2010-11 Review BRITT AN IMPACT SCORER Freshman guard Brandon Britt, who was named to the CAA All-Rookie team, moved into the starting lineup 11 games into the season and became an impact scoring threat for the Green and Gold. He enjoyed a breakout performance with 25 points in the win over Drexel on Jan. 15, marking the most points for a W&M rookie since the 2005-06 season. He scored in double figures in nine straight games, which marked the first time in 38 years that a Tribe freshman scored 10 or more points in nine straight games. The last W&M rookie to accomplish the feat was Mike Arizin, who had 12 straight doubledigit scoring games, in 1972-73 (Dec. 13, 1972-Jan. 31, 1973). Britt ranked second on the team in scoring at nearly 11 points per game, which was second among CAA rookies and 26th in the league overall. TRIBE SHOOTING The Tribe shot the basketball at a high percentage in 2010-11 and ranked among the CAA and national leaders. W&M hit on 44.3 percent from the floor this season, which ranked fourth in league play. The field goal percentage was the best for the Tribe since it shot 46.2 percent from the floor during the 1995-96 season. The Tribe was even better in CAA play, hitting on 44.4 percent from the field. According to KenPom.com, the Green and Gold ranked 45th nationally in effective field goal percentage at 52.1 percent. The Web site also ranked the College 50th nationally in 2-point field goal percentage (50.8). Effective field goal percentage is the same measure as traditional field goal percentage, but credits teams 50 percent more for made 3-pointers. KITTS IN THE POST Senior forward Marcus Kitts was a force for the Green and Gold in the low post in 2010-11 season. He led the Tribe in field goal percentage, connecting on 55.7 percent (117-of-210) from the floor. His field goal percentage ranked sixth on the Tribe’s single season list. With his effort as a senior, Kitts established the W&M career record at 58.2 percent from the field. The 6-9 senior ranked 18th in the CAA and led the Tribe at 5.8 rebounds per game. SEASON BESTS The Tribe posted a trio of season-best performances in the College’s first ESPN BracketBuster win over Radford on Feb. 19. The Green and Gold scored a season-high 84 points and dished out a season-best 22 assists compared to 10 turnovers. The College also blocked a season-high seven shots highlighted by four from senior Marcus Kitts. YOUTH IS SERVED The Tribe ranked as one of the youngest teams in not only the CAA, but the country. According to KenPom. com, the Tribe ranked as the 52nd youngest team in the country at 1.28. The rating used eligibility class weighted by minutes played with freshman being zero years, sophomores one, etc. Only Northeastern and Drexel are ranked younger in the CAA. The Tribe had the fewest seniors (1) in the CAA and the second fewest upperclassmen (seniors and juniors) [4] behind only Northeastern (3). As a result, W&M’s freshmen played the most minutes (1950) among CAA teams. The Tribe freshman class led the CAA in percentage of team points scored at 33.2 percent (680/2051). Against James Madison, freshmen Brandon Britt, Julian Boatner and Tim Rusthoven each scored in double-digits, tallying 10 points apiece. It marked the first time since the 2005 season that a trio of W&M freshmen scored in double figures in the same game. THE B&B BACKCOURT Freshmen guards Brandon Britt and Julian Boatner started each of the final 18 games for the Tribe in 201011. It marked the first time two freshmen guards have started in the same backcourt for multiple games since freshmen became eligible to play in the NCAA during the 1972 season. The only other time two rookie guards started in the same backcourt were Derrick Peters and Brendan Connor on Feb. 15, 1990 at George Mason.
