Long named to Henson Award midseason watch list

Louisiana junior Shawn Long has been named to the Lou Henson Award midseason watch list, as announced by award officials Wednesday.
Long, second in the nation among active players with 42 career double-doubles, is leading UL with 16.2 points and a Sun Belt best 9.8 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures in each of his last seven games and also leads the SBC with 1.9 blocks per game.
He has twice been named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week this season and once the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Week.
Long is averaging 18 points and 11.3 rebounds per game in league play and pulled in a 22-point, 22-rebound performance against South Alabama Saturday, which was the first 20/20 game at UL since 1981.
The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the Division I “Mid-Major” Player of the Year. The award is named in honor of Henson, who retired after a spectacular coaching career that lasted 41 years.
When he left the game in 2005, Henson was sixth all-time in career Division I wins with 779. He is the winningest coach at both Illinois and New Mexico State.
He is one of only 12 coaches to take two schools to the Final Four.
The 2015 recipient will be announced at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet April 3 in Indianapolis, site of the 2015 men’s NCAA Basketball Championship.