Pioneers Bring Home Several WIAC Postseason Awards
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Senior Logan Pearson of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men’s basketball team was named the 2023-24 WIAC Kwik Trip Player of the Year the league announced on Wednesday. Pioneers Head Coach Jeff Gard was tabbed Kwik Trip Coach of the Year, while sophomore Max Love joined Pearson on the All-WIAC team. Senior Ben Probst and junior Brady Olson collected Honorable Mention, with Olson also earning All-Defensive honors. Senior Austin Schaff was named to the All-Sportsmanship team.
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Senior Logan Pearson of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team was named the 2023-24 WIAC Kwik Trip Player of the Year the league announced on Wednesday. Pioneers Head Coach Jeff Gard was tabbed Kwik Trip Coach of the Year, while sophomore Max Love joined Pearson on the All-WIAC team. Senior Ben Probst and junior Brady Olson collected Honorable Mention, with Olson also earning All-Defensive honors. Senior Austin Schaff was named to the All-Sportsmanship team.
Pearson was awarded Player of the Year after finishing second in the WIAC and tied for third in the NCAA DIII in scoring at 23.5 points per game. The senior was also fourth in the conference in both rebounds (6.0) and assists (2.9) per game while playing a team-high 30.7 minutes per game. The Kimberly native earned WIAC Player of the Week honors six times and recorded four double-doubles. Pearson, who was recently named to the Bevo Francis Top 50 Watch List, scored at least 30 points in four games, including a career-high 38 against UW-La Crosse on January 27.
Gard was named Coach of the Year for the second time following a season that saw him guide the Pioneers to both the WIAC regular season and conference tournament titles. UW-Platteville enters the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past seven seasons with an overall record of 23-4.
Love improved in every category from his freshman season to finish with 12.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. The sophomore became a threat to score from everywhere on the floor, shooting 43.2 percent from the floor, 40.5 percent from deep, and 83.3 percent from the free throw line. The St. Charles, Illinois native reached double figures 16 times and matched his career-high 27 points with seven made threes in an 81-72 win over UW-Whitewater on February 14.
Probst was the top three-point shooter in the conference as he led the WIAC in made threes (69) and three-point percentage among players with at least three attempts per game (45.4 percent). The senior started all 27 games for the Pioneers and was second on the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game. The Madison native scored in double figures 18 times, including a season-high 23 in a win over UW-La Crosse on January 13.
Olson started all 27 games for the Pioneers and finished sixth in the conference in both assists (2.5) and steals per game (1.4). The junior played 30.3 minutes per contest, second-most on the team, and added 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. The Cuba City native reached double figures six times, including a season-high 17 in the regular season finale against UW-Stout.
Schaff played in nine games, starting one, and scored eight points across 18 minutes. The senior pulled down four rebounds, including three offensive boards, and dished out one assist.