EWU's Tanner Groves named Big Sky MVP
Eastern Washington junior Tanner Groves was named MVP of the Big Sky Conference on Monday.
Groves was a first team All-Big Sky selection, joining junior Kim Aiken Jr. on that squad as EWU was the lone league school to have two players on the first team. Aiken was also selected as the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and EWU sophomore Tyler Robertson was picked as the Top Reserve.
Groves becomes the fourth MVP in the last five years, joining Mason Peatling, Bogdan Bliznyuk (2018) and Jacob Wiley (2017) in earning the honor, and EWU now has a total of six in school history.
Aiken is just the second Eagle to earn the Big Sky's top honor on defense, joining Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame member Alvin Snow who was honored in 2004. Robertson's accolade is the first time an Eagle has earned the top reserve honor.
Groves is currently second in the Big Sky Conference in rebounding (7.9 per game, just behind Aiken at 8.4) and field goal percentage (.570). He is also fifth in scoring (16.5), eighth in blocked shots (1.0) and eighth in free throw percentage (.798).
Aiken has averaged 12.0 points (20th in the Big Sky) and 8.4 rebounds (first) thus far in his junior season. He's made 50 of 62 free throws (.806 to rank sixth in the league) and has 25 steals (1.3 per game to rank 12th), 21 blocked shots (1.1 to rank fourth) and 42 assists.
Robertson registered 12 double-figure scoring performances, including eight in EWU's last 13 games.
The men's Big Sky tournament begins Wednesday in Boise, with Idaho vs. Montana one of the games. EWU plays either Portland State or Northern Arizona in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
2020-21 All-Big Sky Conference Team
FIRST TEAM — Tanner Groves, Eastern Washington; Kim Aiken Jr., Eastern Washington; Isiah Brown, Weber State; Tevian Jones, Southern Utah; Cameron Shelton, Northern Arizona.
SECOND TEAM — Ethan Esposito, Sacramento State; Maizen Fausett, Southern Utah; John Knight III, Southern Utah; Seikou Sisoho Jawara, Weber State; Xavier Bishop, Montana State.
THIRD TEAM — Amin Adamu, Montana State; Bodie Hume, Northern Colorado; Tarik Cool, Idaho State; Jubrile Belo, Montana State; Matt Johnson II, Northern Colorado.
HONORABLE MENTION — James Scott, Portland State; Kyle Owens, Montana; Brayden Parker, Idaho State; Bryce Fowler, Sacramento State; Dre Marin, Southern Utah; Robert Ford III, Idaho State.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER — Most Valuable Player – Tanner Groves, Eastern Washington
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Kim Aiken Jr., Eastern Washington
TOP RESERVE — Tyler Robertson, Eastern Washington
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Isiah Brown, Weber State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR — Dillon Jones, Weber State