Armstrong Named Defensive Player of the Year

NEW YORK (March 7, 2006) - Hilton Armstrong (Peekskill, N.Y.) of the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team was named the 2005-06 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, announced Tuesday evening at the conference awards banquet. This marks the fourth consecutive year that UConn has received the honor, with Armstrong being the fourth overall recipient of the award.

Heading into Thursday’s quarterfinal game, Armstrong is averaging 9.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.5 blocks (No. 8 in the country) in his senior campaign. He has moved into the top five in school history with his per game and total block (100) numbers, including a career-best nine blocks in the regular season finale against Louisville on March 4.

Junior Josh Boone (Mt. Airy, Md.) was tabbed the conference Defensive Player of the Year last season, following back-to-back titles by Emeka Okafor in the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons. Donyell Marshall was UConn’s first recipient of the award, garnering the honor in 1993-94, the same year he was named the BIG EAST Player of the Year.

Armstrong and the Huskies take on the winner of No. 8 Cincinnati vs. No. 9 Syracuse Thursday at noon in Madison Square Garden. The game will be televised live on ESPN/ESPN2.