News and Notes: Monday Edition

Above, an A.P. Photo of James D. Paul II (Cornell '88).  Cornell's annual team award for the top reserve is named in Paul's memory.  Below, some news and notes for Monday...

• The Columbia Spectator recaps the season of the Columbia Lions and quotes Columbia guard Brian Barbour after a loss to Cornell.

• Cornell Athletics issued the following release on the team's season ending awards banquet which included the presentment of the James D. Paul II Award:

Wroblewski Named Team MVP At Basketball Banquet

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Senior Chris Wroblewski was named the Big Red's most valuable player for the 2011-12 season when the awards were announced at the Cornell men's basketball banquet on May 1 at the Moakley House at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course. Senior Drew Ferry was selected as the recipient of the Rebounder's Club Award, while freshman Galal Cancer earned the James D. Paul II Award.

Wroblewski became the school's all-time career leader in assists (482) and a 1,000-point scorer (1,202 points - 13th all-time) as a senior en route to earning first-team All-Ivy League honors. A third-team Capital One/CiSIDA Academic All-American, Wroblewski led the team in scoring (11.5 ppg.) and was third in the Ivy League in assists (5.3 apg.) and second in steals (1.6 spg.). Wroblewski became just the second player in Cornell history to surpass 1,000 points, 400 assists, 300 rebounds and 100 steals, joining All-American and Ivy Player of the Year Louis Dale, his former backcourt mate. Wroblewski had 24 points and a career-high 11 rebounds in a win at Brown and nearly notched the program's first-ever triple-double with 18 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the overtime win over Yale. He scored 10 points with seven rebounds, six assists and two steals against Boston University, going 8-of-8 from the free-throw line , including making all six in the final 30 seconds. He also hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds left in overtime to lift the Big Red over Albany and had 21 points to go along with six assists vs. American. The senior co-captain scored 19 points, dished seven assists and grabbed four rebounds on Senior Day against Ivy champion Harvard. He ended his career ranked fourth in career 3-point field goals made (189), fifth in 3-point percentage (.414), ninth in free-throw percentage (.823), ninth in steals (139) and 10th in free throws made (279). His 119 games played ranked second all-time among Cornellians, and his 3,594 minutes played sits third.

A team co-captain, Ferry started all 28 games for the Big Red and averaged 11.3 points to rank second on the team. He led the Ivy League in 3-pointers (84), ranking 10th in the country with his average of 3.0 per game. Ferry also averaged career highs of 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and set a career-best with his 22 steals. Ferry scored in double figures 12 times with three 20-point games and became the 17th player in Big Red history to hit at least 100 3-pointers in a career. Ferry scored a career-high 26 points against Albany in an overtime win and had 20 points against both Lehigh and Penn State. Ferry recorded 17 points and six rebounds at Penn and notched 14 points and four rebounds in the win at Brown. His 164 career 3-pointers ranks sixth all-time in Big Red history, while his .390 shooting sits sixth.

Cancer had a strong rookie campaign, averaging 6.1 points, 2.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while averaging 21.1 minutes per game. Cancer played in all 28 games with six starts. He was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week on Dec. 19 after scoring 11 points, dishing seven assists, snatching five rebounds and picking up four steals in an 85-82 overtime victory over Albany. Cancer spearheaded an Ivy-opening upset of defending league champion Princeton with 17 points, four assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block, then scored 10 points with two rebounds and two assists on the return trip to Princeton. He posted 13 points at Delaware and notched career highs of seven rebounds, six assists and three steals vs. American. Cancer as in double figures with 10 points, seven assists and three rebounds at Penn State.

The Big Red improved on its 2010-11 win totals both overall and in conference play this past season, ending the year 12-16 (7-7 Ivy League) in the second season under Courtney. Cornell will return three starters and 10 letter winners next season.