Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown University has announced 13 student-athletes will represent its women's cross country team for the 2022 season. Read the full season preview here. With another year of experience under its belt, the Kutztown University women's cross country team is ready to take another step forward in 2022. Unlike their counterparts on the men's side of the program, the women's team has an experienced roster of 10 upperclassmen and only three underclassmen. The Golden Bears open the season this Saturday, Sept. 3 at the Salisbury Invitational down in Salisbury, Md. KU's first home meet will be the DII/DIII challenge, which will take on Friday, Sept. 16.

Kutztown University has announced 13 student-athletes will represent its men's cross country team for the 2022 season. Read the full season preview here. After an up and down 2021 season and a large amount of roster turnover, the Kutztown men's cross country team is retooling and ready to go for the 2022 regular season. The Golden Bears were ranked eighth in last week's PSAC preseason poll and unranked in the NCAA DII Atlantic Region preseason poll, giving the team some extra motivation heading into the 2022 season. KU's season starts with the Salisbury Invitational this Saturday, Sept. 3. The first home meet for the Golden Bears will be the DII/DIII Challenge on Friday, Sept. 16.

Kutztown University will have 18 student-athletes representing its women's volleyball program for the 2022 season. Read the full season preview online For the first time since 1996, the Kutztown University women's volleyball team will be under the direction of someone other than John Gump. KU's all-time winningest coach, Gump retired following the 2021 season, his 24th season in charge, and first-year head coach, Allison Keeley, is ready to lead the program beginning with the 2022 campaign. The Golden Bears begin competition at the Southern New Hampshire University/Saint Anselm tournament this weekend, Aug. 27-28. KU takes on the Penmen at 11 a.m., followed by a match with D'Youville at 1 p.m., on Saturday. On Sunday, Kutztown has a rematch with the Saints at 1 p.m., followed by a match against the Hawks at 3:30 p.m.

Kutztown University will have 32 student-athletes representing its women's soccer program for the 2022 season. Read the full season preview online Kutztown University women's soccer is coming off a successful 2021 season, recording a program record in conference victories and winning the division. KU will look to accomplish more and win a championship this fall as the 2022 season kicks off later this week. The Golden Bears registered a 17-1-2 record and captured the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East title with a program record 15 league victories (15-1-0, 45 pts.) last year. Head coach Erik Burstein's team went on to earn the top seed in the Atlantic Region and hosted NCAA Tournament first and second round games, but did not win a game in PSACs or NCAAs. But Burstein is looking ahead to this season and looking to improve in all facets of the game. "For me, I am not thinking about championships, I am thinking about progress, always," said Burstein. "We had a great year last year, a memorable year, but that was last year. We have new players; we have different strengths, and we are working on a few different concepts. If we begin talking about potentially winning the PSAC Tournament, we lose focus on the things we need to be talking about and details get overlooked. We won't do that. This team has incredible potential, and I am extremely excited and confident about what the season has in store for us." The Golden Bears are ranked 13th in the nation, following the release of the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Preseason Poll at the beginning of August. They were also picked to finish first in the PSAC East preseason poll.

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced its Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete honors for the 2021-22 academic year, and 12 Kutztown University softball student-athletes were among the over 1,600 student-athletes honored by the association. In order to be named an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, student-athletes must have achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher for the 2021-22 year. The Golden Bears represented on the list include Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point), Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy), Naya Darnowski (Manchester, N.J./Manchester Township), Paige Donnelly (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury), Kristin Geesey (Bainbridge, Pa./Elizabethtown), Aysha Gibbs (Mount Joy, Pa./Donegal), Haley Gravish (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg), Brittany Hubler (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham), Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area), Hannah Reimel (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent), Paola Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) and Zoe Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township).

