Norris Named Back-to-Back IIAC MVP and Coach Sieverding Coach of the Year
Mar 3, 2016
Official IIAC release
DUBUQUE, Iowa – It was a clean sweep for the University of Dubuque men’s basketball team as senior Andre Norris capped his storied career with his second Iowa Conference MVP award and his first Defensive Player of the Year selection while Head Coach Robbie Sieverding earned Coach of the Year honors. Juniors Kain Arthofer and Jake Weber were selected to the All-IIAC Second Team.
Norris, a senior, led the Iowa Conference in scoring at 22.4 points per game and rebounding (11.5 rpg) and became the fourth Spartan, and first since 1991, to earn back-to-back Iowa Conference MVPs. The four-time All-IIAC selection posted eight 20+ point games and eight 10+ rebounding games over the course of 14 IIAC games. Norris finished first in minutes played (35.9) and third in field goal percentage (53.1%) while setting the all-time UD career scoring record with 1936 points.
Defensively, the 6-7 forward led the Iowa Conference and was the national leader in defensive rebounds (10.8), finished second in steals (1.8), and fourth in blocks (0.9). It was his first defensive player of the year award and the first time in IIAC history a player won both MVP and DPOY in the same year.
Coach Sieverding takes home his first IIAC Coach of the Year award after securing the Spartans first Iowa Conference regular season title since 1990. Since Sieverding took over in 2007-08, the Spartans have won 164 games, most in the IIAC, along with the 2013 and 2015 Iowa Conference tournament championships. The 2016 class leaves as the winningest class in school history after winning 84 games.
Behind Norris and Coach Sieverding, the Spartans led the conference in seven categories including scoring defense (65.7 ppg), scoring margin (+10.0 ppg), field goal percentage defense (.395), and three-point percentage defense (.304).
Arthofer, a junior, earned his first career IIAC honor after averaging 14.4 ppg while shooting 46.1% from the field, 41.7% from three-point range, and 80.4% from the free throw line during 14 IIAC games. Arthofer notched an IIAC season-best 26 points and grabbed six boards on 7 of 11 shooting in win at Buena Vista on February 3 and scored in double digits 11 times. The Bettendorf, Iowa native earned Iowa Conference Male Basketball Performer of the Week on February 14 thanks to a 22-point performance in win over Luther that included 7 of 9 three-point shooting.
Weber, a junior, also notched his first IIAC award after averaging 10.0 points and 7.9 rebounds during the IIAC season. The Dubuque, Iowa native registered eight double-digit scoring games and had arguably his best game of the season with a 21-point, 16-rebound showing in defeat to Wartburg on February 17. Weber shot 50.6% from the field and totaled two double-doubles during the 14-game IIAC slate.
The Spartans concluded their season in the Iowa Conference semifinals with a season record of 18-8 (11-3 Iowa Conference), their fourth straight season of 18+ wins.
