Team of the Week
California – Want an easy recipe for taking down our weekly Team of the Week award? Go on the road and come back with two wins, regardless of your opponents. That’s what the Golden Bears did this weekend, and while sweeping the Los Angeles schools isn’t going to necessarily turn anyone into a believer overnight, getting road conference wins over anybody is an accomplishment worth celebrating. Throw in the fact that the road sweep this weekend makes for a season sweep of both USC and UCLA for the first time in Berkeley since 1958-59 and Mike Montgomery’s team certainly has something to take pride in. Justin Cobbs and Harper Kamp both averaged 14 points per game this week with Cobbs adding five assists per game while David Kravish broke out in a big way in Thursday night grabbing 18 rebounds against the depleted Trojans. But the real key to the weekend was suffocating defense, limiting their opponents to just 0.84 points per possession. That kind of defense combined with efficient offense makes Cal a tough team to beat.
Player of the Week
E.J. Singler, Junior, Oregon – The Ducks also swept their opponents this weekend, taking care of the Washington schools in Eugene in impressive fashion. While head coach Dana Altman got production out of all ten players who played this weekend, Singler deserves the most praise. He averaged 18 points and seven rebounds and hit five of his eight three-point attempts, but deserves the most credit for his defensive work. Against Washington State on Sunday, he was given the most responsibility for slowing red-hot Brock Motum, who had been averaging 27.3 points and nine rebounds in his previous four games. While Motum still put up 17 points, five boards, and five assists, Singler held him to just one point over the last 15 minutes of the game and effectively made other Cougars do the damage instead of Motum.
Newcomer of the Week
Carlos Emory, Jr, Oregon – After scoring just 74 points in his first 20 games in a Duck uniform, Emory has scored 55 points over the last five games, including 28 points and 16 rebounds on ten-of-15 shooting in 46 minutes against the Washington schools. Emory, who was a national junior college All-American last season at Howard College in Big Springs, Texas, has been making the most of a boost in minutes lately. While just 6’6”, he has taken some minutes away from seven-footer Tony Woods and provided a good toughness up front. Emory has the athletic ability to hang with taller opponents on the glass, while also showing a talent for guarding smaller, quicker players on the perimeter. With the Ducks still in the thick of things at the top of the conference, his versatility gives Oregon plenty of options up front.