Cole Named as Finalist for Bob Cousy Award

(Courtesy CSUVikings.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland State senior guard Norris Cole has been named as one of 20 finalists for the 2011 Bob Cousy Award, which is presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the nation's top collegiate point guard.

"This list makes up college basketball's elite at the point guard position," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "These 20 players in contention for the award all have skills that Mr. Cousy would be proud of. The Hall of Fame looks forward to having these players compete for one of college basketball's most prestigious awards."

"We are pleased with our list of 20 candidates that have advanced into the next round of the process," 2011 Bob Cousy Award chair Ken Kauffman said. "We've got a very competitive field of players in contention for the award and we look forward to moving into the next phase. All of these players are well deserving of the recognition."

Cole was named as one of 66 candidates for the award in early December and the list was pared down by the selection committee to the current 20 finalists. The list will be trimmed down to 10 players by February 3rd and than further to five players by March 3rd.

The final five players in contention for the award will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame's selection committee.

The Cousy committee is made up of top college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, Sports Information Directors and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2011 Bob Cousy Award will be awarded at the Hall of Fame's Class Announcement on Monday April 4th in Houston as part of NCAA Final Four weekend.

Cole has had an exemplary senior season, leading Cleveland State to a 15-3 record. He leads the Horizon League in scoring (20.6), assists (4.6), steals (2.3), while ranking fourth in free throw percentage (.841) and 10th in rebounding (5.3). He has nine 20-point games this year, giving him 28 in his career, to raise his CSU career scoring total to 1,568 points to move into seventh place on the CSU chart.