The Carleton Ravens dominated the season’s Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) men’s basketball awards, which are set to be presented on the night of March 7 at the Canadian Tire Centre, and this season had special honour for one particular Raven.
Philip Scrubb became the first player in CIS history to win the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy as player of the year in three consecutive seasons.
The award has been given out for 40 seasons dating back to the 1974-75 season. It had been won back-to-back four times before, the last time by Ravens legend Osvaldo Jeanty.
Scrubb led his team to a perfect 22-0 regular season record with team-high averages of 18.6 points per game and 4.9 assists per game, as well as shooting 47 per cent from three-point territory.
Jennifer Brenning, Carleton’s director of recreation and athletics, said she is thrilled to see Scrubb make history.
She also hinted at the potential of Scrubb being scouted by NBA teams to play professionally, something she said is certainly possible.
“If he does go on to play in the NBA, he’d be the first in CIS history, so he can still set even more records in the future,” she said.
But Scrubb was not the lone Raven to bring home hardware.
He was joined by his older brother Thomas Scrubb who brought home his own player of the year award, but on the defensive side of the court.
The older Scrubb won his first national defensive player of the year award, after bringing home the same provincial honour for the past two seasons.
His defensive prowess was integral in helping the Ravens keep their opponents to just 62.2 points per game and keeping teams to shoot just 36 per cent from the field. Both of those defensive figures were second-fewest in the country.
In addition to Ravens players, Carleton coach Dave Smart picked up his fourth straight Stuart W. Aberdeen Memorial Trophy as coach of the year.
It is the seventh time in the past 12 seasons Smart has earned this award.
“The coach of the year award is a recognition by his peers, so obviously it means his peers across the country think he’s done an exceptional job,” Brenning said. “It’s something to be proud of, and I’m sure he’s very humbled.”
Several Ravens were also named to the CIS all-star teams. Philip was named a first team all-star and fifth-year forward Tyson Hinz was named a second team all-star in his final season as a Raven.
