TicketsApril 9, 2008
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's basketball team concluded its 2007-08 season with its annual Awards Banquet on campus in the Great Hall at the Tangeman University Center. Sophomore guard Deonta Vaughn earned four of the team awards, including the Oscar Robertson Award and the WXIX-cellence Award.
Vaughn, the Bearcats' leading scorer, took home the WXIX-cellence Award as the team MVP as selected by the FOX19 sports department as well as the team's Free-Throw Percentage Award and Assists Award. Vaughn also earned recognition for being selected as the second UC men's basketball player to earn all-BIG EAST first team honors. One of the highlights of the evening, Vaughn was presented the Oscar Robertson Award for his dedication and commitment as well as on-court accomplishments in front of award's namesake. Vaughn joined a select group of UC players that includes Robertson by becoming just the 32nd player in Cincinnati history to score 500 points or more in the season.
Senior forward John Williamson picked up his second straight team Rebounding Award after averaging 6.3 boards per game. His efforts helped the Bearcats to finish third in BIG EAST Conference games with a +3.4 rebounding margin.
The Ball of Courage Award, given annually to the player that has shown great courage and the ability to battle through adversity, went to senior center Adam Hrycaniuk. Hrycaniuk earned the award for battling through sitting out a season and playing just one year at UC. Despite limited action over the last two years, Hrycaniuk started all 32 games this year and played over 24 minutes a game, while finishing the season as the squads' third-leading scorer.
For the second year in a row, senior point guard Jamual Warren played the central cog in the Bearcats defense despite missing the first six games with a hand injury and was named Defensive Player of the Year. Warren, who averaged over 32 minutes a night, led Cincinnati with 1.5 steals per game and finished third in rebounding and defensive rebounds.
A new award was unveiled during the evening to honor the player who exhibits the right attitude on and off the court with his work ethic, competitiveness, and leadership. The inaugural Bearcat Award was given to a pair of seniors - Marvin Gentry and Marcus Sikes. The duo showed exemplary attitudes throughout the season taking on different roles this year compared to last season. Gentry was the team's second-leading 3-point shooter with 27 treys and the squad's fourth leading scorer. A center on last year's squad, Sikes scored 3.9 points a night and pulled down an average of 3.5 rebounds in 15.6 minutes in his new role as a forward. His rebounds were fourth on the team.
The team finished the 2007-08 year with a record of 13-19 and quadrupled its BIG EAST win total to eight.