GLIAC Release
GLIAC - On the eve of the GLIAC Tournament finals, the league announced its 2020-21 postseason awards which featured both
Chris Rollins and
Scott Ulaneo of the Davenport University men's basketball team. Rollins was named First-Team All-GLIAC for the second-straight season and All-Defensive for a third-consecutive campaign while Ulaneo was honored with a Second-Team All-GLIAC nod.
Despite first-team recognition in 2020, Rollins experienced a breakout year in 2021. The Detroit native upped his scoring average from 13.7 points per game as a junior to 18.4 as a senior, which was good for third in the GLIAC. The six-foot sharpshooter was also tops in the league in steals per game (2.8) and third in assists per game (4.0), numbers that rank first and sixth, respectively, in Davenport's single season record book. Even though it came in a loss, Rollins poured in a career high 35 points on 14-of-25 shooting on Feb. 20 at Northern Michigan. With that effort, the prolific point guard became the first Panther with a 30-point game in over two years and scored the fifth-most points in a single game in program history. Career wise, Rollins scored his 1,000th Davenport point on Feb. 16 against Grand Valley State becoming the eighth member of the school's illustrious club.
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"We really felt Chris had a 'Player of the Year' type season for our program," said head coach,
Burt Paddock. "He was outstanding at both ends of the floor as he led the GLIAC in steals and was top three in scoring at 18.4 pts per game. Both of the awards that he received are well deserved and should provide a great deal of fuel for him to come back next year to get us to the next level with hopes of making the NCAA Tournament."
As for the Panthers' man in the middle, Ulaneo's value was evident as soon as he stepped on the floor. The Italian big man finished 10th in the GLIAC in scoring (15.5 PPG) and eighth in rebounding (7.5 RPG) while scoring 20 or more points in four outings (24 points twice) and securing three double-doubles. Not only did Ulaneo score with the best in the conference, but did so efficiently with a 50.7 field goal percentage, which ranked 10th in the league. The Rome native converted on at least 50 percent of his field goal attempts in six games and 60 percent in four games.
"Scott is incredibly deserving of this award," said coach Paddock. "He gave us a tremendous presence this year, not only with his size around the rim, but his ability to control the game with his skill set. It is not often you get a student-athlete at this level that is 6'10" and can handle, pass and shoot like he can. Scott proved what a difference maker he can be for our program and we are excited for him and our program moving forward with the additional year of eligibility he has."
Story by:
Cooper Weidenthaler
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