SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Massachusetts senior Chaz Williams and La Salle senior Tyreek Duren have been named to the initial group for the Bob Cousy Award Watch List that was announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Tuesday.

The pair, both of whom were Preseason Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference Selections, were among 47 Division I players named to the list, which recognizes the top point guard in men's college basketball.

A senior from Brooklyn, N.Y., Williams has averaged 16.2 points and 6.8 assists in two seasons at UMass. His 473 assists rank fifth in school history and are 203 shy of the school record. Additionally, his assist total since arriving on campus from Hofstra is the second-highest nationally among D-I returnees.

Duren enters his senior season ranked ninth in La Salle history in assists (392) and steals (176) and 27th in points (1,259). He averaged 14.3 points per game and 3.3 assists per game last season en route to being named to the all-conference, all-Big 5, and all-NABC District IV teams. Duren's preseason recognition marks the third consecutive season he has been named to the watch list.

The watch list of candidates, which is fluid and can be changed as the season progresses, will be narrowed down to a final 20 in early February, then final five by early March. A premier Selection Committee has been appointed by the Hall of Fame to review the candidates in contention for the nation's top collegiate point guard award.

The Cousy Award winner will be presented the award on Championship Monday in Dallas at the Hall of Fame's Class of 2014 Announcement and Press Conference.