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) recently unveiled its 2021-22 academic awards and Kutztown University was well represented. The Golden Bears were named an All-Academic Team and five players claimed Scholar-Athlete honors. A total of 110 NCAA Division II programs met the team grade point average (GPA) threshold of 3.2 to be recognized as All-Academic Teams. KU was one of six teams from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference featured on the list along with Bloomsburg, IUP, Millersville, Slippery Rock and West Chester. Kutztown's Jessika Klo (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom), Sarah Lazarchak (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth), Catherine Maher (Shillington, Pa./Berks Catholic), Claudia Makarski (Garfield, N.J./Paramus Catholic) and Brianna Wendling (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) were among 715 DII players recognized as ITA Scholar-Athletes. To be eligible for the honor, student-athletes must have had a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the 2021-22 academic year.

Four Kutztown University men's basketball players were recognized for their academic performance by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Tuesday morning.

Steady improvement by the Kutztown University women's lacrosse team in 2022 came with postseason recognition for three players, as junior Cyrose Conteh (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) and freshmen Lailah ElBouazzaoui (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) and Sam Graf (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) were named to the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division Second Team. Conteh, an offensive-minded midfielder during her first two seasons with the program, developed into a reliable defender and her unmatched speed was an asset in the Golden Bears' transition game under first-year head coach Kristen Nicholson. The Elizabethtown, Pa., native led KU with 22 caused turnovers, ranked second in draw controls with 40 and third in ground balls with 35. She started all 17 games and has now played and started in 33 over three seasons. ElBouazzaoui burst on the scene with four multi-goal games to open her collegiate career. She netted a hat trick against Caldwell, March 3, before posting back-to-back five-goal performances at Lock Haven (March 5) and at Holy Family (March 9). The attack from Bridgewater, N.J., went on to register multiple goals in 12 of Kutztown's 17 games, including eight hat tricks. ElBouazzaoui led the Golden Bears with 43 goals (fifth most in a season in program history), shots (97) and draw controls (59). She was also the team's third-leading scorer with 46 points overall. ElBouazzaoui became KU's first 40-goal scorer since Sarah Gabriele in 2018, but she wouldn't be the only one to reach that milestone this season. Graf, a fellow all-conference selection, joined her with a hat trick in the Bears' final game of the season at Shepherd. The six-point effort against Shepherd on Saturday, April 30, capped an outstanding season by Graf, a game-changing midfielder from Wayne, N.J. She led all Kutztown players with 63 points, 21 assists, 14 free position goals and 75 shots on goal. Graf also ranked second in goals (42), second in total shots (95), second in caused turnovers (19), third in draw controls (39) and fifth in ground balls (29). The freshman amassed multiple goals and multiple assists in the same game five times over the course of the season and closed the campaign with consecutive six-point games at No. 4 West Chester, April 27, and at Shepherd, April 30. Conteh, ElBouazzaoui and Graf are Kutztown's first all-conference picks since the PSAC started honoring Eastern and Western Division teams in 2021. Prior to the divisional structure, the last time the Golden Bears had three all-league players was in 2016 with Courtney O'Neill named All-PSAC First Team and Sarah Gabriele and Lauren Huggins named Third Team.

The Kutztown University men's tennis team received All-Academic Team status from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), while six Golden Bears were named ITA Scholar-Athletes, the organization recently announced. KU, under the direction of first-year head coach Wyatt Pauley, was one of 74 NCAA Division II teams to exceed the ITA's required 3.2 team grade point average (GPA) during the 2021-22 academic year. The Maroon and Gold were joined in representing the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) by Mercyhurst University. Individual players needed to register a 3.5 GPA during the 2021-22 academic year to claim Scholar-Athlete honors. Achieving that for the Golden Bears were Sebastian Arizpe (Puebla, Mexico/Colegio Humboldt de Puebla), Gonzalo Barcelo (San Pedro, Argentina/Nuestra Senora del Socorro), Neal Devkaran (Fairfax, Va./Paul VI Catholic), Bobby Frankenfield (Telford, Pa./Souderton), Justin Gincauskas (Mississauga, Ontario/Cawthra Park Secondary) and Ethan Moyer (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser). A total of 545 Division II men's student-athletes were honored as Scholar-Athletes overall.

