TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Wright and Gilbert Arenas were named the Arizona men's basketball co-most valuable players as part of the awards presented Monday night at the team's annual awards banquet held at the Westin La Paloma.
Wright, a 6-foot-7 junior from Chicago, Ill., earned team most-valuable-player honors for the second consecutive season after averaging 16.4 points and a team-leading 8.2 rebounds. The two-time all-Pacific-10 Conference honoree also led the team with a .591 field goal percentage and eight double-doubles in 2000-01. He is a finalist for both the Naismith and Wooden Player-of-the-Year Awards. He earned the team's Most Rebounds Award as well.
Arenas, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from North Hollywood, Calif., led the team in scoring with a 16.5 points per game average and shot .485 from the floor. In Pac-10 play, Arenas averaged 18.0 points and shot .519 from the field, including .477 from three-point range. Arenas was a two-time Pac-10 Player-of-the-Week selection this season and earned first team all-conference honors as well.
Senior Eugene Edgerson was the evening's most decorated player, as the senior forward from New Orleans earned the Mr. Hustle, Most Inspirational, the Academic and Captains Awards. Other players honored included Richard Jefferson (Co-Best Defender), Loren Woods (Co-Best Defender), Rick Anderson (Most Improved), Luke Walton (Coaches Award) and Travis Hanour (Outstanding Freshman).
The awards presented at the banquet were as follows:
Co-Most Valuable Player: Michael Wright, Gilbert Arenas
Co-Best Defensive Player: Loren Woods, Richard Jefferson
Most Improved: Rick Anderson
Outstanding Freshman: Travis Hanour
Coaches Award: Luke Walton
Mr. Hustle Award: Eugene Edgerson
Most Inspirational: Eugene Edgerson
Academic Award: Eugene Edgerson
Most Rebounds: Michael Wright
Best Free Throw %: Loren Woods
Most Steals: Jason Gardner
Most Assists: Jason Gardner
Captains Award: Eugene Edgerson/Justin Wessel/Loren Woods
The fifth-ranked Wildcats (23-7 overall, 15-3 Pac-10) are next in action on Friday, March 16, vs. Eastern Illinois in the first round of the NCAA Midwest Regional in Kansas City, Mo. Arizona is making its 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