MCDOWELL ECLIPSES THE 1,000-POINT MARK With 13:44 remaining in the opening half at Northeastern, junior Quinn McDowell scored a scoop lay-up and in the process drew the foul. He eventually completed the conventional 3-point play. The lay-up though marked his 1,000th career point, making him the 33rd member of the Tribe’s 1,000-point club. He scored a game-high 22 points at Northeastern and finished the 2010-11 season ranked 16th in school history with 1,221 points. McDowell became the seventh player under head coach Tony Shaver to accomplish the feat, joining Adam Hess, Corey Cofield, Laimis Kisielius, Nathan Mann, David Schneider and Danny Sumner. The seven 1,000-point scorers are the most by any Tribe head coach in school history. BACK-TO-BACK ROOKIE OF THE WEEK Freshman guard Brandon Britt was named CAA Rookie of the Week in back-to-back weeks on Jan. 17 and Jan. 24. Britt averaged 20 points, five rebounds and three assists as the Tribe split CAA contests against Towson and Hofstra for his second award. In the Tribe’s first road win of the season over Towson, Britt tallied 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including a 3-of-5 effort from 3-point range, while adding a career-high five rebounds and three assists. He was even better against Hofstra, scoring a game-high 24 points on 7-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-9 from 3-point range. Britt equaled his career high with five rebounds and chipped in three assists. For the week, he shot 52 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from 3-point range and 85.7 percent from the free throw line. Britt was named the CAA Rookie of the Week for the first time on Jan. 17. In the College’s first CAA win of the year over Drexel, Britt led all scorers with a careerhigh 25 points. The Chesapeake, Va., native was 6-of-9 from the floor, including a perfect 2-of-2 from three. He excelled at the free throw line as well, hitting on 11-of12 from the charity stripe. HELPING HAND For the fourth straight season, the College dished out 400-plus assists, marking the first time that has occurred in school history. W&M handed out 426 assists, which ranked seventh in school history. Four different Tribe players have nearly 60 assists. Junior Kendrix Brown led the Tribe with 72 assists followed by junior Quinn McDowell, who had 67 assists. Sophomore Matt Rum and freshman Brandon Britt finished with 66 and 61 assists, respectively. The last time W&M had four players with at least 60 assists in a season was 2002-03. SIX IN DOUBLE FIGURES In the Tribe’s narrow 84-79 setback to James Madison on Jan. 8, the Green and Gold displayed an incredibly balanced scoring attack, placing six players in double figures. It marked the first time in 19 years that the Tribe had six players score in double digits in the same game. Senior forward Marcus Kitts led the Tribe with 16 points, while juniors JohnMark Ludwick and Quinn McDowell finished with 15 and 13 points, respectively. The W&M freshman trio of Brandon Britt, Julian Boatner and Tim Rusthoven each had 10 points against the Dukes. The last time W&M put six in double figures was on Dec. 22, 1992 against Shenandoah. Todd Cauthorn led the Tribe with 17 points in that contest, and Thomas Roberts had 14 points. Brendan Connor and Matt Verkey each tallied 13 points, while Sean Duff and David Cully added 12 and 11 points, respectively. GAILLARD SENSATIONAL AT NORTH CAROLINA In the Tribe’s loss at North Carolina, sophomore Kyle Gaillard enjoyed a coming out party in his native state. The Huntersville, N.C., native scored a game and career-high 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the floor. Gaillard displayed his athleticism and ability to score in a variety of ways as the 6-7 wing was 2-of-4 from 3-point range and added a highlight reel that included five dunks.
2010-11 HONOR ROLL
All-CAA Quinn McDowell (3) CAA All-Rookie Brandon Britt CAA All-Academic Team Quinn McDowell (1) Marcus Kitts (2) Doug Howard (HM) Andrew Pavloff (HM) CAA Dean Ehlers Leadership Award Quinn McDowell NACB All-District Quinn McDowell (2) CAA Rookie of the Week Brandon Britt (1/24) Brandon Britt (1/17) VaSID All-State Quinn McDowell (HM) Preseason All-CAA Quinn McDowell (2) TEAM AWARDS Team MVP Quinn McDowell Most Improved Julian Boatner Brandon Britt Kraze Award Kendrix Brown Mark Batzel Award Doug Howard Arete Award (Top GPA) Doug Howard Assists Award Kendrix Brown Defense Award Kendrix Brown Rebound Award Marcus Kitts Free Throw Award Quinn McDowell Captain’s Cups Kendrix Brown Quinn McDowell Marcus Kitts
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