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DETROIT-- The Detroit Titan men's basketball team celebrated its 2011-12 achievements at the annual year-end banquet at Garden Bowl Monday evening. The team won the Horizon League tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999.
Ray McCallum took home the Robert Calihan Most Valuable Player Award after a standout sophomore campaign. The point guard led the team in scoring, assists and steals for the second straight season and surpassed the 1,000-point career mark in the NCAA tourney loss to Kansas. McCallum was a First Team All-Horizon League selection and was tabbed the league tournament MVP after an impressive showing that saw him score 20+ points three straight games en route to the title.
The Dave DeBusschere Most Improved Award went to senior LaMarcus Lowe. The big man ranked third in the Horizon League in blocks and really came on as a scorer down the stretch. The Titans were a perfect 9-0 when Lowe etched double figures in scoring this season.
Evan Bruinsma was the Frank R. Gerbig, Sr. Sportsmanship and William Ebben Academic and Athletic Excellence Award winner. The sophomore was named to the CBE Classic All-tournament Team after 17 and 15-point performances in the November tourney. He was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll and carries a 3.78 grade point average in business administration.
Junior transfer Doug Anderson collected the Norm Swanson Top Newcomer Award. Anderson took the league and the country by storm with his athletic abilities and highlight-reel dunks. The Mott Community College transfer produced several dunks featured on national media outlets and became a household name with his gravity-defying acrobatics. His one-handed jam on Feb. 2 at Valparaiso was the top highlight on ESPN SportsCenter's Top Plays. He finished the season just shy of 60 dunks on the year and led the Titans with 15 points in the NCAA tournament before fouling out midway through the second half.
The Larry Doyle Most Dedicated Titan Award went to a player that saw action in just five games, but little argument could be made about his dedication to return to the floor. After losing his season to injury in the fifth game of the season, senior Nick Minnerath has spent countless hours rehabbing and recovering from knee surguries in order to return for a medical redshirt season next year. Minnerath's loss was felt right away as the team scuffled through the opening two months of the season.
A complete list of the year-end award winners is below:
Robert Calihan MVP: Ray McCallum
John R. Kirwan Leading Scorer: Ray McCallum
Dave DeBusschere Most Improved: LaMarcus Lowe
Frank R. Gerbig, Sr. Sportsmanship: Evan Bruinsma
William Ebben Academic and Athletic Excellence: Evan Bruinsma
Norm Swanson Top Newcomer: Doug Anderson
Larry Doyle Most Dedicated Titan: Nick Minnerath
Top Rebounder: Eli Holman
Top Shot Blocker: LaMarcus Lowe
Most Steals: Ray McCallum
Most Assists: Ray McCallum
Most Post Feeds: Jason Calliste
Most Defelections: Ray McCallum
Most Charges: Chase Simon
Top Defensive Player: LaMarcus Lowe
Top 3-point Shooter: Jason Calliste
6th Man Award: Donavan Foster
Freshman of the Year: P.J. Boutte
Most Career Points: Chase Simon
1,000-Point Recognition: Chase Simon (1,386), Eli Holman (1,024) and Ray McCallum (1,001).
