When Shelden Williams was forced to the bench with foul trouble in the second half of Duke’s 78-68 loss to Michigan State March 25, it was evident that the Blue Devils were without their defensive leader.
Williams, who set a school record with 122 blocks this year, was awarded the National Association of Basketball Coaches Defensive Player of the Year Sunday.
“It is an honor to be named the National Defensive Player of the Year and have my name up there with a lot of great players,” Williams said in a statement. “I was chosen over a lot of other deserving players.”
Williams set an ACC record by averaging 3.7 blocks per game, and head coach Mike Krzyzewski has repeatedly called him “the best shot blocker I’ve coached.” He also led the Blue Devils in rebounding and was third in steals.
The Forest Park, Okla., native rarely found himself in foul trouble, which is one of the reasons he was so successful this year. Although he lacks great leaping ability, he jumps straight up to avoid contact when attempting to block shots and keeps the ball in play.
“Shelden is a different type of defensive player than we have had in the past, but he is definitely up there with the other Duke standouts,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. “This year he was the main reason we were a good defensive team. Shelden really anchored our defense.”
The junior is the eighth Blue Devil to earn the honor since the NABC began awarding it in 1987. If Williams decides to return for his senior season he will have the opportunity to become the fifth repeat winner, a list that includes three-time recipient Duke’s Shane Battier.
Williams is currently second on the Blue Devils’ all-time blocks list with 285, just 60 behind Mike Gminski.
NOTE:
The Naismith Award was also announced Sunday in St. Louis and Utah’s Andrew Bogut was given the honor. Bogut, who also earned the AP Player of the Year, finished ahead of Rupp Award winner Duke’s J.J. Redick.
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