|
|
FEB.
15 — Buller Named NAIA National Player Of The Week
Guard
wraps up honor after leading team to straight wins
over Top 25 teams |
Olathe, KS — After leading his team
to upset wins over nationally-ranked 8th Huntington College and
12th-rated Taylor University, Goshen College junior guard Jordan
Buller was named
the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Player of the Week
on Wednesday, an award honoring competition played Sunday through
Saturday of last week.
Buller scored 18 points in Goshen’s 76-71 win over Huntington College
on Tuesday and then poured in a career-high 22 points in a 70-55
win over Taylor University on Saturday. The back-to-back wins
marked the first
time in program history that a Leafs team defeated Top 25 competition
in consecutive games, while Buller’s national award is the first
weekly honor ever bestowed to a Goshen College men’s basketball
player in the program’s 49-year history.
“This is obviously a great honor for Jordan, and he deserves this
award,” said fourth-year Goshen head coach Stan Daugherty. “What
makes it really special is that we really feel it’s a team honor
as well, seeing as how we were able to beat two nationally ranked
teams in consecutive games. Jordan’s award is a great example of
Goshen College being recognized at the national level, and I know he feels
that
as well.”
Buller shot 50 percent from the field in the two victories, including
a six of nine performance from three-point land against Taylor on Saturday.
The six-foot point guard averaged three assists and two steals in the
two competitions, and grabbed 2.5 rebounds per game.
“Jordan has really developed into a consistent point guard this
season,” Daugherty said. “He has stepped up his scoring as
well as improving his passing and defensive abilities. I couldn’t
be prouder of him and his receiving of this award. He embodies
all of what we try to do here, and is an extremely classy young man on
and off
the court.”
Buller was named the Mid-Central Conference’s Player Of The Week
en route to his national honor, and is the MCC’s first men’s
basketball player to achieve the national award this season.
Liz Plass of Taylor University achieved both the women’s conference
and national player of the week status on Jan. 1 of this year.
Goshen is now 19-10 overall and 8-7 in MCC competition. The team
will travel to Andrews University on Wednesday night for an out-of-league
contest. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
|
  Junior
Jordan Buller
|
|
|
|
|
|
