Here’s another rendition of the Pac-12’s peak performers…
Team of the Week – Washington
Remember back when the Huskies lost at home to Albany in the early days of the season? How about when Colorado State rolled into Hec Ed and pasted them by 18? Or when a bad Nevada team handed Lorenzo Romar’s team its third non-conference home loss of the season? Back then, if you had perused the Husky schedule and seen that this was the lone Pac-12 team that would kick off the conference slate with three straight road games, no one would have blamed you if you thought “a 1-2 start wouldn’t be so bad; a 2-1 start unbelievable!” Well, here they are after two weeks of conference play and they are one of three teams that has yet to lose a conference game. After dealing with a host of injury problems early in the year, Romar has finally got himself a full roster of healthy individuals, his veterans starters are starting to take ownership of this team, and redshirt freshman guard Andrew Andrews is giving his squad a nice spark off the bench. Heading back to Seattle this week to host the reeling Rocky Mountain schools, it is seems like the same as it ever was, with the Huskies in the midst of a bunch of schools at the top of the Pac-12 standings.
Player of the Week – C.J. Wilcox, Washington
A big part of the reason for the Huskies’ reemergence is the play of junior wing C.J. Wilcox. He has been rock solid all year long and right near the top of the conference scoring leaders, scoring in double figures in all but one game this season and regularly earning about 37 minutes a night. This weekend, in the Huskies’ road sweep of the Bay Area schools, Wilcox played all but nine of the 80 minutes and did it all, averaging 23 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks while posting an effective field goal percentage over 60%. Once known as “just a shooter,” Wilcox has added a good game off the bounce, capable of creating mid-range opportunities for himself or teammates while significantly improving his defensive ability. And given that he is going to get just about every available minute at that position, expect him to remain among the few for the race in the conference scoring lead.
Newcomer of the Week – Jahii Carson, Arizona State
Carson earns this award for the fourth time this season (no one else has won it more than once) on the back of a week where he had 20 points and four assists in each of the Sun Devils’ games against the Oregon schools. He also added seven boards in the Oregon game and three steals in the Oregon State game while hitting 17-of-35 field goal attempts and knocking down a trio of threes. More to the point, in taking his squad on the road in conference play for the first time this season, Carson showed a confidence and a command of his team that will be essential as the trials of the remainder of the season continue.