IRVING, Texas (University of Memphis) – University of Memphis sophomore Will Barton has been named the Conference USA Player of the Week for Dec. 5-12, the league office announced Monday. It is the first Player of the Week honor for Barton in his career. He was named C-USA Freshman of the Week twice in 2010-11.
Last week, Barton nearly averaged a double-double with 27.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in helping the Tigers to a 1-1 week. The 6-foot-6 wing shot 66.7 percent from the field (22-of-33) and 40 percent from the arc. He also had five assists, two blocked shots and seven steals in the two games.
A 2011-12 Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy candidate, Barton is the team’s leading scorer (20.4 ppg) and rebounder (7.6 rpg) and is shooting 55.7 percent from the floor, 37.5 percent from the arc and 67.9 percent from the free throw line. He leads the squad with 14 steals and is second with nine blocked shots.
Barton has scored 20 or more points in six of the Tigers’ first eight games, including a career-high 27 points in consecutive games versus Miami (Fla.) Dec. 6 and Murray State Dec. 11. The Baltimore, Md., native has posted three double-doubles to date this season and grabbed a career-best 14 boards in a win over Miami Dec. 6.
In the Miami game, Barton netted 12 of Memphis’ first 19 points to help turn a 7-0 deficit into a 19-17 lead. His back-to-back baskets in the second half versus the Hurricanes fueled a 15-7 run that extended a 46-44 lead to 61-51.
Against Murray State, Barton hit five early second-half points (trey, tip-in) to give the Tigers their first lead of the game. During the late second-half run, Barton accounted for five points (layup, assist on Wesley Witherspoon three-pointer) and had two steals to cut a 71-60 Racers lead to 73-72 with 14 seconds left on the clock.
The Tigers (5-3) return to action Saturday, Dec. 17 when they travel to Louisville, Ky., to face the rival Cardinals (9-0) in the Basketball Hall of Fame Shootout. The game, scheduled for a CBS Sports broadcast, is slated for a 3:00 p.m. (CT) start.
