate with an unblemished 14-0 record, and set Division I records for most overall and conference victories. Les takes the Aggies into the Big West Tournament as the No. 1 seed in search of the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament as a Division I member.
Vincent becomes the first Gaucho in 22 years to garner Freshman of the Year honors. He is the fourth UC Santa Barbara player – and first since Kyle Milling in 1993 – to be recognized as the league’s top freshman. The 6-3 guard ranks fourth on the squad in scoring at 10.2 points per game, and is one of the conference’s most accurate three-point shooters. Ranking No. 9 in the Big West in three-point field goal percentage (.413), he drained 52 threes, and his 2.1 per game average is sixth-best among conference players. The Stockton, Calif. native ranks No. 2 on the UCSB single-season list for most threes made by a freshman, and needs just seven more to establish the record. A starter in 18 of 25 games played, Vincent scored in double figures 13 times. He registered a career-high 25 points and tied his career best with five treys in a win at Hawai‘i on Mar. 4.
Bland, who once played at Murray State and later College of the Canyons, paid immediate dividends as he became the first Highlander to notch the Newcomer award. He ranked No. 7 in the Big West in scoring (15.8 ppg), and led the circuit with 94 three-pointers, 21 more than the next highest player in the rankings. Bland enters the Big West Tournament needing seven threes to break the program record of 100. The 6-3 guard also is one of the Big West’s top defensive players, ranking No. 5 in steals (1.43 pg). His 43 steals is two short of breaking the Highlander Division I single-season record. The Saginaw, Mich. native scored 20 or more points on seven occasions, led by a career-high 29 against regular season champion UC Davis on Jan. 15. He has hit at least one three in 27 consecutive games.
The All-Big West First Team features a pair of three-time selections – Long Beach State senior Mike Caffey and UC Santa Barbara senior Alan Williams. In addition, Hawkins from UC Davis made his second appearance on the first unit. Making their debuts on the all-league first team are UC Santa Barbara junior Michael Bryson, UC Irvine senior Will Davis II and UC Riverside junior Taylor Johns.
Of the 20 players who received first team, second team or honorable mention recognition, 11 have at least one year of eligibility remaining.
FIRST TEAM
Player School Ht. Yr. Pos. Hometown
Michael Bryson UC Santa Barbara 6-4 Jr. G Sacramento, Calif.
+Mike Caffey Long Beach State 6-0 Sr. G Corona, Calif.
Will Davis II UC Irvine 6-8 Sr. F Sacramento, Calif.
^Corey Hawkins UC Davis 6-3 Sr. G Goodyear, Ariz.
Taylor Johns UC Riverside 6-7 Jr. F San Francisco, Calif.
+Alan Williams UC Santa Barbara 6-8 Sr. C Phoenix, Ariz.
SECOND TEAM
Player School Ht. Yr. Pos. Hometown
Brian Bennett Cal Poly 6-9 Jr. F Romeoville, Ill.
Jaylen Bland UC Riverside 6-3 Jr. G Saginaw, Mich.
Roderick Bobbitt Hawai‘i 6-3 Jr. G Oakland, Calif.
Stephan Hicks CSUN 6-6 Sr. G/F Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Josh Ritchart UC Davis 6-9 Sr. G/F Auburn, Calif.
HONORABLE MENTION
Player School Ht. Yr. Pos. Hometown
Josh Fox UC Davis 6-6 Jr. F Daly City, Calif.
John Green UC Santa Barbara 6-5 Jr. G Oakland, Calif.
Alex Harris Cal State Fullerton 6-1 Sr. G Richmond, Calif.
Stefan Jankovic Hawai‘i 6-11 So. F Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Stephen Maxwell CSUN 6-7 Sr. F Woodland Hills, Calif.
David Samuels Long Beach State 6-7 Sr. F Bronx, N.Y.
Luke Nelson UC Irvine 6-3 So. G Worthing, England
Aaron Valdes Hawai‘i 6-5 So. G Whittier, Calif.
Alex Young UC Irvine 6-1 Jr. G Phoenix, Ore.