Kutztown University will have 26 student-athletes representing its softball program for the 2022 season. Read the full season preview. Last year was one of the best seasons in recent memory for the Kutztown University softball team. KU, however, can still accomplish more and has the expectations to do so during the 2022 campaign. Coming off a 33 win season and a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division first place finish in 2021, the Kutztown University softball team once again is viewed highly around the conference. KU was voted second in the East Division Preseason Poll. The Golden Bears finished last season 33-15 overall and 23-9 in the PSAC and came within one win of the conference championship series. The 23 PSAC wins is the most in program history in a season. They also made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2017 and 19th appearance overall in program history, going 1-2 while hosting the Division II Atlantic Region Championships. KU will return its entire starting lineup from the 2021 team and is a favorite, along with defending conference champion West Chester, to win the PSAC this season.

Kutztown University will have 31 student-athletes representing its baseball program for the 2022 season. Read the season preview online. For the first time since 2019, the Kutztown University baseball team will be able to play a more in-depth, non-conference schedule, leading up to its conference slate. KU opens its 2022 season this weekend with four games against Chowan University in Murfreesboro, N.C., beginning Saturday, Feb. 5. Last season, Kutztown's first game was on March 5, when it played four games at Frostburg State. That was the lone tune up for Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition. This year, KU has 14 games scheduled before it takes on Millersville in the PSAC and home opener on Friday, March 11. Kutztown finished the 2021 season 17-21 overall and 11-21 in the PSAC. The Golden Bears are set to bring back a majority of the roster from last season, including six of their hitters that were in the starting lineup in the final series against Millersville last May, and the top four of their pitching staff. Kutztown was picked sixth in the PSAC preseason poll and will look to improve upon that mark.

Kutztown University has announced 29 student-athletes will represent its wrestling team for the 2021-2022 season. Read the full season preview here. The Golden Bears are 1-0 to start the season and return to action Jan. 8, 2022, at the Kutztown Duals. KU is led by head coach Robert Fisher, who is in his 21st year at the helm of the Golden Bears.

Kutztown University has announced 12 student-athletes will represent its women's swimming team for the 2021-2022 season. Read the full season preview here. The Golden Bears are 2-5 to start the season and return to action Jan. 14-15, 2022, at the Vulcan Invitational. KU is led by head coach Tim Flannery, who is in his 25th year at the helm of the Golden Bears.

Kutztown University has announced 19 student-athletes will represent its women's bowling team for the 2021-2022 season. Read the full season preview here. The Golden Bears are 22-13 to start the season and return to action Jan. 21-23, 2022. KU is led by head coach Angela Reynolds, who is in her third year at the helm of the Golden Bears.

Kutztown University has announced 17 student-athletes will represent its men's basketball team for the 2021-2022 season. Read the full season preview here. The Golden Bears are 4-4 to start the season and open Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play Dec. 18-19. KU is led by head coach Bernie Driscoll, who is in his 21st season at the helm of the Golden Bears.

Kutztown University has announced 15 student-athletes will represent its women's basketball team for the 2021-2022 season. Read the full season preview here. The Golden Bears are 8-3 to start the season and open Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play Dec. 18-19. KU is led by head coach Janet Malouf, who is in her 27th season at the helm of the Golden Bears.

Kutztown University has announced 103 student-athletes will represent its football team for the 2021 season. Read the full season preview here. The defending Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division champion Golden Bears eagerly await their first chance at defending their East crown and reaching a third consecutive NCAA Tournament, after a more than 21-month hiatus from the gridiron. Head coach Jim Clements, now in his seventh season leading the program, has guided Kutztown to increased win totals in each of its last four years, culminating with 2019's 11-2 record. He'll have to replace numerous contributors on offense both at the skill positions and in the trenches to continue that trajectory this fall. The Maroon and Gold graduated a number of high impact players on offense from the 2019 team, notably All-American tight end Jack Pilkerton, PSAC East Offensive Player of the Year and four-year starting quarterback Collin DiGalbo, All-PSAC East First Team running back Abdul-Hassan Neblett and All-PSAC East First Team offensive linemen Justin Tindull, Jayson Williams and Matt Cella, who is now serving as a graduate assistant on staff. The PSAC portion of the schedule begins Saturday, Sept. 11, with a trip to nationally-ranked Indiana (Pa.).

