NORTHWESTERN’S BOO BUIE RECIPIENT OF THE 2024 LEFTY DRIESELL AWARD
Presented annually to the top defensive player in division I college basketball.

PHOENIX, AZ -- Northwestern’s Boo Buie is the recipient of the 2023-24 Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year award, which is presented annually to the top defensive player in division I college basketball.  

Buie, a 6-2 senior, anchored a strong defense for coach Chris Collins, helping the Wildcats reach the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year and advance to the Round of 32.

Buie finished his outstanding career by recording 49 steals this season and playing an integral role in a Wildcats defense that ranked 54th nationally in adjusted efficiency and held six opponents to less than 70 points in the final month of the season.

The Albany, NY native also made 89 3-pointers and collected 93 defensive rebounds for Northwestern this season.

"Boo belongs on the list of all-time Big Ten floor generals who helped propel their program to historic heights," said Rich Boyages, Executive member of CollegeInsider.com and Former Big Ten VP of Men's Basketball. "He's the archetype for honoring a commitment to your university, continuing to work & improve, doing what it takes to win, and becoming a consummate leader. Boo’s defensive prowess combined disruptive on-ball pressure with intelligent off-ball positioning and great anticipation."

The Lefty Driesell award is named in honor of the legendary coach who spent over four decades as a head coach.

Driesell won 786 games in 41 years at Davidson, Maryland, James Madison, and Georgia State. He ranks eighth on the NCAA career Division I coaches victories list and his teams at each stop were known for playing tenacious defense. From 1969-1986 at Maryland, his teams posted a 348-159 record, won two Atlantic Coast Conference regular season titles and one tournament title.

Driesell also led Davidson, Georgia State and James Madison to the NCAA tournament, making him one of three coaches to reach the NCAAs with four different programs. His teams won a total of 16 regular season championships and six tournament championships.

Charles “Lefty” Driesell passed away on Feb. 17, 2024. He was 92.

The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.

2024 LEFTY DRIESELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS