Matisse Thybulle became the first Washington men’s basketball player to win the Pac-12 Defensive Player of Year award.
The 6-foot-5 junior guard shattered Washington’s single-season steals record and ranks second in the nation with 92. The 6-foot-5 junior guard is within striking distance of the Pac-12 record of 110 set by California’s Jason Kidd in 1992-93. Thybulle’s 44 blocks ranks seventh in the Pac-12.
UW junior forward Noah Dickerson, a first-team All-Pac-12 forward, said Thybulle is a defensive freak.
“We don’t really play much man in practice, but when we do and I see him on the other team and we have to run a play, you don’t want to throw toward him,” Dickerson said.