KU’s Embiid and Wiggins Named to Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason List

ST. LOUIS – Kansas freshmen Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins have been named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason List, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) announced Thursday.
 
Kansas is one of six schools that have multiple student-athletes on the 23-member midseason list. Members of the USBWA’s board of directors chose the players to be included on the list as contenders for the 2014 Oscar Robertson Trophy.
 
Embiid leads Kansas in rebounds with a 7.4 per game average, good for eighth in the Big 12. The 7-0 Yauonde, Cameroon, center is tied for the conference lead with 2.8 blocked shots per game. A two-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, Embiid’s 50 blocked shots this season are already third on the all-time KU freshman list and his eight against Oklahoma State (1.18.14) broke his own KU freshman record of seven set against UTEP (11.30.13). Embiid leads KU with four double-doubles this season.
 
Wiggins leads Kansas with a 15.2 scoring average, which also leads the Big 12 freshman class and is 10th overall in the conference. The 6-8 Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, guard has five games of 20-plus points and pulled down a season-high 19 rebounds at then No. 8 Iowa State (1/13). Wiggins is 50-of-59 (84.7 percent) from the free throw line in his last 10 games after hitting 10-of-12 charity shots during his 17-point effort in the win versus No. 23 Baylor on ESPN Big Monday (1/20). He has made 20 threes this season, leads KU with 17 steals and his 6.1 rebound average is third on the team.
 
Last season, Kansas’ Ben McLemore and Jeff Withey were named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason List and both were later named USBWA All-America Second Team. In 2012, KU’s Thomas Robinson was an Oscar Robertson Trophy finalist and a USBWA All-America First Team selection.
 
No. 8/11 Kansas is 14-4 overall and the only undefeated team in the 2014 Big 12 Conference race at 5-0 heading into its Saturday, Jan. 25 game at TCU (9-9, 0-6). The Jayhawks have defeated four nationally-ranked teams in each of its last four outings, a feat last accomplished by North Carolina in 1996-97.
 
For the complete list of the Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason List, go to http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/news/2014/oscar140123.html.  
 
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