CHENEY — Eastern Washington University forward Tanner Groves was selected Tuesday (Jan. 26) on the mid-season watch list for the 2020-21 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award. The award will be presented in April.
He is one of 40 players listed as a candidate for the award, which is presented annually to the top mid-major player in NCAA Division I college basketball. It honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons.
Groves continues to be a dominant force in the Big Sky, leading the Big Sky Conference in rebounding (9.1 per game) and field goal percentage (.577). He is also fifth in scoring (16.8), fifth in blocked shots (1.1) and fourth in free throw percentage (.820).
The 6-foot-9 graduate of Shadle Park High School in Spokane, Wash., registered a pair of double-doubles in EWU’s split last week against Northern Colorado, with the Eagles falling 78-76 in the first game on Jan. 21 and winning the second 82-76 two days later. Groves sank 73.7 percent of his shots from the field (14-of-19) and 87.5 percent from the free throw line (7-of-8) in averaging 17.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in the two games. He also had a blocked shot and three assists.
In the second meeting with UNC, he missed his first free throw of the game, snapping his streak of 27 made free throws in a row dating back to making his last seven at Northern Arizona on Dec. 19. He made 8-of-14 to start the year, but is 33-of-36 since (91.7 percent). Groves now has four double-doubles this season and six in his career.
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