Best in the Nation

Columbia, Mo. – Mizzou junior guard Phil Pressey was named one of 12 finalists on the watch list for the 2013 Bob Cousy National Point Guard of the Year Award Thursday afternoon.The annual honor, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy, recognizes the top point guards in men’s college basketball. An original list of 80 candidates was trimmed down by a nationally based committee to the below watch list of 12 student-athletes.Pressey leads the Southeastern Conference and ranks No. 7 nationally in assists this season (7.2) and is closing in on Missouri’s all-time assist record, needing just seven dimes to pass former Tiger great Anthony Peeler (497). The Preseason SEC Player of the Year, Pressey has averaged 8.5 assists over his last 11 games, highlighted by his 19-point, 19-assist game at UCLA on Dec. 28, the top assist effort by a high major conference college basketball player since 2000.Pressey is currently third on the Mizzou roster in scoring at 12.1 points per game and owns a school record five point-assist double-doubles in his career. He also owns a school-best 12 double-figure assist nights in his tenure.Beginning Thursday, February 7th at 1pm EST via the Bob Cousy Award’s website www.cousyaward.com — fans will be able to vote for the top point guard. The player that receives the most fan votes will receive one vote toward the final committee vote. Fan voting will run one month beginning February 7th and will conclude March 7th.2013 Bob Cousy Award 12 FinalistsPlayer Name School NameKeith Appling Michigan State UniversityLorenzo Brown North Carolina State UniversityTrey Burke University of MichiganAaron Craft Ohio State UniversityMatthew Dellavadova Saint Mary’s CollegePierre Jackson Baylor UniversityShane Larkin University of MiamiPhil Pressey University of MissouriPeyton Siva University of LouisvilleMarcus Smart Oklahoma State UniversityMichael Carter-Williams Syracuse UniversityNate Wolters South Dakota State University