March 23, 2006

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova guard Allan Ray (Bronx, N.Y.) and head coach Jay Wright have both been named as finalists for the Naismith Player and Coach of the Year awards. Both winners will be announced in Indianapolis, Ind. on April 2.

Ray has led Villanova to a 26-3 record and a share of the 2006 Big East regular season crown. He is averaging 19.0 ppg and 3.7 rpg as well as shooting 89.5 percent from the line and has made 104 three-pointers this year. In the first two games of the NCAA tournament, Ray has scored a combined 44 points. The senior was named to the All-Big East First Team and second team NABC All-American.

Wright is in his fifth season on the Main Line with an overall record of 101-58. The 2005-06 seniors are his first recruiting class at Villanova and have taken the Wildcats to two NCAA tournaments. He was named the 2006 Big East Coach of the Year leading Villanova to a 14-2 conference record.

The Naismith Award is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men's and women's college basketball coaches of the year. The Atlanta Tipoff Club has presented the Naismith Trophy since UCLA's Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. In 1987, Indiana's Bob Knight became the first men's college coach to win the award.