Burke Collects AP Player Of The Year, Top Point Guard Award

ATLANTA, Ga. -- University of Michigan men's basketball sophomore guard Trey Burke (Columbus, Ohio/Northland HS) received the Associated Press Men's Basketball National Player of the Year and Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year awards today (Thursday, April 4).

After being recognized at a special awards presentation in Atlanta, Ga., Burke becomes just the second Wolverine in program history to receive the AP award, joining U-M legend Cazzie Russell, who also earned the nation's top honor in 1966. Burke also becomes the first Wolverine in program history to earn the Cousy award, which has been given annually to the nation's top point guard since 2004.

Burke is U-M's fifth consensus All-American, having earned first team honors from the John R. Wooden All-America Team, the Associated Press, the NABC, the USBWA, the Lute Olson All-America team, the Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and CBSSports.com.

Burke, the NCAA Tournament South Region Most Outstanding Player, led U-M to the South Region championship and its first Final Four appearance in 20 years (1993*) after wins over No. 1 seed Kansas in overtime (87-85) and No. 3 seed Florida (79-59). Burke scored all 23 of his points against Kansas in the second half, including eight in the final 1:15 of regulation, capped by a deep three-pointer with four seconds left to force overtime. The Wolverines currently own an overall record of 30-7, marking the most wins in a season in 20 years.

Burke is averaging a career best for points (18.8), assists (6.84), field goal percentage (46.4), three-point percentage (38.1), free throw percentage (80.8) and steals (1.59). This season, he became just the seventh U-M sophomore to eclipse 1,000 career points and recently set the U-M single-season record and U-M sophomore record for assists (236). Burke has scored in double figures in 36 games this season and 14 with 20-plus points, including a season-best 29 vs. Penn State on Feb. 17. The Big Ten Player of the Year (coaches and media) was the only Big Ten player to score at least 15 points in every conference game.

Burke and the Wolverines will face East Region champions and No. 4 seed Syracuse in the national semifinals on Saturday (April 6, 8:49 p.m.) at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga.