Thanks to Hot Start, First-Year WVU Men's Basketball Player Lands Big 12 Conference Weekly Honor
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on November 24, 2014 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
The Big 12 Conference recently announced its weekly award winners. Jonathan Holton of West Virginia University shared the "Newcomers of the Week" honors for the men's basketball league. All three winners are listed below.
BIG 12 NEWCOMERS OF THE WEEK
Jonathan Holton, West Virginia, F, Jr., 6-7, 220, Miami, Fla./Palm Beach State CC
Holton helped lead West Virginia to the Puerto Rico Tipoff championship as the Mountaineers recorded victories over George Mason, Boston College and Connecticut. The junior forward finished with 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, scoring in double figure two times. He made 15-of-24 (.625) shots from the field, including two 3-pointers. Holton also added five assists, four blocks and six steals for the week. He has grabbed at least five boards in each contest this year.
Norense Odiase, Texas Tech, C, Fr., 6-9, 270, Crowley, Texas/North Crowley
Odiase averaged 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds as Texas Tech posted a 1-1 week with a win over Missouri State and an overtime loss at LSU. The freshman center had 13 points in each contest, with 17 of his 26 points coming in the second half. He made 9-of-11 (.818) shots from the field and connected on 8-of-13 (.615) from the line. Odiase leads the team in minutes (28.7 mpg) as well as points (14.0), rebounds (8.0) and field goal percentage (.636). The last time a Red Raider center led the squad in minutes was 2001-02 (Andy Ellis).
BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jonathan Holmes, Texas, F, Sr., 6-8, 240, San Antonio, Texas/Antonian College Prep
Holmes earned 2K Classic MVP honors by averaging 20.0 points and 9.0 rebounds as Texas defeated Iowa and California at Madison Square Garden. The senior forward had a team-high 19 points to go along with five boards in the win over the No. 25 Hawkeyes. He then added a game-high 21 points plus 13 rebounds against the Bears for his first double-double of the season. Holmes shot 56.5 percent (13-of-23) in the event and 10-of-13 (.769) from the free throw line. Through four games, he leads the team in scoring (16.0 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg) in just 24.8 minutes per contest.
Editor's Note: Photo by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.
