MICHIGAN'S STAUSKAS IS OSCAR ROBERTSON NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Contact Joe Mitch
mitch@usbwa.com
(314) 795-6821

January 28, 2014

ST. LOUIS (USBWA) The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected the Michigan guard Nik Stauskas as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 26. The USBWA's weekly honor is presented by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and is announced exclusively on SiriusXM Radio's "Inside College Basketball."

As the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week, Stauskas was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week. This is the fifth season that the USBWA has selected a national player of the week.

Stauskas, a 6-6 sophomore from Mississauga, Ont., averaged 22.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in leading the Wolverines to wins over No. 10 Iowa (75-67) and third-ranked Michigan State (80-75). For the week, he shot 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the field, 60.0 percent (9-of-15) from three-point range and 85.7 percent (6-of-7) from the free-throw line.

On Wednesday against Iowa, he scored a career-high tying 26 points on eight field goals, handed out five assists, and pulled down five rebounds. In the road win on Saturday at Michigan State, he scored 19 points, including a 5-of-6 effort on three-pointers and dished out four assists.

Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation's oldest award and the only one named after a former player.

Oscar Robertson Trophy

At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership. The winner of the Oscar Robertson Trophy will be presented by its namesake, Oscar Robertson, at the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards on April 14 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award and the Integris Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award will also be presented at the gala to be held annually the Monday following the NCAA Men's Final Four.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.

Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, the most comprehensive college basketball publication in the world, returns for its 33rd season, bigger and better in 2013-14. Blue Ribbon long-known as "The Bible of College Basketball" · gives its readers the most thorough, up-to-date and timely evaluations of every Division I team in the country. For more information about Blue Ribbon Yearbooks, visit
blueribbonyearbookonline.com.