Chandler Hutchison Named All Mountain West First Team

Chandler Hutchison was named to the All-Mountain West First Team and Mountain West All-Defensive Team, the conference announced Tuesday, as voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches. Alex Hobbs was tabbed the Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year.

A 2016-17 selection, as well, the first-team nod was the second straight for Hutchison, making him the fifth Bronco in program history to earn consecutive first-team league nods, joining Chris Childs (1987-89), Tanoka Beard (1991-93), John Coker (1994-95) and Roberto Bergersen (1998-99).

In addition, Hutchison repeats as just the third Bronco to earn first-team recognition since joining the Mountain West. Boise State has landed a first-team selection in each of the last four seasons (Derrick Marks, 2014-15; James Webb III, 2015-16; and Hutchison, 2016-17).

It is the first time since 1997-99 Boise State has had a first-team all-conference selection in three consecutive seasons.

Currently averaging 19.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game, Hutchison is on track to become the first player to lead a Boise State team in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

Furthermore, Hutchison is one of 10 players in NCAA Division I who is leading a team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He is joined by Jahad Thomas (UMass Lowell), Bogdan Bliznyuk (Eastern Washington), Christian Keeling (Charleston Southern), Ethan Happ (Wisconsin), Connor Cashaw (Rice), Tre’Shaun Fletcher (Toledo), Tyler Kohl (Central Connecticut), Travin Thibodeaux (New Orleans) and Joseph Kilgore (Texas A&M Corpus Christi).

In addition, Hutchison and Jahad Thomas (UMass Lowell) are currently the only two players in NCAA Division I to average at least 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game. If Hutchison were to complete the season with those same minimum averages, he would become just the fourth player in NCAA Division I since the 2009-10 season to accomplish the feat, joining the likes of Evan Turner (Ohio State; 2009-10), Ben Simmons (LSU; 2015-16) and Denzel Valentine (LSU; 2015-16).

Lastly, if he is to finish the season leading his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals, he would become just the fifth player in Mountain West history to accomplish the feat since the 2011-12 season – Boise State’s first season in the conference. He would join the likes of Jamaal Franklin (San Diego State; 2012-13), Marvelle Harris (Fresno State; 2014-15), Josh Adams (Wyoming; 2015-16) and Jaron Hopkins (Fresno State; 2016-17).

Hobbs was the team’s sixth-leading scorer in league play at 7.7 points per game. He also was No. 2 on the team in assists in MW competition, racking up 43 (2.4 apg). He also averaged 2.4 rebounds per game coming off the bench in all but two MW games.

Hobbs is just the second player in program history to ever earn a sixth man or top reserve honor for Boise State, joining Mike Sanor (1988), as he was named the Big Sky Conference Top Reserve.

To be eiligible for the award, a player must have has started no more than five (5) Mountain West games during the season.

In a separate vote that was conducted by the leauge’s media members, Hutchison was selected as the Mountain West Player of the Year, along with being a first-team selection. Chris Sengfelder and Lexus Williams were honorable mention picks in that poll, as well.

Superlatives

Player of Year: Caleb Martin, Nevada

Defensive POY: Cody Martin, Nevada

6th Man POY: Alex Hobbs, Boise State

Freshman of Year: Brandon McCoy, UNLV

Coach of year: Eric Musselman, Nevada

First-Team

Chandler Hutchison, Boise State

Deshaun Taylor, Fresno State

Jordan Caroline, Nevada

Caleb Martin, Nevada

Justin James, Wyoming