Cade Tyson Named Finalist for Kyle Macy Freshman of the Year Award

BOSTON - - Belmont University men's basketball student-athlete Cade Tyson has been named finalist for the 2023 Kyle Macy National Freshman of the Year award, CollegeInsider.com announced Thursday.

The Kyle Macy Award is presented annually to the top freshman in Division I college basketball,

The 6-7 forward burst on the scene from his opening game and delivered consistent production throughout the season.
 
Earning ESPN SportsCenter Top Play honors for his game-winning shot in the season opener vs. Ohio, Tyson posted 25 double figure scoring games in leading the MVC in scoring among freshmen.
 
Named MVC Freshman of the Year, MVC All-Newcomer Team and MVC All-Freshman Team at the league's awards banquet March 1, Tyson scored a season-high 24 points vs. Indiana State in the conference tournament and ranked among league leaders, in 2-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage.
 
Aside from his heroics on opening night, Tyson produced huge plays late in victories over Bradley, Indiana State, Chattanooga and Georgia State.
 
Tyson becomes the first Belmont player to be named finalist for the Kyle Macy National Freshman of the Year Award since Nick Muszynski in 2019.

Macy was the 1975 Indiana Mr. Basketball and played his freshman season at Purdue, averaging 13.8 points per game while leading the Boilermakers in free throws (85.9 percent for the season).

After playing his freshman year at Purdue, Macy transferred to Kentucky where he became a three-time All-America and three-time All-SEC player.

Macy was a member of Kentucky's 1978 National Championship team. In his senior year of 1979-80, he became the first Kentucky player ever to be named consensus Southeastern Conference Player of the Year.

The recipient of the 2023 award will be announced in March, in Houston,  site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.

For a complete list of the 2023 Kyle Macy National Freshman of the Year award finalists, log onto kylemacyaward.com.

Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason invitations 15 of the last 17 seasons, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 20 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 13 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont is one of only five NCAA Division I programs outside the Power 5 to post Top 100 rankings 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 19 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence