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INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association
has selected Wyoming guard Hunter Maldonado as
its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week
for games ending the week of Sunday, Feb. 6.
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| Maldonado |
As the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week, Maldonado
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. Once again, the USBWA will select a Division
I men's National Player of the Week each Tuesday throughout the
season. The USBWA has named Oscar Robertson National Players of
the Week since the 2009-10 season.
A 6-7 senior from Colorado Springs, Colo., averaged 24.0 points
per game, 6.7 assists and five rebounds in three conference wins
and has helped lead the Pokes to their best start in conference
play since the 2001-02 team that also opened the season 8-1 in the
MW. In three games this past week, he shot 55 percent from the field
for the week and was 19-of-23 from the free throw line (83 percent).
Monday night, Maldonado posted a career-high 35 points in an
84-78 overtime win against Colorado State. He shot 63 percent from
the field in the game and added seven assists. He then added 16
points and seven assists on Thursday night against Boise State,
a 72-65 win. To cap the week, he scored 21 points to go with with
six assists and five rebounds in a 61-59 win at Fresno State on
Sunday.
Maldonado, the Mountain West's third-leading scorer (19.3), is
the first Wyoming player to earn the USBWA's national weekly honor
and the second straight Mountain West honoree this season, joiining
UNLV's Bryce Hamilton a week ago. Maldonado's 6.4 assists per game
are fourth in the nation.
The Cowboys, 19-3 overall and 8-1 in the Mountain West, host
Utah State tonight at 7:30 p.m. MT on Stadium and the Mountain West
Network.
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 Malcolm
Moran at 814-574-1485.
2021-22 Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week
•
Week ending Dec. 12: Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona (Pac-12
Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 19: Alondes
Williams, Wake Forest (Atlantic Coast Conference)
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Week ending Dec. 26: Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (Southeastern
Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 2: Walker Kessler,
Auburn (Southeastern Conference)
• Week ending
Jan. 9: Johnny Davis, Wisconsin (Big Ten Conference)
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Week ending Jan. 16: Armando Bacot, North Carolina
(Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Jan.
23: Isiaih Mosley, Missouri State (Missouri Valley Conference)
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Week ending Jan. 30: Bryce Hamilton, UNLV (Mountain
West Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 6: Hunter
Maldonado, Wyoming (Mountain West Conference)
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Week ending Feb. 13: KJ Williams, Murray State (Ohio
Valley Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 20: Julian
Champagnie, St. John's (Big East Conference)
•
Week ending Feb. 27: KJ Williams, Murray State (Ohio
Valley Conference)
• All-time USBWA National
Players of the Week (Since 2009-10)
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