Arizona went the first 13 weeks of the season without getting a player recognized by the Big 12 Conference for their play. Now it has picked up three league honors in the eight days.
Forward Tobe Awaka has been named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for his performances in the UA’s wins at BYU and over then-No. 13 Texas Tech.
he 6-foot-8 junior averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks last week, doing so in only 20 minutes per game. He had a double-double against Texas Tech, his fourth of the season, and for the week shot 66.7 percent.
“I don’t know if he’s scrappy or thumpy or whatever you want to call it, but he’s something,” UA coach Tommy Lloyd said of Awaka after the Texas Tech game. “He brings it.”
The Tennessee transfer is averaging 8.1 points and 8.0 rebounds for the season, ranking fifth in the Big 12 in rebounding, on 61.3 percent shooting. He is second in the country in offensive rebounding percentage, at 19.1.
Awaka’s award comes after Caleb Love won Big 12 Player of the Week last Monday and Henri Veesaar was honored for the league’s top bench performance.
The reigning Big 12 Player of the Week is David N’Guessan of Kansas State, whom the UA visits on Saturday night. N’Guessan averaged 21 points and 7.5 rebounds in wins at ASU and over then-No. 16 Kansas, helping his team to a 5-game win streak after starting 1-6 in Big 12 play.