^ Two-time All-Big West First Team selection
+ Three-time All-Big West First Team selection
2014-15 BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Corey Hawkins, UC Davis
2014-15 BIG WEST NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Jaylen Bland, UC Riverside
2014-15 BIG WEST FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Gabe Vincent, UC Santa Barbara
2014-15 BIG WEST COACH OF THE YEAR
Jim Les, UC Davis
Great award for Rod Bobbitt ! well deserved, could have also been nominated for First Team for his impact on UH’s success.
Janks and AV, well deserved, probably if UH had finished in top 2, maybe they would be second teamers too.
However to have 3 UH MBB athletes recognized, even if they did not finish top 3 or 4 team, Very well done.
And Benjy and The Bows.. UH Warrior fan nation.. WE DO APPRECIATE EVERY WIN AND EVERY HONOR… you all have made true UH MBB fans proud.
Very honest and frank reply to BWC conference call on espn1420 from Benjy.. by staying in Cali instead of coming back to Hawaii , then flying back out.. keep on top of academics.. helps guys focus.. and team more relaxed.. intense fans at SSC, wanting them to win big every game by 15-20 points, true, however with all the distractions, Who new AD, what is His Future, Only Interim Chancellor.. All he and Team are focused on, the LBSU game..
I think Real Blessing.. just for team to be away, make sure make good grades in school, however stay away from Media Noise, and other distractions.. Concentrate on Basketball, and for Bobbitt, Nevels, Jawato(I would imagine he is with the team?), Jovanovich-Cali adopted Serbian Center deluxe, Smith, Thomas, Niko, ..for 7 out of 14 team members.. it is homecoming…their second home , Hawaii..
Wish the best to the team.. they are healthy, and concentrate, do their best , just the effort.
I agree with national pundits, and the BWC media… what Benjy and the Bows accomplished, still quite remarkable.. espn the magazine, PTI, sports illustrated, etc, news item worthy. to win 20 games, no matter what SOS, or conference, with all the Noise, and Distractions… Fantastic
My favorite UH MBB team in last 12 years at least.. for what they went through, and still are dealing with, No OTHER UH MBB, won 20 games, Defensive player of the Year. and national steals leader, along with Team, ready and healthy,,..after a regular season of illness and injury.. whatever happens, win or lose against LBSU.. know that UH will give 1000% effort, and they have made Rainbow Warrior Fans proud..
kudos to WBB and LB too.. wish once again that MBB and WBB both receive NCAA invites this Sunday,.. if not..still great season.. actually UH sports spring programs.. check it out. I believe everyone, very competitive, in conference and nationally.. Incredible… Without real live AD, and interim Chancellor and the Noise. of what went down..
Go Bows. and Benjy, great job , just insulating team, and going to battle, at least one more time.. and maybe more.
Either way.. WE are , the MBB fans , Very, Very Proud of UH MBB team, their Ohana, and the staff. !!
🙂
Freshman of the Year.. Gabe Vincent 10.2 ppg and played 25 games started 18..
could have been Isaac Fleming.. oh well, Isaac just go to battle In the REAL series of games, the BWC tourney..
Should be awesome game, and as Benjy alluded to on espn 1420 BWC media conference call. LBSU, will be ready , with all their seniors.. and in Tournament play will be different team than what UH faced in regular season, Caffey, Lamb, will be ready.. I believe so.
however.. Healthy UH.. and shooting really well past 3 games perhaps.. found their Offensive groove.. UH shoots near or better 50% and defends the 3 line and paint… actually whole court. they can win.. tough, tough game. however…March Madness. any hot team can win it !!
🙂
The Wahine are going to the Big West tourney early as they left today for the mainland and play on Friday.
Wonder why the Big West Men don’t have an all-freshman team like the Women do ?
Megan Huff made the women’s all-freshman team, along with being named Sixth Women of the year.
islandman:
that is a good question.. all freshmen team, I would think Isaac Fleming would be on it..
also, all newcomer team.. Janks, would be on it..
Oh well, if UH is BWC tournament winner, it doesn’t matter,
however, regardless, this has been a great year for MBB.. the ladies, hats off to,
They are in the perfect conference, as LB said 3 years. ago, she could recruit to, BWC play..Kuehu, 6 year player and Hawaii girl very special.
