ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers
Association has selected Indiana forward Juwan Morgan
as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week
for games ending the week of Sunday, Dec. 16. The USBWA's weekly
honor is presented by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.
As the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week, Morgan was nominated
for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the
USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players
of the week. The USBWA has named Oscar Robertson National Players
of the Week since the 2009-10 season.
The 6-8 senior forward from Waynesville, Mo., scored a career-high
35 points in the No. 25 Hoosiers' 71-68 comeback win over Butler
in the Crossroads Classic, breaking his own Classic record set a
year ago. Morgan connected on 12-of-14 field goals (85.7 percent),
including 4-of-6 from 3-point range and 7-for-7 free throws, and
added three rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals. His second
steal with 3:50 left in the game led him to making two game-tying
free throws, and he gave Indiana its first lead with a score on
its next possession.
Morgan topped 1,000 career points during the game as well, becoming
the 52nd player in Indiana history to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau.
He now ranks 51st in career scoring with 1,020 points. Morgan is
seventh in the Big Ten in scoring (17.3 pgg), second in three-point
field goal percentage (48.1 percent), fifth in field goal percentage
(67.2) and 10th in rebounds (7.6 rpg). He finished his three-game
career at the Crossroads Classic second in total points scored (75)
and points per game (25.0) among those who have competed in the
eight-year event.
Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player
of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University
of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year
Oscar Robertson. It is the nation's oldest award and the only
one named after a former player.
At
the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists
for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in
1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers.
With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential
organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America
team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA
and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Joe Mitch
at 314-795-6821.
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, the most comprehensive
college basketball publication in the world, returns for its 38th
season. Blue Ribbon – long-known as "The Bible of College Basketball"
– gives its readers the most thorough, up-to-date and timely evaluations
of every Division I team in the country. For more information about
Blue Ribbon Yearbooks, visit
blueribbonyearbookonline.com.
2018-19 Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week •
Week ending Dec. 2: Markus Howard, Marquette (Big
East Conference) • Week ending Dec. 9: Admiral
Schofield, Tennessee (Southeastern Conference) •
Week ending Dec. 16: Juwan Morgan, Indiana (Big Ten
Conference) • Week ending Dec. 23: Markus Howard,
Marquette (Big East Conference) • Week ending
Dec. 30: Justin Wright-Foreman, Hofstra (Colonial Athletic Association) •
Week ending Jan. 6: Shamorie Ponds, St. John's (Big
East Conference) • Week ending Jan. 13: Bruno
Fernando, Maryland (Big Ten Conference) • Week
ending Jan. 20: Ja Morant, Murray State (Ohio Valley Conference) •
Week ending Jan. 27: Grant Williams, Tennessee (Southeastern
Conference) • Week ending Feb. 3: Chris Clemons,
Campbell (Big South Conference) • Week ending
Feb. 10: Robert Franks, Washington State (Pac-12 Conference) •
Week ending Feb. 17: PJ Washington, Kentucky (Southeastern
Conference) •
Week ending Feb. 24: Mike Daum, South Dakota State (Summit League) •
Week ending March 3: Fletcher Magee, Wofford (Southern Conference)
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