Kansas' Jeff Withey Named Big 12 Player of the Week

Feb. 13, 2012

IRVING, Texas – Kansas center Jeff Withey has been selected Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week, for games of Feb. 7-12 in voting by a panel of media covering the league. It is the first conference weekly accolade for Withey and sixth time in 2011-12 that a Jayhawk has earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors.

Withey had a career week as Kansas won at No. 6 Baylor (68-54) and against Oklahoma State (81-66). The 7-0 San Diego, Calif., junior began with a career-best 25 points to go along with five rebounds and three blocks at Baylor. He made 8-of-10 (.800) shots from the floor in that game. He then grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds versus Oklahoma State to go along with 18 points and seven blocks. Withey is the second Big 12 player to grab at least 20 boards in a game this season joining Kansas junior teammate Thomas Robinson who had 21 rebounds against North Dakota (12/31). Withey shot 60.9 percent from the floor on the week, while connecting at a .789 clip from the free-throw line. He is averaging 9.2 points and 6.3 rebounds and leads the Big 12 in blocks (79) and blocks per game (3.2). His 44 rejections in league play is double the total of the next closest player.

Withey joins Robinson, senior Tyshawn Taylor and junior Travis Relefordin earning Big 12 Player of the Week honors this season. Robinson has won the award three times, while Taylor, Releford and Withey once this season. This is the first time in conference history that four different players from the same school have been named Big 12 Player of the Week during the same season.