April 12, 2011
Urbana, Ill. -
Illinois concluded the 2010-11 college basketball season Tuesday night as 600 people attended the 89th Annual Illinois Men's Basketball Banquet, sponsored by the Champaign-Urbana Kiwanis Club. The Fighting Illini posted a record of 20-14 overall and finished fourth in the Big Ten at 9-9. The Illini advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament and won 20 games for the seventh time in eight seasons under Coach Bruce Weber. Receiving special recognition at the banquet was the Senior Class of 2011: Bill Cole, Mike Davis, Demetri McCamey and Mike Tisdale.
Davis earned team MVP honors, as voted on by his teammates. An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, Davis led the Illini in rebounding (7.1 rpg) and ranked second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg). He shot 53 percent from the field and scored in double figures 24 times. He also posted five double-doubles on the season, finishing with 29 for his career.
Davis also received the Illini Rebounders Award for the third consecutive season. Other statistical awards were presented to Demetri McCamey, who won the Orange Krush 3-Point Award, and sophomore Brandon Paul, who won the Ralf Woods Free Throw Trophy. McCamey led the Illini with 74 three-pointers and shot 45 percent from behind the arc. Paul, meanwhile, shot 84.2 percent from the free throw line in Big Ten play.
Paul also earned the Matt Heldman "Matto" Award for having the highest season-long total in a number of "play-hard" statistics. Freshman Crandall Head was named Most Improved Player, as voted on by the coaches.
Tisdale claimed the Lou Henson Courage Award, given to the player who takes the most charges on the year, and Cole received the Kenny Battle Most Inspirational Player Award, as voted on by his teammates.
2010-11 Fighting Illini Basketball Awards
Illini Rebounders Award: Mike Davis
Ralf Woods Free Throw Trophy: Brandon Paul
Orange Krush 3-Point Award: Demetri McCamey
Lou Henson Courage Award: Mike Tisdale
Matt Heldman "Matto" Award: Brandon Paul
Kenny Battle Most Inspirational Player: Bill Cole
Most Improved Player: Crandall Head
Most Valuable Player: Mike Davis
