Edwards and Nading Honored by D3hoops.com

St. Louis, Mo., March 19, 2008 – Senior forward Troy Ruths earned D3hoops.com first-team all-Midwest Region honors and head coach Mark Edwards was honored as the Midwest Region Coach of the Year, the Web site announced on Wednesday.

Ruths, a first-team all-University Athletic Association (UAA) selection in 2008, is averaging a UAA-best 19.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Bears. During Washington U.’s run to the Final Four, Ruths has dropped in 22.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 60.7 percent from the field.

Ruths, who ranks second on the Washington University’s all-time scoring list with 1,738 points, has notched double-figure scoring in 87 of the last 89 games. For his career, he has scored in double figures in 91 games and is averaging 16.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in 107 career games played. Ruths ranks second in school history in field goals made (652), third in free-throws made (434), fourth in rebounds (695), fifth in blocks (136) and 11th in steals (112).

Edwards has guided Washington U. to a 23-6 overall record and a second place finish in the UAA. Edwards has guided the Bears to a school-record 24-consecutive winning seasons, including 20 or more wins 10 times. Edwards, the winningest coach in team history with a 475-233 (.671) record, picked up career win No. 475 in the 57-46 over Millsaps College on March 15.

Washington University advanced to the Final Four for the second time in school history, and will face No. 1 Hope College in the National Semifinals at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Va., on Friday, March 21 at 7 p.m. (ET). Hope advanced to the Final Four with an 83-70 win over Wheaton College (Ill.) on Saturday. Washington U. and Hope last met in the NCAA Tournament just a year ago, when the Red and Green picked up a 58-55 win in the Sectional Final in Stevens Point, Wis.