Memphis Tigers sophomore star Austin Nichols continues to receive postseason accolades for his outstanding 2015 season. He was recently named to the 2014-15 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 25 first team on Mar. 27.
Nichols continues the streak of having at least one Memphis Tiger on the NABC All-District team for the last 14 seasons.
Despite Memphis failing to make the postseason for the first time since 2000, that was no fault of Nichols. The sophomore led the Tigers in scoring with 13.3 points per game. That’s four points more per game than he averaged in his freshman season (9.3). Nichols was the only Tiger to averaged double figures in scoring this season.
His rebounds per game averaged also jumped from 4.3 in 2013-14 to 6.1 in 2014-15. But Nichols’ biggest improvement came on the defensive end. At one time considered a liability on defense, Nichols improved his defensive game greatly this season averaging 3.4 blocks a game—third in the NCAA. He nearly tripled his blocks per game total from last season (1.2).
This is Nichols’ second postseason honor, he was also named to the 2014-15 American Athletic Conference first team. He validated that selection, in part because he was named to the AAC preseason first team.
Though his game improved last season, that’s not to say Nichols came out of nowhere. The sophomore was the AAC’s Rookie of the Year for the 2013-14 season.
Some of his most impressive performances this season came in some of the Tigers’ lowest moments. In a Jan. 3 loss to Tulane, Nichols scored a career-high 28 points, and also grabbed nine rebounds and swatted four shots in a 74-66 loss.
However, he would lead Memphis to more victories than not. After he missed two games midway through the season with his first right ankle injury, Nichols came back just in time to face the defending champion UConn Huskies. His energy was felt from the beginning, and helped lead Memphis to its first of two wins over UConn this season chipping in with 17 points, eight rebounds and seven blocks in a 75-72 victory.
Two games later, Nichols would injury his right ankle again in a Feb. 28 overtime loss to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. He would not play again for the remainder of the season.
Coach Josh Pastner described his importance to the team after that loss.
"We can deny anything we want,” Pastner said. “But when you lose your best player, your franchise, it makes it hard. Everyone can say you have other players, but when you lose your best player, it makes things difficult. Austin is a high character young man. He's very unselfish. His teammates love him. When you lose a guy like that, it's not just losing him, it's his character and attitude you lose as well."
Memphis fans will hope that Nichols can continue his strong play in the 2015-16 season, and avoid the ankle problems that plagued him at the end of this season.