One day, UH MBB will have that first team guy from Hawaii.. was Alika Smith On one first team? I think he might have been WAC 2nd teamer
The Hugh Durham Mid Major fall 2014 Coach of the Year Award for Benjy .. huge, national
LB.. BWC coach of the year.. very good
Rod Bobbitt. National Steals leader.. historic,
and Defensive Player of the year for BWC.. first UH MBB guy to earn it.
I would say, islandman, since you follow all UH sports.. try check out all Wahine and Warrior sports teams spring.. they doing pretty well.. just the crazy upper campus, or admin.. they have to have in place soon, AD and HC for MBB, and I hope Benjy has a shot.. he wins One game , opening one, in BWC tournament.. huge on his resume..
If Bobbitt has a great season next year and improves his scoring and shooting to go along with his stellar defense and point guard leadership he will get an opportunity to play somewhere in the NBA. A back up point does not need to score much but protect the ball and the score. But you need to knock some shots down to keep the defense honest. Plus he can disrupt his man enough to throw off his game. He’s definitely got skills the NBA could use.
Congratulations to Roderick! This is a well deserved award because you can see how nervous he made the other teams when he was in the front of the fullcourt press. It is like the opposite of a big time shot blocker like Mamadou. When Mamadou is in, teams stay away from going inside. When Bobbitt is in the fullcourt press, teams pass it to other guys to stay away from him.
All Heart Team for BWC 2014-15 season?
The whole UH MBB team and program.
Hope the hundreds, maybe thousand, that will be cheering on the Bows at Anaheim Honda Center will have great time !! Main thing, if can, real battle, UH MBB stops Caffey and company , who will be playing at at a High Level, and move on to semis on Friday. Then the WBB get their semis win and advance to Sat, with hopefully the MBB team at the Honda Center.. a double header..
So much to be thankful for !!
Mid Week Magazine, great write up by political analyst, Dan Boylan, and how he is Casting his Vote early for Benjy Taylor as New HC for MBB.
One thing, a great thing in Benjy’s favor? He insulating His situation from Team, concentrate on Team getting honors and wins.. fighting for BWC tournament wins, and hopefully that NCAA invite.
That is High Character, very classy, first class on Coach Taylor’s behalf.. wish, the new AD, or JP, or whomever, chancellor can see that.. MBB.. was going to be a bust.. they are and will not be.. just have made UH admin look good.
And to answer eagle, that CIT, or CBI bid if UH not make NCAA’s, and Why not, that donation of 1.2 million dollars, she stipulates, it is for UH ATHLETICS…not to dig current UH admin of Athletics and FB out of the hole,.. for All The Student Athletes and programs.. why not use that, what she intended FO ALL Teams.. including,.. paying for 2 home games CIT or CBI..? Pretty sure, if she made it know.. hey brudday, lame duck AD, Jay, and Chancellor BV.. interim, and JP, BOR or hundreds of Powers that be.. USE THE MONEY.. I donated.. 1.2 million.. actually over 2 million dollars since 2011 to sponsor UH MBB in CIT or CBI, just in case, to host 2 home games..
That lady, maybe a billionare.. is a real Fan of All UH sports.. hope she goes to Anaheim, and cheers on the Bows and Warriors !!
🙂
Congrats Bobbitt! I think leading the nation in steals should have landed him a place in the conference’s first team.
Such a young team. If everyone stays (pending the investigation) then I think we have the best chance yet of winning the BWC next season.
Part ? or all of the $1.2 million is in a charitable remainder trust (CRT) which affects the distribution of the donation.
http://hawaiiathletics.com/news/2015/2/27/GEN_0227150452.aspx
Nice job Roderick !
A little respect !
I like it !
Go Bows !
Alan Williams apparently played only 9 conference games out of 16 or 56.3 %. He’s not even listed on the Big West “Conference” stats because you have to play a certain number of conference games to be listed, i think. But he is listed under the “Overall” stats.
Yet he made 1st team All-Conference, i guess they look at the overall stats too.
Congrats to Rod. I think that Flemings got jipped because of his late injuries but he should have been somewhere on the conference teams.
islandman…
Most important BWC tournament champioship trophy and ncaa bid.