Kutztown University has announced 12 student-athletes will represent its men's cross country team for the 2021 season. Read the full season preview here. The Kutztown University men's cross country team is ready to run in 2021. The Golden Bears competed in just two meets last year, both in March, due to the fall season cancelling because of the pandemic. They ran at Shippensburg and in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships at Lock Haven. Kutztown didn't field its usual full roster at PSACs and, thus, was not included in the final team standings. KU placed fifth in 2019 and will look to match that effort this upcoming season. Along with the Adelphi Invitational, Kutztown will host its annual Division II/III Challenge on the North Campus course on Saturday, Sept. 18. KU will also race at the Paul Short Run at Lehigh University on Friday, Oct. 1, and will stay near Bethlehem when it competes at DeSales University on Saturday, Oct. 9. Kutztown University will host the PSAC Championships on Friday, Oct. 22.

Kutztown University will have 39 student-athletes representing its women's soccer program for the 2021 season. Read the full season preview online For the first time since Nov. 9, 2019, the Kutztown University women's soccer team will take to the field for an NCAA game. KU's 2021 slate is set to start under the lights Friday night in West Virginia. The Golden Bears, like many other programs across the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and NCAA, will be breaking in almost an entirely different team since the last time it played in 2019. Albeit with a newer roster and some inexperience across the field, head coach Erik Burstein, in his 14th season in charge, is excited for what feels like a restart with a fresh program. Kutztown finished the 2019 season 11-7 overall, winners of its last three games to close out the season. The Maroon and Gold have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four seasons. Kutztown begins its 2021 campaign with two straight road games, with the season-opener on Friday, Sept. 3, at the University of Charleston (W.V.). The home-opener at Keystone Field is set for Wednesday, Sept. 8, against Millersville at 7 p.m.

Kutztown University will have 30 student-athletes representing its field hockey program for the 2021 season. Read the full season preview online The 2019 season was unlike many others for the Kutztown University field hockey program. KU looks to build upon that historic season in 2021, two years removed from last playing in an NCAA game. Having missed the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Golden Bears are eager to build upon their 2019 success, which included a 15-7 record, a regular spot in the NFHCA Division II national rankings, a PSAC runner-up finish and a trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four. Kutztown enters the 2021 campaign ranked No. 5 in DII and was voted fourth in the PSAC preseason poll. Kutztown has added numbers and quality depth at all four facets of the field (forward, midfield, defense, goalie). Scheuing feels that she can field a quality full unit even behind the starting 11. The Golden Bears will open their 2021 season against Southern Connecticut State at the Dr. Art DeGenaro Classic hosted by Mansfield University on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 2 p.m. The home-opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m., against Mansfield.

Kutztown University has announced 18 student-athletes will represent its women's cross country team for the 2021 season. Read the full season preview here. The Kutztown University women's cross country team has been eagerly waiting to lace up its spikes and hit the course in 2021. The Golden Bears will be back to competing in the fall this season after a brief spring season last year. They ran in just two meets last year, both in March, due to the fall season cancelling because of the pandemic. They ran at Shippensburg and in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships at Lock Haven. KU will look to improve upon its 12th-place finish at PSACs this year. Along with the Adelphi Invitational, Kutztown will host its annual Division II/III Challenge on the North Campus course on Saturday, Sept. 18. KU will also race at the Paul Short Run at Lehigh University on Friday, Oct. 1, and will stay near Bethlehem when it competes at DeSales University on Saturday, Oct. 9. Kutztown University will host the PSAC Championships on Friday, Oct. 22.

Kutztown University will have 21 student-athletes representing its women's volleyball program for the 2021 season. Read the full season preview online Unlike the past few years, the 2021 edition of the Kutztown University women's volleyball team will feature length at the front of the net. KU has 13 student-athletes that stand 5-feet-10-inches or taller (more than half of the roster), and four that stand over 6-feet tall. Head coach John Gump, entering his 24th season in charge, has switched it up, looking to be more dominant at the net. And his roster this season should be able to improve upon that area dramatically. Kutztown is slated to open its 2021 regular season at the Fairmont State Volleyball Classic in Fairmont, W. Va. KU will play four matches between Friday, Sept. 3, and Saturday, Sept. 4. The home-opener is set for Monday, Sept. 13, against Chestnut Hill.

