Kyle Pugh Named HoopDirt.com JUCO Coach of the Week

Cloud County Community College men's basketball coach Kyle Pugh has been selected as the HoopDirt.com JUCO Coach of the Week. The award, presented by Just Play Solutions, was announced Monday, November 25.

This marks the tenth season of the HoopDirt.com Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs. Pugh is now eligible for the HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year Award, also presented by Just Play Solutions, which will be announced at the end of the 2024-2025 college basketball season.

Pugh has guided the T-Birds to an 8-0 start, including a 2-0 mark in Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference play. The 8-0 start is the best start to a season for the Cloud County men's basketball program since 2006-2007.

Cloud County opened Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference play with a 74-69 overtime win over Seward County on November 20. The T-Birds trailed 58-53 with just over a minute remaining before they were able to force two late turnovers leading to a fast-break layup for redshirt freshman Keyon Garrett-Miller and a game-tying three-pointer for sophomore Fallou Koite. Cloud County began overtime on an 11-6 run to take control of the game, and the T-Birds finished off the win at the free-throw line where they connected on 5-of-6 attempts over the final minute.

Three days later, Cloud County defeated Dodge City Community College, 101-90, in Dodge City on November 23. The 101 points marked the most points that a Cloud County men's basketball team has scored in a conference game since a 101-69 win over Colby on March 1, 2023. Five players scored in double-figures for Cloud County and the team made 16 shots from three-point range. The T-Birds ended the game 30-of-65 (46.2 percent) overall, 16-of-32 (50.0 percent) from behind the arc, and 25-of-33 (75.8 percent) from the free-throw line.

With the victories, Cloud County is out to a 2-0 start in Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference play for the third consecutive season.

Cloud County is back in action Tuesday, November 26 when the T-Birds host No. 1 Barton Community College for an 8 pm tip. The Cougars, the defending NJCAA Division I national champions, have won 34 straight games following an 82-77 win at Garden City on November 23. Barton currently sits at 7-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play and the Cougars have won three straight in the series and four of their last five meetings with the T-Birds.