🙂
Does anyone know off hand what hotel the men’s team is staying at? We haven’t booked hotel yet and son wants to possibly run into some of the players…thanks in advance
Looking forward to seeing my son tomorrow in Cali the first thing I’m going to do is give him a good haircut lol.l like to cogratulate his teammates whom received recognition thus far but now it’s time to turn up and send the seniors out with a chip.
We did pretty well in Florida, playing SF, Marist, and East Carolina, winning 2 of three, arguably the most important were the last two games. Got to be strong throughout all three games.
The team is staying near Fullerton college don’t know if it was the Marriott you may want to email or contact the basketball office or contact one of the associate athletic director offices.
Bigdaddy 94:
Thanks to whole team , and Isaac had a great Freshman season. This team, made thousands of Warrior Basketball fans proud.
Shout out to Isaac, he and team have great run in BWC tournament… that NCAA invite the prize.. just give all out effort..
They have had so far,.. a great Season !!
Long Beach favored over UH by only 1 point, so far.
islandman… BWC tournament… pretty much a toss up… upset city, last year Cal Poly 7th or 6th seed? Just got hot.
Still think , UH shoots well from field, and can stop 2 or main scorers.. or score in the seventies.. I like UH chances to get W against LBSU
We have seen it in the past.. UH has pretty good all around depth, and looks like they have a good shot at couple of wins.. and They let down, go flat, and lose the opening round..
Guys, have to play even better than The Fullerton game of the Davis games home and away..even at LBSU.. remember they were leading LBSU 12-0 to start.. running shorthanded, and ran out of gas
Very sure coaching staff, doing everything, the sleep checks, the school work, the practice, the scouts.. make sure attitude of team.. This BWC tournament.. the 3 games to win in 3 days.. tough.. however.. UH , proud of them.. all games. including losses, they were in the games.. whether they had 11 or 12 guys available or only 7 guys main rotation.
Good Team , this 2014-15.. Just have to show, up and play Awesome D, and shoot well from inside out !!
Go Bows Warriors !
🙂
shout out and thanks to Jim Donovan for making Fullerton gym available for UH MBB to practice, heard it was very close to the Fullerton hotel UH was staying at..That is a lot of love and aloha from the Donovan Ohana, to take care of MBB team.
thanks Jim Donovan, Aloha !!
Checked season overall stats for UH MBB team.. legitimate Reasons for UH perhaps losing a handful of BWC games.. of the 12 guys that saw court time till the end of regular season..ONLY Rod Bobbitt and Quincy Smith appeared in ALL 32 games.. ..Rod.. games played 32…. games started 32.. amazing.. ironman..
Quincy 32 games played.. think it was 2 games started.
so 10 others, did not play in All 32 games to this point.. Now, the 11 active guys, are as healthy as can be.. just shoot the ball well, and continue to play D !!
One thing another obvious observation.. we know Defense, and execution half court, wins championships.. however , if LBSU or any other BWC teams want to Go super fast…that is What UH MBB does… That is How They Roll.. Track meet, UH would love it.
Other odds: Davis favored over CSUN by 9.5; Irvine over Riverside by 7; UCSB over Cal Poly, by 3 .
tweet shout out to Benjy Taylor from Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.. quite nice recognition.. see , Benjy is right,, maybe in the Hawaiian islands, we maybe expect too much, don’t stop and see the Positive, from a near impossible and improbable situation.. the near collapse of entire 2014-15 season.. Andy Katz, recognized early after MBB team beat Pitt, and the wins in DHC, and the Hugh Durham Mid Major COACH OF THE YEAR.. award.. plus, despite injuries.. a few games from being at that top 3, with injuries, illness. and dealing with 14 young men.. and trials.. Benjy.. Fantastic Job !
UH admin, Smith, theus, or whomever applying , have to give first shot to Benjy.. he has gone above and beyond the call.. Terrific job.. easily, could have been another interim coach, and UH at 7-25 at this point, Now, win or lose against LBSU..UH has that 20 game winning season, second consecutive, with new style of ball, new coaches, and players.. AWESOME!!
https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/575247092727312384
“One guy who’s done a great job this yr despite difficult circumstances? Hawaii’s Benjy Taylor. 20-12 overall. Play LBS in Big West Tourney.”
On March 7, UC Davis wiped out Irvine 80-61, what happened ?
islandman.. the Wacky Big West….anybody can beat anybody, when they shooting lights out..