University of Connecticut Athletics
Hurley and Newton Named Naismith Award Semifinalists
3/15/2024 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ATLANTA – The UConn men's basketball team has a pair of nominees for major Naismith awards, the Atlanta Tipoff club announced on Friday (March 15). Dan Hurley is a semifinalist for the 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year, while Tristen Newton has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Jersey Mike's Naismith Men's College Player of the Year.
The honors are part of continuing accolades rolling in as the season winds into March. Newton was recently named a First Team All-American by Sporting News, Field of 68 and 247 Sports and was a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team. Hurley, the BIG EAST Coach of the Year, was named National Coach of the Year by Sporting News earlier this week.
Hurley has led the Huskies to one of the most impressive seasons in program history, a tall feat after losing three starters and five rotation pieces off last year's national title team. Hurley won a UConn-regular season record 28 games during the regular season and dominated the BIG EAST in historic fashion. UConn's 18 league wins are a league record, it tied a conference mark with a 14-game in-season league winning streak and tied the BIG EAST record for scoring margin with a +13.9 mark in league play.
Newton has been one of the main catalysts this season for UConn's success. The do-it-all guard leads Connecticut in scoring (14.9 ppg), rebounding (7.1 rpg) and assists (5.8 apg). He has recorded nine double-doubles and a pair of triple-doubles, currently sitting as the active NCAA leader with four career triple-doubles. Newton is the only active player in America who has eclipsed the career totals of 1,800 points, 700 rebounds and 700 assists.
UConn returns to action in the BIG EAST Tournament tonight with semifinal action against five-seed St. John's. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. on FOX.
