Even though the SIU men’s basketball team failed to capture a Missouri Valley Conference title, two of its top players reeled in some prestigious post-season awards.

Guard Kevin Dillard captured the Valley’s Freshman of the Year award and senior Bryan Mullins was tabbed the league’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Mullins earned the conference’s award for defensive excellence for the second straight year despite missing the team’s final eight games. It marks the fifth time in the past six years that a Saluki has won the award.

Advertisement

Dillard said his focus is on Friday’s MVC Tournament quarterfinal game against Bradley despite the accolades.

‘It was an individual goal in the beginning of the year, but I put that to the side to focus on winning,’ Dillard said. ‘I’m more happy about getting the fifth seed and not playing on Thursday than I am getting an award.’

Dillard became the first Saluki freshman since Kent Williams to lead the team in scoring, averaging 12.6 points per game. He also earned a spot on the conference’s All-Newcomer and All-Freshman teams.

Illinois’ reigning Mr. Basketball averaged 13.9 points per game against MVC foes, including 14 double-digit scoring efforts.

SIU head coach Chris Lowery said Dillard’s effort throughout the year made the freshman stand out from a talented class of up-and-comers in the MVC.

‘You don’t get Mr. Basketball by just showing up ‘- he earned it,’ Lowery said. ‘Then he came here and earned it here. We’re happy and proud of him … but now he’s got to move forward from that.’

Dillard follows in the footsteps of Mullins, who was the last Saluki to earn the conference’s award for best freshman.

Advertisement*

Four years later, the senior guard has wrapped up his second Defensive Player of the Year award, another spot on the conference’s All-Defensive team, a spot on the Honorable Mention All-Conference squad and the respect of coaches around the Valley.

‘It’s an honor, and I think I’ve been able to earn the respect of this league and the coaches over the last four years,’ Mullins said. ‘Receiving this award shows how much respect I’ve earned.’

Despite missing nearly a majority of the second half of the conference season, Mullins still grabbed a team-best 45 steals.

Lowery said Mullins’ award-winning day is a testament to how well he played before the injury setback.

‘It speaks volumes of him before he got hurt. He had locked up all the marquee guys in our league when he played against them,’ Lowery said. ‘So him being able to win that award and still miss the amount of games he did is just a tremendous credit to him and the respect he has in the league.’