A year after surpassing 200 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Scholar-Athletes for the first time, Kutztown University student-athletes produced their most impressive academic performance yet in 2020-21. The Golden Bears obliterated their former record of 206 honorees with 252 this year, helping the PSAC establish a new conference-record with 4,162 scholar-athletes. Kutztown increased its scholar-athlete rate by nearly 8% from last year with 56.1% of its 449 eligible student-athletes recognized. In terms of overall honorees, the Golden Bears ranked 10th of the PSAC's 18 institutions, though the number of sports sponsored is not similar from institution-to-institution. Kutztown has produced triple-figure PSAC Scholar-Athlete totals 15 years running. To be named a PSAC Scholar-Athlete, a student-athlete must have finished the 2020-21 academic year with a 3.25 cumulative GPA or higher. As a conference, the PSAC honored a record number of student-athletes for the 15th straight year. The league's member schools combined to break the 4,000 scholar-athlete threshold for the first time, breaking the previous record of 3,763, set in 2019-20, by 399. The PSAC also set a new record with 55% of the conference's student-athlete population earning scholar-athlete accolades.

Kutztown University will have 91 student-athletes representing its track & field program for the 2021 outdoor season. The Kutztown University men's and women's outdoor track & field teams will be back in action for their first competition in nearly two years, as the Golden Bears begin spring competition on Saturday, March 27, at West Chester University's Golden Ram Invitational. Saturday begins a six-week regular season that leads up to the 2021 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Outdoor Championships, which will be hosted by Shippensburg University May 6-8. It marks a return to competition for KU after almost 22 months without an outdoor meet. The last "meet" situation for Kutztown, in any form, was the 2020 PSAC Indoor Championships held last March. The remainder of the Golden Bears' spring schedule includes weekend events at Millersville University (Apr. 3), a trip back to West Chester (Apr. 10), stops at Moravian College (Apr. 17) and Shippensburg (Apr. 24) in back-to-back weekends, before concluding the regular season back at West Chester (May 1). KU will also host its annual Mondschein Multi event on Thursday, Apr. 8, and Friday, Apr. 9, at Andre Reed Stadium. 8.7.1

Kutztown University will have 17 student-athletes representing its men's and women's tennis teams for the 2020-2021 season. Head coach Shari Bucklin-Webber, in her sixth season at the helm, said the following about her teams. "There is a lot of depth in the women's lineup and they're all just going to continue to improve each match," said Webber. "It really gives me a lot of options for doubles combinations, looking at the lineup. It is a good position to be in, knowing I can start a number of different players in different spots of the lineup." "We've had a good group of recruits for both the men and women the last two classes who haven't really even gotten acclimated to the collegiate game," said Webber. "It just feels like a whole new team on both sides. But there's a renewed sense of excitement and appreciation of the game. Everybody seems more engaged and is focused on their game. We're all grateful to the administration and our conference in allowing us to play." "This is a really hard-working group of guys," said Webber. "They're having fun playing again, but are also all about business and working hard. I think the challenges that they all faced last year really brought them closer as a team." Read more about the KU tennis teams at www.KUBears.com.

Kutztown University will have 25 student-athletes representing its women's lacrosse program for the 2021 season. Read the full season preview. The Kutztown University women's lacrosse team started 2-0 on the new Keystone Field turf in 2020 before the season was cut short. KU is excited to not only open its 2021 campaign back at home, but just to be able to play a season this year. Head coach Jackie Stezzi graduated three seniors from last year's roster, so she will have plenty of experience, along with another injection of youth, heading into this season. In the PSAC Preseason Poll, the Maroon and Gold were selected sixth. West Chester was first, receiving four of the seven possible first-place votes. East Stroudsburg received three of the seven possible first-place votes and was picked second. Bloomsburg, Millersville and Shippensburg were ranked three-through-five. Shepherd followed Kutztown to round out the division.

