Doedens named NAC Player of the Year

WAUKESHA, Wis. - Concordia University Wisconsin senior men's basketball player Luke Doedens was named Northern Athletics Conference Player of the Year for the 2011-12 season, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.

The Cedarburg, Wis., native led the team in several statistical categories, but more importantly guided the Falcons to their second back-to-back 20-plus win season in program history. His play also helped CUW win the NAC North Division for the third-consecutive season.

"This is tough for me to even fathom," Doedens said. "I can't thank my coaches, teammates and family enough for believing in me the past two years. This is an individual award, but to me it is about those around me. There is a higher power that led me to CUW and it has been a true blessing to put on a Falcons uniform the past two seasons.

"I truly appreciate everything coach Cassidy and my teammates have done for me the last two years. It is hard for me to understand how I won this award, considering the talent level in the NAC. The opportunity to play collegiate basketball is an honor and I have appreciate every chance I have been given."

Doedens paced the Falcons in points (439, 16.3 per game), rebounds (141, 5.2 per game), 3-point percentage (44.2, 72-of-163) and free throw percentage (73.0, 65-of-89).

"Luke is not only is a talented basketball player, but he was a great leader in the basketball program and one of the most unselfish basketball players I have ever coached," head coach Shawn Cassidy said. "He raised the level of play of everyone else on the floor. Luke worked extremely hard every day in practice and pushed others to strive to be the best. His personal commitment set the tone for our season."

The 6-foot-5 guard ranks individually in five different NCAA statistical categories. As of Feb. 26 he is 10th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (44.2) and 56th in 3-point field goals made per game (2.7).

Doedens is the first player at CUW to win conference Player of the Year honors since Frank Yinko did so in 1992-93 while playing in the Lake Michigan Conference.

"This may sound cliché, but to be mentioned in the same sentence as Frank Yinko is more than an honor," Doedens said. "It is a dream come true to be mentioned in the same breathe as him because when people talk about CUW basketball, they are referring to Mr. Yinko."