Purchase, Buggs earn Big West honors
Senior forward Jack Purchase was named to the second team and Drew Buggs received honorable mention for the 2019 All-Big West Conference basketball team, which was announced on Monday.
Purchase leads the Warriors in scoring (11.5 points per game) and rebounding (6.0 per game) and ranks fourth in the Big West with 74 3-pointers made. He made 42 of those 3-pointers against conference opponents. Earlier this season, he became UH’s career leader in 3-pointers made (currently at 196) and 3-pointers attempted (currently at 536).
Buggs leads the Big West in assists at 5.4 per game, and is also contributing 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He is also regarded as the Warriors’ leader on defense, and is often tasked with shadowing the opposing team’s best guards.
The Warriors finished in fourth place in the Big West with a 9-7 record. They will face No. 5 seed Long Beach State in a quarterfinal game of the Big West Conference Tournament on Thursday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The game is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. PT (5:30 p.m. Hawai’i time) and will be available via live video streaming at www.espn3.com or the WatchESPN app.
All-Big West Conference first team honors went to Kyle Allman (Cal State Fullerton), Deishuan Booker (Long Beach State), Lamine Diane (CSUN), Jonathan Galloway (UC Irvine), Terrell Gomez (CSUN) and TJ Shorts II (UC Davis).
Diane, a 6-foot-7 forward who leads the Big West in scoring (24.8 pionts per game) and rebounding (11.1 per game), also swept the top individual honors. He was named Big West Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
UC Irvine’s Russell Turner was named Coach of the Year. The Anteaters finished 15-1 during the regular season and are the No. 1 seed for the Big West Tournament.
UCI also received two individual honors. Jonathan Galloway earned Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, and Elston Jones was selected Best Sixth Player.
The Best Hustle Player award was shared by Donovan Fields of Cal Poly and Jariesse Blackmon of UC Santa Barbara.
CLICK HERE to view the All-Big West Conference announcement
Congrats to Purchase, Buggs and all the other players who earned conference honors. If I could, I’d also give awards to UH seniors Stepteau (Mr. Clutch) and Drammeh (Nastiest Nuisance!).
Also, best of luck to the Warriors in the Big West tourney. Obviously, it’s very winnable but anything can happen. As long as we can avoid UCSB in this tournament, we’ll be fine! Of course, wouldn’t it be that much sweeter to avenge the regular season blowouts by knocking them out of the big west tournament? Whatever happens, I’ll be watching. let’s go Bows!