Irving, TX-University of Memphis sophomore Wesley Witherspoon has been named the Conference USA Player of the Week for Feb. 1-7, the league office announced Monday. Witherspoon is the second Tiger to earn the honor this season, as Elliot Williams took home the same accolade on Dec. 14.
This is the first league weekly honor for Witherspoon in his collegiate career. He was named the 2009 Conference USA Sixth Man of the Year last season.
In the Tigers' two games last week, Witherspoon averaged 27.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals. The 6-foot-9 forward also shot 69.6 percent from the floor, 50 percent from the three-point line and 69.2 percent from the free throw line.
Witherspoon scored a career-high 29 points in the Tigers' 85-75 win over Conference USA rival UAB Feb. 3. He followed that performance with a 26-point outing versus nationally-ranked Gonzaga Feb. 6. It was the first time in Witherspoon's career that he had back-to-back 20-point games.
Against UAB, Witherspoon scored his 29 points on 8-of-12 field goals, 1-of-4 treys and 12-of-14 free throws. The 12 free throws made and 14 free throw attempts both were career bests, while the eight field goals made and 12 field goal attempts tied career highs.
The Atlanta, Ga., native scored 13 of his 29 points versus the Blazers in the final 5:50 of the game. Of those 13 points, Witherspoon netted six-straight (basket, four FT) in a span of 2:36 (3:40-1:04) to break a 69-all tie and give the Tigers a 75-69 advantage that they did not lose the rest of the contest.
In the Gonzaga game, Witherspoon tied a career high with eight field goals made. He also set a career best with four treys in the contest. Witherspoon netted four of his 26 points in a 13-4 second-half run that turned a 49-40 deficit into a 53-all tie with 4:31 left.
The Tigers (16-7, 6-2 C-USA) return to action Wednesday, Feb. 10 when they host UCF (11-11, 3-5 C-USA) in a Conference USA encounter at FedExForum. The contest is scheduled to air on Comcast Sports Southeast at 6 p.m. (CT).
This is the first league weekly honor for Witherspoon in his collegiate career. He was named the 2009 Conference USA Sixth Man of the Year last season.
In the Tigers' two games last week, Witherspoon averaged 27.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals. The 6-foot-9 forward also shot 69.6 percent from the floor, 50 percent from the three-point line and 69.2 percent from the free throw line.
Witherspoon scored a career-high 29 points in the Tigers' 85-75 win over Conference USA rival UAB Feb. 3. He followed that performance with a 26-point outing versus nationally-ranked Gonzaga Feb. 6. It was the first time in Witherspoon's career that he had back-to-back 20-point games.
Against UAB, Witherspoon scored his 29 points on 8-of-12 field goals, 1-of-4 treys and 12-of-14 free throws. The 12 free throws made and 14 free throw attempts both were career bests, while the eight field goals made and 12 field goal attempts tied career highs.
The Atlanta, Ga., native scored 13 of his 29 points versus the Blazers in the final 5:50 of the game. Of those 13 points, Witherspoon netted six-straight (basket, four FT) in a span of 2:36 (3:40-1:04) to break a 69-all tie and give the Tigers a 75-69 advantage that they did not lose the rest of the contest.
In the Gonzaga game, Witherspoon tied a career high with eight field goals made. He also set a career best with four treys in the contest. Witherspoon netted four of his 26 points in a 13-4 second-half run that turned a 49-40 deficit into a 53-all tie with 4:31 left.
The Tigers (16-7, 6-2 C-USA) return to action Wednesday, Feb. 10 when they host UCF (11-11, 3-5 C-USA) in a Conference USA encounter at FedExForum. The contest is scheduled to air on Comcast Sports Southeast at 6 p.m. (CT).
