Issued: March 3, 2004

MEN'S BASKETBALL NAMES DRAKE TEAM MVP

EAU CLAIRE - Casey Drake (Jr.-Rhinelander) was named team Most Valuable Player as head coach Terry Gibbons announced the 2003-04 UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team award winners at a banquet held this past Sunday.

Along with MVP honors Drake was also named Most Improved and the Inspiration Award winner. Drake won the team leader award in points (458), rebounds (116) steals (29), free throw percentage (.822) and three-point field goal percentage (.370). This season Drake set career highs in points (35) versus UW-Stevens Point February 14 and rebounds (9) in a single game against UW-Stout on December 6. Drake's single-season point ranks him 33rd on the Blugold single-season scoring list and his career total of 709 points ranks him 60th on the school career scoring list. Named first team All-WIAC earlier today, Drake was named to three all-tournament teams this season, including tournament MVP honors at the Eau Claire Holiday Classic.

Colin Walsh (Fr.-La Crosse/Aquinas) was named the Most Valuable New Player. Starting in 20 games this season, Walsh averaged 3.6 points and 2.7 rebounds a game this season while collecting 37 assists. Walsh posted season-high totals of 17 points and four assists against St. Scholastica on December 13 while grabbing seven rebounds at UW-River Falls on February 7. Walsh lead or tied for team highs in assists in six games in 2003-04.

Will Jefferson (Jr.-Wausau/East) was presented with the Big D Award. Jefferson was often assigned to the team's best offensive player showing the ability to defend both the perimeter and interior at 6-6. Along with his defensive prowess Jefferson also provided some offensive punch for the Blugolds, scoring double-digit point totals in four of his final six games. During that stretch Jefferson totaled a career-best 20 points in a 65-61 win at UW-Platteville on February 17.

Jesse Breidenbach (Jr.-Oregon) was presented with both the Hustle and Firemen Award. The Firemen Award is presented to the player who provides the best spark off the bench. Playing in every game this season, Breidenbach averaged 15.3 minutes per game averaging 2.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game to go along with 25 assists and 16 steals.

Dan Archambault (Jr.-Oshkosh/West) was presented as the team assist leader in 2003-04. In 25 games Archambault tallied 53 assists, good for an average of 2.12 per game. Archambault was named to both the Blugold Tip-Off and Eau Claire Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team. Archambault ended the season with 967 career points, good for 38th on the school career all-time scoring list.

Kale Proksch (So.-Chaseburg/Westby) was awarded the team field goal percentage award. Proksch connected on .592 (29-49) of his shots this season. Proksch had a career-best 15 points at UW-River Falls on February 7.

Archambault, Breidenbach, Drake and Jefferson were all named honorary captains for the 2003-04 season.

Letterwinners for the 2003-04 season include Archambault, Tyler Birkel (So.-Spring Valley), Breidenbach, Drake, Chad Honl (Fr.-Eau Claire/Memorial), Jefferson, Eric Johnson (So.-Schofield/D.C. Everest), Spencer Peck (So.-Eau Claire/Memorial), Mat Peterson (Fr.-Prairie du Chien), Proksch, Buck Smith (So.-Superior), Walsh, Marshall Watry (Fr.-Rhinelander).