Edwin Named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
3/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 10, 2014
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Seton Hall senior Fuquan Edwin (Paterson, N.J.) was named the 2013-14 BIG EAST Conference Defensive Player of the Year as announced on Monday. The 6-foot-6 guard, who was also named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, led the conference in steals for the second time in the last three seasons and currently ranks third in the nation averaging 2.85 steals per game. Edwin becomes only the second Seton Hall player in program history to garner the prestigious, accolade joining Pirate Hall of Famer Jerry Walker who received the recognition in 1992-93.
Since his arrival at The Hall, Edwin has created havoc for his opponents on the defensive end of the floor. His innate savviness, coupled with a tremendous work ethic has enabled him to develop into one of the best at his trade in BIG EAST history. His 74 steals in 26 games this season are 14 more than the next highest total in the conference. He is also tied for the ninth most on Seton Hall's single season chart, a list which he already owns the top spot (102, 2011-12) and also occupies sixth-place (79, 2012-13).
Edwin's defensive tenacity has proved to be a game-changer for the Pirates as his steals often lead to fast break points fueling The Hall's up-tempo offense that ranks fourth in the BIG EAST (72.7 ppg). Six times this season he has swiped five or more steals, increasing his career total to 16 such outings. On Dec. 22, Edwin set yet another Seton Hall record with eight steals that helped lift the Pirates to a 92-70 victory over Eastern Washington. The eight steals tied a career-high and matched former Pirates Levell Sanders (1994-98) and Paul Gause (2005-09) who share the single game record with Edwin.
Earlier this season, Edwin broke Seton Hall's career steals record which stood for over 30-years. His five steal performance in a win at Georgetown on Jan. 18 sent him past Dan Callandrillo (260, 1978-82). The 2011-12 national steals leader (3.0/game) also advanced to seventh place on the BIG EAST's steals chart with 153 for his career in conference action.
Edwin enters the 2014 BIG EAST Tournament Presented by NEW YORK LIFE with 292 career steals, which are the second most among active players in NCAA Division I only behind Ohio State's Aaron Craft (324). The Pirates square off with Butler on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden in the First Round. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. on FOX Sports 1 and 970 AM WNYM.
