USM Head Basketball Coach Jay Ladner finalist for Hugh Durham Award

As the Southern Miss men’s basketball team awaits its NIT fate, some good news out of Hattiesburg, Jay Ladner named a finalist for the Hugh Durham Award, going to the best mid-major coach in Division I men’s basketball.

Ladner is one of 20 finalists up for the honor and one of just two from the Sun Belt after a remarkable turn around in which the Golden Eagles won just their second out-right regular season conference championship as a part of an 18-win turnaround from the year before.

USM has an overall record of 25-7.