PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley junior point guard Daniel Ruffin (Peoria, Ill./Peoria H.S.) is one of 39 preseason candidates for the 2007 Bob Cousy Award presented by The Hartford, according to a communication from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The list of 39 preseason candidates was revealed in an advertisement in the Athlon Sports College Basketball publication and was confirmed Thursday through a communication with the schools of the selected players. The selection committee is comprised of college basketball experts, including media members, former coaches and players. According to the announcement, candidates for the Bob Cousy Award distinguish themselves on the and off the court. They are evaluated on their ability to maximize their team's collective potential, their leadership, their core basketball skills -- passing, dribbling and creating team offense -- and overall team achievement.
The 5-foot-10 Ruffin was the only Missouri Valley Conference representative on the list and one of just 12 players that does not compete in the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 or Southeastern Conference. He led the Valley by averaging 5.2 assists per game last season and, despite still having two years of eligibility remaining, is the league's active leader with 303 career assists. In addition to his league-leading assist average, Ruffin also ranked second in the Valley last season by boasting a 2.01 assists-to-turnover ratio.
In addition to his ability to distribute the ball, Ruffin is Bradley's top returning scorer from the 2005-06 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 squad, having averaged 7.7 points per game for the season. Ruffin helped spearhead Bradley's hot regular-season finish by averaging 9.7 points and 5.7 assists during the final 13 regular-season games, while shooting 47.4 percent (45-95) from the field and 44.2 percent (19-43) from 3-point range. He also made 34-of-35 (.971) free throw attempts during Bradley's 18 regular-season Valley games.
The half-brother of former Indiana All-American A.J. Guyton, Ruffin also is one-half of three father-son combinations that have played basketball for the Braves. His father, Dan Ruffin, Sr., played for the Braves from 1976 to 1979. By leading the Braves to the Sweet 16 last season, the younger Ruffin kept an impressive note alive regarding Bradley's father-son tandems: one member of each of the three families has reached at least the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Joe Stowell (son Jerry) helped the Braves to the 1950 national championship game and Don Mathews (son Eddie) helped the 1954 Braves to the national final.
The Braves are completing their first week of preseason practice and are preparing to host the annual Red-White Scrimmage Oct. 27 at Robertson Fieldhouse. Bradley will play two exhibition games versus NCAA Division II powers Winona State Nov. 1 at Robertson Fieldhouse and Northwest Missouri State Nov. 4 at Carver Arena.
2007 Bob Cousy Award Candidates
Aaron Brooks, Sr., Oregon
Bobby Brown, Sr., Cal State Fullerton
Darren Collison, So., UCLA
Javaris Crittenton, Fr., Georgia Tech
Justin Dentmon, So., Washington
Carl Elliott, Sr., George Washington
Sundiata Gaines, Jr., Georgia
Jamon Gordon, Sr., Virginia Tech
Taurean Green, Jr., Florida
Vernon Hamilton, Sr., Clemson
Mike Hoyt, Sr., Mount Saint Mary (N.Y.)
Dominic James, So., Marquette
Jared Jordan, Sr., Marist
Tre' Kelley, Sr., South Carolina
Tywon Lawson, Fr., North Carolina
Acie Law IV, Sr., Texas A&M
Shaun McKie, Sr., Salem International
Tack Minor, Jr., LSU
Mike Nardi, Sr., Villanova
Drew Neitzel, Jr., Michigan State
Greg Paulus, So., Duke
A.J. Price, Fr., UConn
Ronald Ramon, Jr., Pittsburgh
Derek Raivio, Sr., Gonzaga
Tyrese Rice, So., Boston College
Carlos Rivera, Sr., Hofstra
Quantez Robertson, So., Auburn
Russell Robinson, Jr., Kansas
DANIEL RUFFIN, JR., BRADLEY
Ramon Sessions, Jr., Nevada
Mustafa Shakur, Sr., Arizona
Sean Singleton, Jr., Virginia
Ronald Steele, Jr., Alabama
Armondo Surratt, Sr., San Francisco
Kammron Taylor, Sr., Wisconsin
Ayinde Ubaka, Sr., Cal
Jonathan Wallace, Jr., Georgetown
Zack Whiting, Sr., Chaminade
Jamar Wilson, Sr., Albany
