KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Basketball Coaches has named Chris Collins its District 7 Coach of the Year and has selected Chase Audige and Boo Buie to the District 7 Second Team.
Audige's District 7 Second Team nod comes on the heels of one of the most prolific defensive seasons in program history. The Senior leads the Big Ten in steals and ranks eighth nationally, tallying 76 pilfers over 32 games in the 2022-23 campaign. Audige's 76 thefts are second-most in a single-season in Northwestern history, trailing only Baldwin's 1991 total of 90. On the other end of the floor, Audige averaged 14.1 points and 2.8 assists per game. The Coram, N.Y. native has scored in double figures in 23 games this season, highlighted by a career-high 28 points in an 83-45 win over DePaul on December 17. Audige has already been named a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, was awarded the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year with Rutgers' Caleb McConnell, and earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors.
Buie was selected to the District 7 Second Team after averaging 17.1 points and 4.5 assists per contest during the 2022-23 campaign. Buie is one of only three high-major players in the country averaging at least 17 points and 4.5 assists per game this season. He is the first Wildcat to average 17 or more points per game since John Shurna posted 20.0 points per game in 2011-12. His 548 points scored this season are the 7th-most in a single-season in program history. In league play, Buie upped his game, posting 19.1 points per game against Big Ten foes, including 12 outings of 20 or more points in conference play. At Illinois he scored a career-high 35 points, the most points scored by a Wildcat in over 10 seasons. Last week, Buie was named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the nation's top point guard.
The All-District honors are voted on by NABC-member coaches across NCAA Division I.
Collins earns Coach of the Year honors after leading Northwestern to a 21-10 record, including a 12-8 mark in Big Ten play. NU's 12 conference wins are the most in a season in program history, and its 21 overall wins are second-most in program history. The 10th-year head coach has accrued 155 wins at Northwestern, which ranks third in program history. Collins previously was one of four national finalists for the award in 2016-17 after guiding NU to a 24-12 overall record and the program's first NCAA Tournament. He owns three of the program's five all-time seasons of 20 or more wins.District 7 @NABC1927 honors for these fellas ??
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 14, 2023
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Audige's District 7 Second Team nod comes on the heels of one of the most prolific defensive seasons in program history. The Senior leads the Big Ten in steals and ranks eighth nationally, tallying 76 pilfers over 32 games in the 2022-23 campaign. Audige's 76 thefts are second-most in a single-season in Northwestern history, trailing only Baldwin's 1991 total of 90. On the other end of the floor, Audige averaged 14.1 points and 2.8 assists per game. The Coram, N.Y. native has scored in double figures in 23 games this season, highlighted by a career-high 28 points in an 83-45 win over DePaul on December 17. Audige has already been named a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, was awarded the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year with Rutgers' Caleb McConnell, and earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors.
Buie was selected to the District 7 Second Team after averaging 17.1 points and 4.5 assists per contest during the 2022-23 campaign. Buie is one of only three high-major players in the country averaging at least 17 points and 4.5 assists per game this season. He is the first Wildcat to average 17 or more points per game since John Shurna posted 20.0 points per game in 2011-12. His 548 points scored this season are the 7th-most in a single-season in program history. In league play, Buie upped his game, posting 19.1 points per game against Big Ten foes, including 12 outings of 20 or more points in conference play. At Illinois he scored a career-high 35 points, the most points scored by a Wildcat in over 10 seasons. Last week, Buie was named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the nation's top point guard.
The All-District honors are voted on by NABC-member coaches across NCAA Division I.
| District 7 |
| First Team |
| Hunter Dickinson - Michigan |
| Zach Edey - Purdue |
| Trayce Jackson-Davis - Indiana |
| Kris Murray - Iowa |
| Jalen Pickett - Penn St. |
| Second Team |
| Chase Audige - Northwestern |
| Boo Buie - Northwestern |
| Terrance Shannon Jr. - Illinois |
| Tyson Walker - Michigan St. |
| Jahmir Young - Maryland |
| Coach of the Year: Chris Collins - Northwestern |