Stevie Mitchell earns Marquette awards for team play, academic excellence

Wilson grad Stevie Mitchell was honored with several awards at Marquette’s annual team banquet Tuesday following its record-setting season.

Mitchell, a sophomore guard, was recognized with the Deflection Champion Award, the Academic Excellence Award and the UBUNTU Award.

Mitchell started all 36 games for the Golden Eagles and was a key to their defense; he generally guarded the opposition’s top guard or small forward. Wilson’s all-time scoring leader helped Marquette set the program record with 29 victories and was a key factor in the team’s first Big East championships, both regular season and tournament.

The UBUNTU Award symbolizes the importance of team play and selflessness, characteristics that Mitchell embodies for Shaka Smart’s team. It’s a phrase that former Boston Celtics coach and longtime Marquette University board member Doc Rivers popularized to encourage team play.

UBUNTU originated from a Zulu phrase which translates to: “A person can only be a person through others.” The concept was championed by Nelson Mandela, President Barack Obama and other leaders.

Mitchell has always been a serious student. Unlike other student-athletes, who often take an easier academic path, he is majoring in Finance with a minor in Information Systems.

Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek was named Marquette’s Most Valuable Player. Oso Ighodaro earned the Dwayne Wade Legacy of Leadership Award.

Smart was named Big East Coach of the Year and is a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year award.

Marquette went 17-3 in Big East play, tying Syracuse (2011-12) for most wins in league history.

Since the Big East was formed in 1979-80 Marquette is the only team picked ninth or lower in the preseason poll to win the league championship.