SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Wittenberg fans were treated to another tremendous basketball season in 2005-06, one that led to a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) regular season championship for the women and an NCAC Tournament crown and a run to the national title game in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the men. Predictably, regional and even national honors have followed for three individual student-athletes.
Daniel Russ of Louisville, Ky., class of 2006, was recognized with first-team All-Great Lakes District honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), second-team All-Great Lakes Region honors from d3hoops.com and second-team All-America honors from d3hoops.com. A third-team NABC All-America choice a year ago, Russ led the Tigers in scoring with 15.3 points per game and blocked shots with 59 on the season. Russ capped his career as a three-time All-NCAC selection, including 2005 when he was the Player of the Year and Tournament MVP.
Dane Borchers of Russia, Ohio, class of 2006, the team's leading scorer and rebounder a year ago en route to second-team All-NCAC honors, was chosen for third-team all-region honors from d3hoops.com. Borchers, also a second-team all-conference choice this year, came up big for Wittenberg at some of the most important moments during the 2005-06 season, including in the NCAC Tournament as he earned the MVP trophy. The team's second-leading scorer and top rebounder, Borchers has decided to accept a medical red-shirt and play college basketball again in the 2006-07 season.
In addition, men's basketball Head Coach Bill Brown earned Great Lakes District Coach of the Year honors from the NABC. It was the second district honor for Brown, who has also earned NCAC Coach of the Year honors four times in his career. After leading the Tigers to a 30-4 overall record in 2005-06, Brown has a career record of 365-169 in 17 years as a head coach and a mark of 305-70 in 13 years at Wittenberg.
On the women's side, Kathy Hittle of Noblesville, Ind., class of 2007, capped her breakout season with third-team All-Great Lakes Region honors from d3hoops.com. Hittle, who was named NCAC Player of the Year, led the Tigers in scoring and rebounding in 2005-06. The Tigers had a 19-8 overall record, including a sparkling 14-2 record in the NCAC regular season.
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