The bad news today is that Caleb Swanigan did not win the Naismith Award, which goes to the nation’s top player. The good news is that he did not end the day empty-handed. Even though Frank Mason III edged him for the Naismith Biggie was named as the winner of the Pete Newell Award given to the nation’s top big man by hte National Association of basketball coaches:
Swanigan is the second Purdue player to win this award. In 2011 JaJuan Johnson, who was Purdue’s previous All-American, won the award. This now makes Purdue one of three schools along with Duke and Utah tp have two newell Award winners.