Kansas Duo Sweeps Big 12 Weekly Awards
March 2, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas junior guard Sherron Collins and freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor have been named as the latest Phillips 66 Big 12 Player and Rookie of the Week for Feb. 23 – March 1 in voting by a panel of media covering the conference, the conference office announced Monday. It is the third player honor this year for Collins, while Taylor captures rookie recognition for the fourth time.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sherron Collins, Kansas, G, Jr., 5-11, 200, Chicago, Ill./Crane
Collins is named top player for the second consecutive week after leading the Jayhawks to victories over two top 10 teams in No. 3 Oklahoma (87-78) and No. 8 Missouri (90-65). The junior guard averaged 25.5 points, including a career-high tying 26 at OU. He shot 50 percent (14-of-28) from the floor, hitting 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from 3-point range. He was the key KU player down the stretch against the Sooners, scoring 15 of his 26 points in the final six minutes. He also had nine assists and three steals last week. Collins has finished with 20 points or more 10 times this season, including each of the last four games.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas, G, Fr., 6-3, 180, Hoboken, N.J./Saint Anthony
Taylor averaged 20.5 points in the Jayhawks’ two victories, the best two-game stretch of his freshman campaign. The top performance came against Oklahoma, as he scored a career-best 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting. A total of 16 of those points came in the first half. In two contests, he shot 65 percent (13-of-20) from the field, including 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from beyond the arc. He also added 11 free throws and nine assists. Taylor has three 20-point efforts this season and has scored in double digits in 15 outings. He leads all Big 12 freshmen with 89 assists and is tied for second with 32 steals. The four rookie accolades matches the fifth-most in one season in Big 12 history.
2008-09 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Weekly Awards
Player; Rookie
Nov. 17: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma, F, So.; Toney McCray, Nebraska, G, Fr.
Nov. 24: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma, F, So.; Quincy Acy, Baylor, F, Fr., Willie Warren, Oklahoma, G, Fr.
Dec. 1: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma, F, So.; Willie Warren, Oklahoma, G, Fr.
Dec. 8: Craig Brackins, Iowa State, F, So., A.J. Abrams, Texas, G, Sr.; Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas, G, Fr.
Dec. 15: Cory Higgins, Colorado, G, So.; Lucca Staiger, Iowa State, G, So.
Dec. 22: James Anderson, Oklahoma State, G/F, So.; Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas G, Fr.
Dec. 29: Craig Brackins, Iowa State, F, So.; Willie Warren, Oklahoma, G, Fr.
Jan. 5: Sherron Collins, Kansas, G, Jr.; Willie Warren, Oklahoma, G, Fr.
Jan. 12: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma, F, So.; Lucca Staiger, Iowa State, G, So.
Jan. 19: Austin Johnson, Oklahoma, G, Sr.; Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas G, Fr.
Jan. 26: Craig Brackins, Iowa State, F, So.; Keith Ramsey, Missouri, F, Jr.
Feb. 2: Denis Clemente, Kansas State, G, Jr.; Willie Warren, Oklahoma, G, Fr.
Feb. 9: DeMarre Carroll, Missouri, F, Sr., Zaire Taylor, Missouri, G, Jr.; Mario Little, Kansas, G, Jr.
Feb. 16: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma, F, So.; Willie Warren, Oklahoma, G, Fr.
Feb. 23: Sherron Collins, Kansas, G, Jr., James Anderson, Oklahoma State, G, So.; Willie Warren, Oklahoma, G, Fr.
March 2: Sherron Collins, Kansas, G, Jr.; Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas, G, Fr.
