Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus #7 UConn on March 29, 2026 , Loss , 72, to, 73
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Final
Men's Basketball
72
vs #7 UConn
73
Photo by: Duke Athletics
Brown Earns Lefty Driesell Award as Nation’s Top Defender
4/2/2026 1:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS – Duke senior Maliq Brown, the anchor of one of the nation's top-ranked defenses, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Lefty Driesell Award, presented annually by CollegeInsider.com to the top defensive player in Division I college basketball.
The 6-foot-9 forward led a Blue Devils unit that finished the regular season No. 1 nationally in defensive efficiency, while earning recognition as the nation's top-rated individual defender with an 8.3 defensive box plus-minus, the second-highest mark in BartTorvik history.
"Maliq Brown was the best on-ball defender in college basketball," said Angela Lento, Vice President of College Insider, Inc. and member of the Lefty Driesell Award voting panel. "His defensive prowess made the Blue Devils the best defensive team in the country. His intensity and toughness made him a difference maker."
A native of Culpeper, Virginia, Brown totaled 68 steals and posted the ACC's top steal percentage (5.12%), which ranks third nationally according to KenPom. He also recorded 195 total deflections (5.3 per game), accounting for more than 32% of Duke's total deflections.
He matched his career high with five steals twice this season, doing so against Texas Tech (Dec. 20) and rival North Carolina (March 7), marking the fifth time in his career he has recorded five takeaways in a game. Brown recorded two or more steals in 23 contests.
Brown added a season-best four blocked shots against St. John's in the NCAA Tournament and concluded his career with 77 blocks and 198 steals.
He was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year, helping lead Duke to one of the most dominant defensive seasons in program history.
The Lefty Driesell Award is named in honor of the legendary coach who spent more than four decades as a head coach. Charles "Lefty" Driesell won 786 games in 41 seasons at Davidson, Maryland, James Madison and Georgia State, ranking eighth on the NCAA Division I career victories list. His teams were known for their defensive intensity, highlighted by a 348-159 record at Maryland from 1969-86, along with two ACC regular-season titles and one tournament championship. Driesell also led Davidson, Georgia State and James Madison to the NCAA Tournament, becoming one of three coaches to guide four different programs to the NCAA Tournament. His teams captured 16 regular-season championships and six tournament titles. Driesell passed away on Feb. 17, 2024, at the age of 92.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeMBB".
#GoDuke
The 6-foot-9 forward led a Blue Devils unit that finished the regular season No. 1 nationally in defensive efficiency, while earning recognition as the nation's top-rated individual defender with an 8.3 defensive box plus-minus, the second-highest mark in BartTorvik history.
"Maliq Brown was the best on-ball defender in college basketball," said Angela Lento, Vice President of College Insider, Inc. and member of the Lefty Driesell Award voting panel. "His defensive prowess made the Blue Devils the best defensive team in the country. His intensity and toughness made him a difference maker."
A native of Culpeper, Virginia, Brown totaled 68 steals and posted the ACC's top steal percentage (5.12%), which ranks third nationally according to KenPom. He also recorded 195 total deflections (5.3 per game), accounting for more than 32% of Duke's total deflections.
He matched his career high with five steals twice this season, doing so against Texas Tech (Dec. 20) and rival North Carolina (March 7), marking the fifth time in his career he has recorded five takeaways in a game. Brown recorded two or more steals in 23 contests.
Brown added a season-best four blocked shots against St. John's in the NCAA Tournament and concluded his career with 77 blocks and 198 steals.
He was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year, helping lead Duke to one of the most dominant defensive seasons in program history.
The Lefty Driesell Award is named in honor of the legendary coach who spent more than four decades as a head coach. Charles "Lefty" Driesell won 786 games in 41 seasons at Davidson, Maryland, James Madison and Georgia State, ranking eighth on the NCAA Division I career victories list. His teams were known for their defensive intensity, highlighted by a 348-159 record at Maryland from 1969-86, along with two ACC regular-season titles and one tournament championship. Driesell also led Davidson, Georgia State and James Madison to the NCAA Tournament, becoming one of three coaches to guide four different programs to the NCAA Tournament. His teams captured 16 regular-season championships and six tournament titles. Driesell passed away on Feb. 17, 2024, at the age of 92.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeMBB".
#GoDuke
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