Canisius' Baron Named to Bob Cousy Award Watch List
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. – Senior Billy Baron of the Canisius College is on the “watch list” for the 2014 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award, sponsored by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Baron, who was selected as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s preseason Player of the Year by the league’s head coaches, is one 46 guards on the opening watch list. The list will be narrowed to 20 in early February, and then to five in early March. A Selection Committee appointed by the Hall of Fame will review the candidates in contention for the Cousy Award. The committee includes media members, head coaches, media relations contacts, and Hall of Famers. The Cousy Award will be presented the day of the NCAA Division I Championship game at the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2014 Announcement and Press Conference.
Baron led Canisius, and was third in the MAAC, with 17.2 points per game last season. He also led the MAAC with 5.0 assists per game as he helped to engineer one of the nation’s top turnarounds last year. The Golden Griffins won 20 games for the first time since 2002. It was a 15 game improvement since the previous year. Canisius advanced to the quarterfinals of the College Insiders Tournament.
In addition to be recognized by the MAAC, Baron was chosen Preseason Player of the Year by Lindy’s Sports College Basketball Preview and The Sporting News College Basketball Preview. Baron is also one of 22 Division I players named to the 2013-14 Lute Olson Preseason All-America Team, announced by CollegInsider.com.
Last season, his first year in the league, Baron was a first-team All-MAAC selection as a junior. In addition to his scoring prowess, Baron was third in the MAAC in assist/turnover ratio (+1.8), fifth in free throw percentage (.824), eighth in three-point field goal percentage (.382) and 10th in minutes played (34.8/game).
"The Hall of Fame is proud to work with Mr. Cousy and honor the best point guards playing in college basketball right now," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "This list represents some of the top student athletes from across the country. We are truly honored to be part of this award."