KU sophomore Malik Newman, who enjoyed another offensive explosion in helping Kansas slip by Baylor last weekend at Allen Fieldhouse, was named the Big 12’s co-newcomer of the week on Monday.
Newman, who scored 12 consecutive points in the final four minutes to lead KU to victory, finished with 24 points in the win over the Bears.
He becomes the third KU player honored by the Big 12’s weekly awards, joining freshman guard Marcus Garrett, who also was named Big 12 co-newcomer of the week earlier this season and senior point guard Devonte’ Graham, who was named Big 12 player of the week after back-to-back 35-point games during KU’s non-conference season.
Graham on watch list
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KU senior Devonte’ Graham was one of 14 college players named to the USBWA’s Oscar Robertson Trophy midseason watch list.
Graham is vying to become the second Jayhawk in a row to win the award, which Frank Mason III won last season as college basketball’s top all-around player.
Balloting will take place throughout March and the award will be given out on March 30.
The rest of the list is: DeAndre Ayton, Arizona; Marvin Bagley III, Duke; Keita Bates-Diop, Ohio State; Trevon Bluiett, Xavier; Mikal Bridges, Villanova; Miles Bridges, Michigan State; Jalen Brunson, Villanova; Jevon Carter, West Virginia; Mike Daum, South Dakota State; Angel Delgado, Seton Hall; Tra Holder, Arizona State; Jock Landale, Saint Mary’s and Trae Young, Oklahoma.
Team of the week
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Andy Katz named the Jayhawks the NCAA.com team of the week this week for their win in Morgantown, W.Va., and tough home win over Baylor.
Katz called KU the favorite to win a record 14th consecutive Big 12 regular season title, pointed out that, in order to get there KU was going to have to get through a tough upcoming stretch.
“The games will continue to intensify, with road games at Oklahoma and at Kansas State sandwiched around the Big 12/SEC Challenge game at home against Texas A&M,” Katz wrote.
Preston closure
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KU coach Bill Self on Monday was asked via conference call if KU had figured out who paid for the car driven by Billy Preston that sparked the benching of the former McDonald’s All-American who recent joined a pro team in Bosnia without ever playing a real game for the Jayhawks and if KU had told that information to the NCAA.
“I’m not going to go into details on that stuff,” Self said. “That would be for our school attorneys to talk about. We’ve talked about that situation quite a bit and we were up front with the situation and I don’t have any more to say about that situation at all.”
Asked, in a follow-up question, if he felt confident that no KU boosters were involved with the Preston situation at all, Self responded by saying simply, “Yes. You are correct to say that.”