Kutztown University will have 29 student-athletes representing its baseball program for the 2021 season. Read the season preview online. The Kutztown University baseball team kicks off its 2021 season this weekend with doubleheaders against Frostburg State, March 5 and 7, at the Ripken Experience in Aberdeen, Md. Second-year head coach Eric Folmar is hoping the the Golden Bears can bottle last season's early success as a new campaign begins following an extended layoff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kutztown went 7-4 in a limited non-conference slate and saw many promising things from young players ahead of the shutdown. Folmar is excited to get back on the field and compete with his team.

Kutztown University will have 21 student-athletes representing its softball program for the 2021 season. Read the full season preview. The last time that the Kutztown University softball team played it was March 14, 2020, before a global pandemic shutdown the remainder of the season. March of 2021 looks to bring a return to competition for KU and the rest of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), itching to get back out on the field after nearly a year away from the sport. Kutztown opens up its 2021 campaign with a two-day doubleheader at Millersville, beginning Friday, March 5. First pitch of game one of the season is set for 2:30 p.m.

A school-record 205 Kutztown University student-athletes have been named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Scholar-Athletes for the 2019-20 academic year, the conference office announced Monday afternoon. By having more than 200 student-athletes recognized for the first time in school history, Kutztown surpassed its former record of 181 PSAC Scholar-Athletes from 2017-18. KU has featured 100 or more PSAC Scholar-Athletes each of the last 14 years. The Golden Bears ranked ninth among the conference's 18 institutions based on overall honorees, but posted a strong 48.2% scholar-athlete rate. To be eligible for PSAC Scholar-Athlete honors this year, a student-athlete must have finished the 2019-20 academic year with a 3.25 cumulative GPA or higher. Outside of combined cross country/track & field lists, three qualifying KU multi-sport student-athletes appear on the lists of both teams they represent. They are Molly Agnello (women's bowling/women's golf), Jenna Bracken (women's lacrosse/women's soccer) and Alyssa Donato (field hockey/softball). This year, the PSAC recognized a total of 3,762 scholar-athletes, which marks 50% of the conference's student-athlete population. Both of these numbers break previous records of 3,117 and 43% set one year ago. The league has now registered at least a 30% rate for 12 straight years. The total number of honorees has increased each year since the 2006-07 academic year. Overall, nine institutions produced at least 200 scholar-athletes. Full list, by sport, can be found here

A local product out of Reading, Kutztown University freshman Wesley Butler was known around the area for his talent on the basketball court. And in his first season in Maroon and Gold he did not disappoint. Butler led the Golden Bears in scoring on his way to being named to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division Second Team. On Friday, he was voted the 2019-20 KU Male Freshman of the Year. Butler hit the ground running in his first collegiate season. The Reading High School product set a new Kutztown freshman record for points in a season with 510. Butler led KU and was eighth in the PSAC in scoring (18.2 ppg), fourth in 3-point percentage (40.9%), 11th in free-throw percentage (82.2%), 12th in field goal percentage (45.8%) and 15th in minutes per game (33.6). He played in all 28 games and scored in double-figures in 25 of them. In the classroom, Butler was also a member of the Dean's List following the fall semester. Butler's 510 points this season is the most by a freshman in a season in program history. He did whatever was asked of him by head coach Bernie Driscoll, and proved his worth on both ends of the court. Butler ranked second on KU with 2.1 assists per game and grabbed nearly 3.0 rebounds per game, while his 27 steals was tied for second. In his first collegiate game, Butler drilled seven 3-pointers, the most by a freshman in a game. In a 92-78 win at No. 12 West Chester on Jan. 18, Butler connected on all 13 of his free-throw attempts, the highest percentage of free-throws made and attempted in program history. Butler is the sixth men's basketball player to receive KU Freshman of the Year recognition, the first since Josh Johnson in 2013-14. Previous winners from the program include T.J. Mann (2002-03), Dave Ben (2006-07), Stephen Dennis (2007-08) and Ryan Washington (2008-09). Members of the KU athletic department staff voted upon the nominees to determine KU's year-end awards.