April 13, 2005

University of Dayton forward Monty Scott was named the winner of the White-Allen Most Valuable Player Award this evening at UD's men's basketball banquet at the Dayton Marriott.

Scott, a second-year forward from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, was named Third Team All-Atlantic 10 in his first season as a starter for UD. The only frontcourt player to start every game this season for UD, he led the Flyers in scoring (11.1), rebounding (4.6) and minutes (25.0). He was also third in FG% (.434, 118-272). Nearly doubling his scoring output from a year ago (6.3 to 11.1), he scored nine or more points 22 of the team's 29 games.

The White-Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy is sponsored by Tim White and the White-Allen Automotive Group featuring Chevrolet, Subaru, Oldsmobile, Honda, Volkswagon, Porsche, Jaguar and Audi. The award is selected by members of the team. The White-Allen Trophy has been awarded annually since 1953. White-Allen now sponsors the MVP award for UD's men's and women's basketball, football and volleyball teams.

As Dayton's top rebounder, Scott also took home the "Shorty" Sharpenter Memorial Rebounding Trophy. Scott is only the ninth player in UD history to be named the winner of the White-Allen MVP and Sharpenter trophies. The Sharpenter Award is named for Hall of Famer Ned "Shorty" Sharpenter, and has been sponsored by his family since its inception in 1979.

Senior guard Mark Jones was named the winner of the Dr. George Rau Spirit Award, which is given annually to the player who displays true team spirit, on and off the court. In many ways, Jones had the toughest role of any member of the team in 2004-05. The only senior on one of the youngest teams in the country, the three-year starter was counted on to not only be productive on the court, but also be a leader to his young teammates on-and-off the court. The only Flyer ever to hail from the state of Connecticut (Taftville), Jones was fourth on the team in scoring (7.8), third in assists (1.8) and minutes (23.2). The Harry O'Rourke Insurance Agency sponsors the Rau Award, which began following the long-time Flyer team physician's death in 1972. It is voted on by members of the team.

Communications Management major James Cripe was named the winner of the John L. Macbeth Memorial Scholarship Award. Cripe is also minoring in Psychology. A redshirt sophomore from Loveland, Ohio, he played in 20 of UD's 31 games due to injuries in 2004-05.

The Macbeth Scholar-Athlete Award is presented in memory of Dayton businessman John L. Macbeth, and is sponsored by Mrs. John L. Macbeth and family. It goes to the member of the team with the highest cumulative grade point average after a minimum of five semesters of class work. It has been awarded since 1959.

Freshman guard Trent Meacham earned the Alex Schoen Memorial Free Throw Trophy, after shooting .896 (43 of 48) from the line to lead the Flyers this season. Meacham made 24 straight free throws at one point during the year, and connected on 29 of his last 30. He also averaged 6.4 points a game. He led UD in three-point FG% (.459, 28-61) and was second in assists (2.7).

The Schoen Trophy is named in honor of Alex Schoen, Sr., the captain of UD's first varsity basketball team in 1903-04. Awarded since 1950, it is sponsored by Alex Schoen, Jr. It goes to the UD player with the highest FT% with a minimum of 50 free throws attempted. (Meacham would have still led if he had two more free throws and missed them both.)

-More- Junior guard Warren Williams was named the winner of the next year's Uhl Family Endowed Scholarship. Former Flyers Bill Uhl, Sr. and Bill Uhl, Jr., have endowed a men's basketball scholarship, to be given to a returning Flyer basketball player. The first endowed award of this type in the University of Dayton Athletics Division, and it is given annually to the UD player who best exemplifies the qualities of good sportsmanship and character, and follows the University's motto of "Learn, Lead and Serve" on and off the court. Mark Jones was the 2004-05 recipient.

Williams was the only backcourt player to start all 29 games for the Flyers. He led the team in assists (3.4) and averaged 6.8 points a game.

Junior Marques Bennett was given the Best Defender Award for the second straight season. The 6-4 forward played all three frontcourt positions for the Flyers, and even though he averaged 18.1 minutes a game, was second on the team in steals with 28 on the season. Last year, he was tied for second with 24 steals. Bennett averaged 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 2004-05. He was named the Blackburn/McCafferty MVP in the Xavier win on February 19. First presented in 1994-95, the Best Defender Award is determined by the coaching staff.

Freshman guard Brian Roberts was the recipient of the Chris Daniels Memorial Most Improved Player Award. One of six freshmen in UD's 11-man rotation, Roberts reached double figures in 11 of the last 17 games of the year. He was UD's top scorer in the month of February (10.0 points, 56% FG, 86% FT). For the year, Roberts came off the bench to be second on the team in scoring (9.2), FG% (.450, 90-200) and three-pointers (43). He was named to the 2004-05 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team.

UD's Chris Daniels Memorial Award is sponsored by Skelton Sports, and is presented in memory of Flyer center Chris Daniels. Originated in 1994-95, this award was renamed for Chris Daniels following his death in 1996. It is chosen by the coaches.

Center Chris Alvarez was named the winner of the Thomas M. Luppe Award, which is presented each year to the first-year player on the team who best demonstrates the courage, desire and integrity of former Flyer freshman Tom Luppe. Alvarez played in all 29 of the team's games, starting 16. He averaged 3.2 points and 3.8 rebounds, and led UD in blocked shots (18).

The Luppe Award honors Thomas M. Luppe, who died in 1963 while playing in a UD freshman game.

Despite having six freshmen averaging at least 11 or minutes a game, the University of Dayton was 18-11 in 2004-05. UD had the most freshmen playing the most minutes of any team in the country. It was the sixth straight season the Flyers won at least 18 games in a season. UD also finished tied for second in the Atlantic 10 West Division, one game behind eventual A-10 tournament champion George Washington. Dayton's four non-conference losses were to teams that all won 20 games and played in the post-season (Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, DePaul and Vanderbilt).

The Flyers return 15 of 16 players for next season. Included in those 15 players are last year's top three scorers (Monty Scott, Brian Roberts and Norman Plummer), top three rebounders (Scott, Plummer and Chris Alvarez), top two assist leaders (Warren Williams and Trent Meacham), top four FG shooters (Plummer, Roberts, Scott and Alvarez) and top six 3-point shooters (Meacham, Roberts, Marques Bennett, Jimmy Binnie, Scott and Williams).