Associated PressAfter posting a pair of double-doubles in New York last week, Kansas junior Dedric Lawson earned Big 12 player of the week honors for the second time this season, the Big 12 announced Monday.
Lawson, who also received the honor back in Week 1 after recording a double-double in KU’s season-opening victory over Michigan State at the Champions Classic, averaged 25 points and 12.5 rebounds during KU’s NIT Season Tip-Off title run.
In the title game against Tennessee last Friday, Lawson scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half and overtime.
His 24 points, 13 rebounds and five assists against the Volunteers marked the first time since 2003 that a Jayhawk had posted at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a single game.
Two nights earlier, the Memphis native scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, with three assists, in KU’s victory over Marquette in the NIT semifinals.
Lawson is the only player in the Big 12 currently averaging a double-double.
He leads the conference with 10.4 rebounds per game and his 17.6 points per game rank sixth. He also ranks among the conference leaders in assists (ninth at 3.8).
“I thought he was great,” Self said after KU’s 87-81, overtime win over Tennessee. “The jump hook he made was a big time jump hook. … I thought he played great.”
Asked if he had any idea why Lawson’s game rounded into form in New York better than it had during KU’s first three games of the season, Self pointed to a simple, yet subtle, tweak.
“I thought his balance was better,” he said. “I thought the last couple weeks he’s been off balance a lot. … He’s a good rebounder. He’s not the highest jumper but he’s a great position rebounder.”
