Aussie Aussie Oye Oye!: Two Australian Guards Named League MVP

For the second time in eight years, two Australians were named conference player of the year in the same campaign. Guards Ryan Broekhoff (Valparaiso in Horizon League) and Matthew Dellavedova (Saint Mary's in West Coast) were honored this season, duplicating the 2004-05 feat by centers/fellow Aussies Andrew Bogut (Utah in Mountain West) and Alex Loughton (Old Dominion in Colonial Athletic Association).

As the foreign invasion escalated in recent years, another "Down Under" Australian who finished atop an alliance hit list was Utah center Luke Nevill, the Mountain West Conference's premier player in 2008-09. Broekhoff and Dellavedova became the 18th and 19th players from overseas thus far this century to become a league MVP. Following is an alphabetical list of foreigners named Player of the Year/Most Valuable Player in a Division I conference:

Player, Position, College (Native Country/DI Conference)
Rafael Arajuo, C, Brigham Young (Brazil/2004 in Mountain West)
Tunji Awojobi, F, Boston University (Nigeria/1997 in America East)
Jose Juan Barea, G, Northeastern (Puerto Rico/2006 in Colonial Athletic)
Lubos Barton, G, Valparaiso (Czech Republic/2002 in Mid-Continent)
Andrew Bogut, C, Utah (Australia/2005 in Mountain West)
Ryan Broekhoff, G, Valparaiso (Australia/2012 in Horizon League)
Stefan Ciosici, C, Lafayette (Romania/1998 in Patriot League)
Gilberto Clavell, F, Sam Houston State (Puerto Rico/2011 in Southland)
Matthew Dellavedova, G, Saint Mary's (Australia/2012 in West Coast)
Tim Duncan, C, Wake Forest (Virgin Islands/1996 and 1997 in ACC)
Patrick Ewing, C, Georgetown (Jamaica/1984 and 1985 in Big East)
Joe Faulkner, F-G, Southern, La. (Virgin Islands/1990 in SWAC)
Adonal Foyle, C, Colgate (West Indies/1996 and 1997 in Patriot League)
Eric Franson, F-C, Utah State (Belgium/1995 in Big West)
Adnan Hodzic, C, Lipscomb (Bosnia/2010 in Atlantic Sun)
Stephane Lasme, F, Massachusetts (Gabon/2007 in Atlantic 10)
Marcos Leite, F, Pepperdine (Brazil/1976 in West Coast Athletic)
Alex Loughton, F-C, Old Dominion (Australia/2005 in Colonial Athletic)
Christian Maraker, F, Pacific (Sweden/2006 in Big West)
Raimonds Miglinieks, G, UC Irvine (Latvia/1996 in Big West)
Mate Milisa, C, Long Beach State (Croatia/2000 in Big West)
Steve Nash, G, Santa Clara (Canada/1995 and 1996 in West Coast)
Luke Nevill, C, Utah (Australia/2009 in Mountain West)
Hakeem Olajuwon, C, Houston (Nigeria/1984 in Southwest)
Michael Olowokandi, C, Pacific (England/1998 in Big West)
Ugonna Onyekwe, F, Penn (England/2002 and 2003 in Ivy League)
Jose Ortiz, C, Oregon State (Puerto Rico/1987 in Pacific-10)
Artsiom Parakhouski, C-F, Radford (Belarus/2009 and 2010 in Big South)
Hector Romero, F, New Orleans (Venezuela/2002 in Sun Belt)
Timo Saarelainen, F, Brigham Young (Finland/1985 in WAC)
Juan "Pepe" Sanchez, G, Temple (Argentina/2000 in Atlantic 10)
Wayne Sappleton, F, Loyola of Chicago (Jamaica/1982 in Midwestern City)
Rik Smits, C, Marist (Netherlands/1987 and 1988 in Northeast)
Ryan Stuart, F, Northeast Louisiana (Bahamas/1992 and 1993 in Southland)
Mychal Thompson, C, Minnesota (Bahamas/1978 in Big Ten)
Mindaugas Timinskas, F, Iona (Lithuania/1997 in Metro Atlantic Athletic)
Greivis Vasquez, G, Maryland (Venezuela/2010 in ACC)
Cuthbert Victor, F, Murray State (Virgin Islands/2004 in Ohio Valley)
Christian Welp, C, Washington (Germany/1986 in Pacific-10)
NOTE: The SWC did not recognize a formal list of league MVPs.