MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- Matisse Thybulle of Washington is the 2018-19 recipient of the Lefty Driesell Award, given annually to the nation’s best defensive player.

 

The 6-5 guard / forward led the nation with 3.5 steals per game and was top 10 in defensive win shares and defensive plus / minus. His pesky pressure on the perimeter propelled the Huskies to the Pac-12 regular season championship and a victory over Utah State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 

 

Thybulle played nearly 4,000 minutes during his four-year career at Washington, finishing with 330 steals, surpassing Gary Payton to become the Pac-12’s career leader. He’s also top 20 all-time in blocked shots with 182.

 

Driesell, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018, 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.