March 11, 2013
Kunz sweeps awards in men's basketball
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| Senior Brandon Kunz was named Most Valuable Player, Outstanding Defender and Leading Rebounder for the Vikings in 2012-13. |
The Augustana men's basketball team has announced its award winners for the 2012-13 season with senior center Brandon Kunz (Lake Zurich HS, Lake Zurich, Ill.) sweeping Most Valuable Player, Outstanding Defender and Leading Rebounder honors. Junior center Kevin Schlitter (Maine South HS, Park Ridge, Ill.) and sophomore guards Danielius Jurgutis (Downers Grove South HS, Darien, Ill.) and Mark Roth (Washington HS, Metamora, Ill.) have been named captains-elect for the 2013-14 season.
Kunz, who served as a co-captain with fellow senior George Dexter (Bettendorf HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) this season, started 26 of 27 contests, averaging 11.0 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game. A bout with the flu kept him out of the starting lineup at Millikin, but he shook off the effects to enter the game with 16 minutes remaining, score eight points, grab five rebounds and lead Augustana to a come-from-behind win.
In addition to rebounding, Kunz led the Vikings in field goal percentage (.559), blocked shots (16) and free throws made (89) and attempted (114). He was Augustana's second-leading scorer and third in free throw percentage at .781. He was a second team All-CCIW selection for Coach Grey Giovanine's 19-8 Vikings.
Kunz appeared in 105 games during his Viking career. Only six players in school history have played in more. He ended up eighth in career field goal percentage at .562 and is19th all-time in rebounds with 493. His 41 career blocked shots are tied for 12th-most in Augustana recorded history.
Junior varsity MVP honors were shared this year by sophomore center Alex Dziagwa (Riverside Brookfield HS, Brookfield, Ill.) and freshman guard Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.).
Jurgutis, one of just two Vikings to start all 27 games this year, was third on the team in scoring at 10.4 points per game. Roth led the Vikings with 36 three-point field goals and Schlitter averaged 9.7 points on .615 field goal shooting before his season was ended after six games by a knee injury.
2012-13 AUGUSTANA VIKINGS MEN'S BASKETBALL LETTER WINNERS
| NO | NAME | POS | HT | WT | YR | HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL |
| 14 | Hunter Hill* | G | 5-9 | 157 | Fr | Byron, Ill./Byron |
| 20 | Mark Roth** | G | 6-0 | 164 | So | Metamora, Ill./Washington |
| 22 | Jake Norcia* | G | 6-0 | 161 | Fr | Highland Park, Ill./HS |
| 24 | Griffin Pils* | G | 6-4 | 207 | Fr | Libertyville, Ill./HS |
| 25 | Tayvian Johnson* | F | 6-6 | 193 | Fr | East Moline, Ill./United Township |
| 30 | Jawan Straughter* | G | 6-0 | 180 | Fr | Bolingbrook, Ill./Plainfield East |
| 32 | Danielius Jurgutis** | G | 6-0 | 201 | So | Darien, Ill./Downers Grove South |
| 34 | Ben Ryan* | F | 6-5 | 208 | Fr | Washington, Ill./HS |
| 40 | Nic Hoepfner* | F | 6-6 | 232 | So | East Moline, Ill./United Township |
| 42 | George Dexter**** (C) | F | 6-7 | 201 | Sr | Bettendorf, Iowa/HS |
| 44 | Jake Gylten* | F | 6-6 | 214 | Fr | Iowa City, Iowa/West |
| 45 | Brandon Motzel* | F | 6-7 | 195 | Fr | Buffalo Grove, Ill./Carmel Catholic |
| 50 | Alex Dziagwa* | C | 6-9 | 187 | So | Brookfield, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield |
| 52 | Brandon Kunz**** (C) | C | 6-7 | 205 | Sr | Lake Zurich, Ill./HS |
*- Denotes letters won (C) - Denotes captains HEAD COACH: Grey Giovanine ASSISTANT COACHES: Tom Jessee, Rick Harrigan, Dallas Duwa, Jordan Delp
