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Birt voted to All-Freshman Team UIC GUARD HONORED BY HORIZON March 4, 2014
Freshman guard Pat Birt, a lanky 6-foot-5 lefty from Plano, Texas, was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman team after a solid rookie college campaign for the 6-24 Flames. After working his way into the rotation during the Flames’ trip to Florida in late November, Birt showed some great promise. Birt averaged 6.5 points per game and shot 39 percent from 3-point range and 87 percent from the free-throw line while starting in 15 of his 28 regular-season appearances this season. He started 10 of UIC’s 16 conference games, averaging 6.4 points while shooting 44.1 percent from downtown. He scored in double figures eight times, including a career-high 16 points in the Flames’ 81-70 loss at Green Bay on Feb. 5. He also poured in 15 points at Youngstown State on Feb. 15. Birt scored nine points against Illinois on Dec. 28 as the Flames built a 13-point lead in the opening 20 minutes before the team faltered in the second half. For the first time this season, the Horizon League elected to exclusively honor freshman rather than newcomers from any class. Birt was the lone Flame honored by the league this season as senior guard Kelsey Barlow, in a mild surprise, did not make All-Horizon League Second Team. Barlow was the only Horizon player to lead his team in points, assists and steals. He averaged 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals per contest. As for the conference’s top honors, Marshall High School graduate and Green Bay junior guard Keifer Sykes won Horizon League Player of the Year. Green Bay’s Brian Wardle was Coach of the Year while Phoenix senior center Alec Brown was Defensive Player of the Year. Oakland guard Kahlil Felder was Freshman of the Year and Cleveland State fifth-year senior swingman Jon Harris was Sixth Man of the Year.
Wardle, who played at Hinsdale Central High and Marquette, finally got Green Bay to play up to its potential this season. The 7-foot-1 Brown, who was scouted by NBA scouts at many of his games, averaged 15.8 points and 5.8 rebounds and led the league in blocks. He joined Sykes on the All-Horizon First Team. Felder was outstanding at the point guard spot with league newcomer Oakland, averaging 9.8 points and league-leading 6.0 assists. He also leads the nation in assists for freshmen. Harris, who transferred to Cleveland State from Miami (Ohio), gave the Vikings some nice punch of the bench with 10.6 points per game. Joining Sykes and Brown on the All-Horizon First Team were Youngstown State senior guard Kendrick Perry, Oakland senior guard Travis Bader and Valparaiso senior guard LaVonte Dority. All-Horizon Second-Team members included Cleveland State sophomore guard Bryn Forbes, Detroit junior forward Juwan Howard Jr., Oakland junior forward Corey Petros, Wright State senior center A.J. Pacher, and Milwaukee senior guard Jordan Aaron. Joining Felder and Birt on the Horizon All-Freshman Team were Valparaiso forward Alec Peters and guard Lexus Williams, and Detroit guard Jarod Williams. The Horizon All-Defensive Team included Green Bay’s Brown and forward Jordan Fouse, Oakland senior guard Duke Mondy, YSU’s Perry and Wright State senior guard Matt Vest. Following is a complete list with Horizon League honorees, along with Whoosh!’s official vote:
Only head coaches can vote for this team
Only head coaches can vote
Only head coaches can vote
2014 HORIZON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE TUESDAY, MARCH 4 OPENING ROUND (at campus sites) #9 UIC (6-24, 1-15) at #4 Valparaiso (17-14, 9-7), 7 #8 Detroit (13-18, 6-10) at #5 Milwaukee (17-13, 7-9), 6 #7 Youngstown State (15-16, 6-10) at #6 Oakland (12-19, 7-9), 6 FRIDAY, MARCH 7 SECOND ROUND (at Green Bay) Youngstown State/Oakland winner vs. #3 Wright State (18-13, 10-6), 6 UIC/Valparaiso winner vs. Detroit/Milwaukee winner, 8:30 SATURDAY, MARCH 8 SEMIFINALS (at Green Bay) Youngstown State/Oakland/Wright State winner vs. #2 Cleveland State (21-10, 12-4), 6 UIC/Valparaiso/Detroit/Milwaukee winner at #1 Green Bay (24-5, 14-2), 8:30 TUESDAY, MARCH 11 CHAMPIONSHIP (at highest remaining seed) Semifinal winners, 6 |
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