Photo by: Thomas Campbell/Texas A&M Athletics
Davis & Williams Named to Olson Award Watch List
Nov 06, 2017 | Men's Basketball
BOSTON, Mass. – The preseason watch list for the 2017-18 Lute Olson Award was revealed Monday with Texas A&M's Tyler Davis and Robert Williams joining an elite group of players from across the country who were recognized.
The Lute Olson Award is presented annually to the nation's top Division I player who has played at least two seasons. The winner will be announced on March 31, 2018, at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Event in San Antonio, Texas, site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.
Following a standout sophomore campaign, Davis was honored by the SEC coaches for the second straight season with a second-team selection a year ago after garnering SEC All-Freshman team accolades the year prior. The Plano, Texas, native paced the SEC and ranked 14th nationally in field goal percentage by converting 62.9 percent of his shot attempts. Davis averaged 14.1 points per contest to rank 13th in the league and pulled down 7.0 boards per contest, checking in at eighth in the conference in rebounding.
The 6-foot-10 center notched four double-doubles last season and was also named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District VII Team.
Williams, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, came to Texas A&M ranked as the nation's No. 50 recruit by ESPN but developed into one of the country's brightest rookies in Aggieland. The Oil City, La., notched 11 double-doubles last season, the second most among all SEC players while averaging a near double-double during league play with 12.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest. Also in league play, Williams led the SEC in blocked shots (46), while ranking second in both rebounding (9.6 per game), offensive rebounding (3.6 per game) and field goal percentage (.542).
On the defensive end, Williams stood out as one of the NCAA's most disruptive forces. He owns the nation's longest active blocked shot streak, having collected a swat in every game a year ago, while posting 22 multi-block games as well as eight games with four or more blocks. A three-time SEC Freshman of the Week honoree, Williams' 77 total blocked shots were 20th-most among all Division-I player last season and the second most by an Aggie for a single season, trailing only David Harris' 108 in 1989-90.
Williams has also been named to the watch list for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which is annually presented to the national player of the year.
--
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
An affordable, family entertainment option, season tickets for Aggie men's basketball begin as low as $100. Annual per seat contributions are required for some seating areas of Reed Arena. Contact the 12th Man Foundation for additional information or to order tickets call 888-992-4443 or log onto www.12thMan.com/Tickets.
The Lute Olson Award is presented annually to the nation's top Division I player who has played at least two seasons. The winner will be announced on March 31, 2018, at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Event in San Antonio, Texas, site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.
Following a standout sophomore campaign, Davis was honored by the SEC coaches for the second straight season with a second-team selection a year ago after garnering SEC All-Freshman team accolades the year prior. The Plano, Texas, native paced the SEC and ranked 14th nationally in field goal percentage by converting 62.9 percent of his shot attempts. Davis averaged 14.1 points per contest to rank 13th in the league and pulled down 7.0 boards per contest, checking in at eighth in the conference in rebounding.
The 6-foot-10 center notched four double-doubles last season and was also named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District VII Team.
Williams, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, came to Texas A&M ranked as the nation's No. 50 recruit by ESPN but developed into one of the country's brightest rookies in Aggieland. The Oil City, La., notched 11 double-doubles last season, the second most among all SEC players while averaging a near double-double during league play with 12.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest. Also in league play, Williams led the SEC in blocked shots (46), while ranking second in both rebounding (9.6 per game), offensive rebounding (3.6 per game) and field goal percentage (.542).
On the defensive end, Williams stood out as one of the NCAA's most disruptive forces. He owns the nation's longest active blocked shot streak, having collected a swat in every game a year ago, while posting 22 multi-block games as well as eight games with four or more blocks. A three-time SEC Freshman of the Week honoree, Williams' 77 total blocked shots were 20th-most among all Division-I player last season and the second most by an Aggie for a single season, trailing only David Harris' 108 in 1989-90.
Williams has also been named to the watch list for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which is annually presented to the national player of the year.
--
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
An affordable, family entertainment option, season tickets for Aggie men's basketball begin as low as $100. Annual per seat contributions are required for some seating areas of Reed Arena. Contact the 12th Man Foundation for additional information or to order tickets call 888-992-4443 or log onto www.12thMan.com/Tickets.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballBucky McMillan's Postgame Locker Room Speech: Houston
Monday, March 23
Houston Postgame: Bucky McMillan, Rashaun Agee, Pop Isaacs
Saturday, March 21
Saint Mary's Postgame: Bucky McMillan, Rashaun Agee, Ruben Dominguez
Thursday, March 19
Highlights: A&M 63, Saint Mary's 50
Thursday, March 19
