Maurice Watson Jr.
Photo by: Corey Solotorovsky
Maurice Watson Jr. Named BIG EAST and National Player of the Week
2/15/2016 7:45:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Junior point guard averaged 25.0 points, 7.5 assists and 6.0 rebounds in two wins last week
OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton guard Maurice Watson Jr. has been named National Player of the Week by both NBCSports.com, CBSSports.com and LuteOlsonAward.com after leading the Bluejays to a pair of wins. Watson was also recognized as BIG EAST Player of the Week after his big week.
Watson averaged 25.0 points, 7.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals as Creighton defeated No. 5 Xavier (70-56) and won at Marquette (65-62) last week. Watson made 54.5 percent of his shots from the field and 81.3 percent of his free throw attempts.
Â
The Philadelphia, Pa., native began his week with 32 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in Creighton's victory over No. 5 Xavier. Watson scored 22 of his points after the intermission as Creighton picked up a win at home over a top-five team for the first time since 1970. Watson also became Creighton's first player since Benoit Benjamin (in 1985) with at least 32 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a game.
Â
Watson then had 18 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in Saturday's 65-62 win at Marquette. Watson tied the game with 2:32 left with a pair of free throws, and assisted on the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:05 left that helped CU move into sole possession of third place in the BIG EAST. The game was Watson's third double-double of the winter, and he became the first Bluejay since Duan Cole in 1989-90 with four games of 10+ assists in the same season.
Â
Watson has led Creighton in assists each of the last 17 games, and leads the BIG EAST with 172 assists on the season. He also leads Creighton in scoring (14.9 ppg.).
Watson is the first Creighton honoree named National Player of the Week by NBCSports.com since Doug McDermott was two times (Jan. 13, Feb. 17) during a 2013-14 season that saw him sweep National Player of the Year honors. He is the first Creighton honoree from CBSSports.com since McDermott was honored on Jan. 6, Jan. 13 and Feb. 17 in the spring of 2014 during his senior campaign. Watson was named BIG EAST Player of the Week last month on January 11th, as well. McDermott was also the last Bluejay to be named LuteOlsonAward.com National Player of the Week, doing so on Jan. 6, 2014.
Creighton (17-9, 8-5 BIG EAST) returns to action on Tuesday night when it visits Butler (17-8, 6-7 BIG EAST) in a game that tips at 6:01 pm Central on FS1.
Watson averaged 25.0 points, 7.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals as Creighton defeated No. 5 Xavier (70-56) and won at Marquette (65-62) last week. Watson made 54.5 percent of his shots from the field and 81.3 percent of his free throw attempts.
Â
The Philadelphia, Pa., native began his week with 32 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in Creighton's victory over No. 5 Xavier. Watson scored 22 of his points after the intermission as Creighton picked up a win at home over a top-five team for the first time since 1970. Watson also became Creighton's first player since Benoit Benjamin (in 1985) with at least 32 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a game.
Â
Watson then had 18 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in Saturday's 65-62 win at Marquette. Watson tied the game with 2:32 left with a pair of free throws, and assisted on the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:05 left that helped CU move into sole possession of third place in the BIG EAST. The game was Watson's third double-double of the winter, and he became the first Bluejay since Duan Cole in 1989-90 with four games of 10+ assists in the same season.
Â
Watson has led Creighton in assists each of the last 17 games, and leads the BIG EAST with 172 assists on the season. He also leads Creighton in scoring (14.9 ppg.).
Watson is the first Creighton honoree named National Player of the Week by NBCSports.com since Doug McDermott was two times (Jan. 13, Feb. 17) during a 2013-14 season that saw him sweep National Player of the Year honors. He is the first Creighton honoree from CBSSports.com since McDermott was honored on Jan. 6, Jan. 13 and Feb. 17 in the spring of 2014 during his senior campaign. Watson was named BIG EAST Player of the Week last month on January 11th, as well. McDermott was also the last Bluejay to be named LuteOlsonAward.com National Player of the Week, doing so on Jan. 6, 2014.
Creighton (17-9, 8-5 BIG EAST) returns to action on Tuesday night when it visits Butler (17-8, 6-7 BIG EAST) in a game that tips at 6:01 pm Central on FS1.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballMeet the Jays - MBB Blake Harper
Friday, August 15
Meet the Jays - MBB Austin Swartz
Friday, August 15
Meet the Jays - MBB Jasen Green
Friday, August 15
Meet the Jays - MBB Ty Davis
Friday, August 15
