Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor Named Bob Cousy Award Finalist

Jan. 12, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –

Kansas junior Tyshawn Taylor has been named one of 20 finalists for the 2011 Bob Cousy Award the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday.

The Cousy Award is given to college basketball’s top point guard and is named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic great Bob Cousy. An original list of 70-plus candidates was trimmed by a Hall of Fame appointed, nationally based committee to the list of 20.

Taylor is scoring 9.7 points per game in 2010-11 for the No. 3 Jayhawks. The Hoboken, N.J., guard is second in the Big 12 in assists per game at 5.4. Taylor has led KU in assists in 11 of 15 games this season, including four of the last five contests heading into tonight’s Big 12 opener at Iowa State at 8 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2. Taylor is 15th in the Big 12 in steals at 1.5 steals per contest and eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.8.

A proven winner, Kansas is 75-11 (87.2 percent) while Taylor has been a Jayhawk, including two Big 12 regular-season championships, one Big 12 postseason championship and two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Other Jayhawks who have been Bob Cousy Award finalists include Sherron Collins in 2009 and 2010, Aaron Miles in 2005 and Russell Robinson in 2007.

The current listing of 20 finalists for the 2011 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed down to 10 players by February 3rd and then 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. This Hall of Fame 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.

For more information on the 2011 Bob Cousy Award presented by The Hartford, log onto www.cousyaward.com.