Joseph Tugler Named to Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List

HOUSTON – One of the nation's premier defenders, University of Houston sophomore forward Joseph Tugler was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year presented by Molecule Watch List on Wednesday afternoon.

This season, Tugler has competed in all 22 games to date and leads Houston and ranks 13^th nationally with 2.3 blocked shots per game. He also ranks second among the Cougars with 5.9 rebounds per contest and averages 0.9 steals per game.

The Monroe, La., native leads a Houston defensive squad, which leads the nation in scoring defense (56.9 ppg) and fourth in the country with a .374 field goal percentage defense.

Tugler has blocked at least one shot in all but two games in 2024-25 with at least one block in each of the last 15 games. He leads the Cougars with 15 games with multiple blocks, including a career-high eight swats against #9/9 Alabama during the first day of the Players Era Tournament inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 26, 2024.

He became only the eighth Cougar to block 8+ shots in a game, joining Emanuel Adeife (2005-06), Anwar Ferguson (2002-04), Dwight Jones (1971-73), Hakeem Olajuwon (1981-84) and Bo Outlaw (1991-93).

Tugler was one of 15 student-athletes from NCAA Division I schools from across the country to be named to the Watch List.

He was one of only three underclassmen to be named to the Watch List, joining Duke freshman guard/forward Cooper Flagg and Arizona State freshman forward Jayden Quintance.

He also was one of three student-athletes from the Big 12 Conference to be recognized, joining Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey and Arizona State forward Jayden Quintance.

NAISMITH DEFENSIVE PLAYER of the YEAR presented by MOLECULE WATCH LIST

Name	Position	Class	School	Conference
Joseph Tugler	Forward	Sophomore	Houston	Big 12
Adrian "Ace" Baldwin Jr.	Guard	Graduate	Penn State	Big Ten
Johni Broome	Forward/Center	Senior	Auburn	SEC
Lamont Butler	Guard	Graduate	Kentucky	SEC
Cooper Flagg	Guard/Forward	Freshman	Duke	ACC
Hayden Gray	Guard	Senior	UC San Diego	Big West
Ryan Kalkbrenner	Center	Senior	Creighton	Big East
Tamin Lipsey	Guard	Junior	Iowa State	Big 12
Jahmai Mashack	Guard	Senior	Tennessee	SEC
Cameron Matthews	Forward	Graduate	Mississippi State	SEC
Stevie Mitchell	Guard	Senior	Marquette	Big East
Clifford Omoruyi	Center	Graduate	Alabama	SEC
Jayden Quintance	Forward	Freshman	Arizona State	Big 12
Kadary Richmond	Guard	Graduate	St. John's	Big East
Zakai Zeigler	Guard	Senior	Tennessee	SEC

UP NEXT
• Tugler and the Cougars face Colorado for the first time as Big 12 rivals inside CU Events Center in Boulder, Colo., at 3 p.m. (CST), Saturday, Feb. 8. That game will air on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars return to Fertitta Center to play host to rv/rv Baylor at 8 p.m., Monday, Feb. 10. That game will air on ESPN
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Saturday's game at Colorado on ESPN+ with Pete Sousa (play-by-play) and Scott Williams (analyst) calling.
• Fans can hear Saturday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) calling. The pregame show begins at 2:45 p.m. (CST), Saturday.
• Fans can follow live stats from Saturday's game by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

BUY 2024-25 TICKETS
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.

Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.

– UHCougars.com –

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