Blue Hen Freshman Guard Devon Saddler Earns Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week Honors
January 17, 2011
Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
RICHMOND, Va. -- Blue Hen freshman guard Devon Saddler earned Colonial Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week Honors on Monday, two days after his buzzer-beating three-pointer gave Delaware a dramatic victory at Towson.
Saddler (at right) averaged 13 points, three rebounds and three assists while shooting 54.5 percent from the field during the Blue Hens’ two games last week, a 76-53 setback at UNC Wilmington on Wednesday and the 66-63 triumph over the Tigers on Saturday.
Saddler tied his season-high by leading the Blue Hens with 19 points against the Seahawks, going 8 of 15 from the field to go with four rebounds and two assists. Delaware trailed Towson by nine points with six and a half minutes on Saturday but Saddler took over from there, scoring 11 of his 13 points the rest of the way to help the Blue Hens snap their 23-game CAA road losing streak.
Saddler began the comeback with a three-point play, and he hit a step-back jumper on UD’s next possession to make it a 57-53 game with 5:50 remaining. Delaware still trailed 59-54 but Saddler went 3 of 4 from the free throw line after getting fouled on consecutive possessions to pull the Blue Hens within two at the 3:22 mark.
The game was tied at 63-63 in the final seconds when UD senior guard Jawan Carter was double teamed at the top of the key. Carter then found Saddler on the right wing, and his three-point attempt just before the final buzzer swished clean through the net, setting off the Blue Hens’ celebration.
Saddler, who has started all 16 games during his freshman season, leads Delaware with 58 assists while ranking second on the team with 9.8 points per game. He currently ranks sixth in the conference with 3.6 assists per game and 10th with a 1.1 assist/turnover ratio.
Saddler, whose CAA honor was the first of his career, shared the Rookie of the Week award with Rob Brandenberg of VCU and Brandon Britt of William & Mary. Ryan Pearson of George Mason was tabbed the CAA Player of the Week.
Saddler and the Blue Hens return home Wednesday to host Northeastern at 7 p.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center.
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