Wayne Simien Earns Big 12 Player of the Week

Jan. 17, 2005

DALLAS – Wayne Simien (Kansas) and Taj Gray (Oklahoma) have been named Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Player and Rookie of the Week for games of Jan. 10-16 in voting by a panel of media covering the conference. Simien wins for the second time this season and fourth in his career. Gray earns rookie accolades for the third time in 2004-05.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Wayne Simien, Kansas, Sr., F, 6-9, 255, Leavenworth, Kan./Leavenworth

Simien returned after missing four games due to a hand injury and led the Jayhawks to two road victories. The senior forward averaged 18.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and shot 56.0 percent from the field as KU won at Iowa State (71-66) and Colorado (76-61). Against the Buffaloes, he notched his third first-half double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the game’s first 20 minutes. He finished with 23 points, his fifth 20-point effort of the year. Simien wins weekly honors for the fourth time in his career, tying for fourth on the all-time Big 12 list.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Taj Gray, Oklahoma, Jr., F, Wichita, Kan./Redlands (Okla.) CC

Gray led the Sooners to two victories as OU defeated Connecticut (77-65) and Baylor (65-51). The junior forward posted 18.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He had 23 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks against then-No. 12 UConn, hitting 9-of-17 (.529) shots from the field. For the week, he hit at 60.9 percent from the floor and averaged 3.5 blocks. He leads Oklahoma in scoring (15.4 ppg), rebounding (8.5) and blocks (27) this season.