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

Contact Malcolm Moran
malcolm@usbwa.com
(814) 574-1485

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Michigan center Jon Teske as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Dec. 1.

As the Big Ten Conference Co-Player of the Week, Teske 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. Once again, the USBWA will select a Division I men's National Player of the Week each Tuesday throughout the season. The USBWA has named Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week since the 2009-10 season.

Teske, a 7-1 senior from Medina, Ohio, earned the Most Valuable Player Award at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament after leading the Wolverines to three wins over Iowa State and top-10 opponents North Carolina (73-64) in the semifinals and Gonzaga (82-64) in the title game. Teske averaged 13.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocked shots and shot 58.6 percent from the floor in the three games. Against Gonzaga, he posted a career-high 15 rebounds and had four blocked shots to go with 19 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field.

The big week in the Bahamas improved Teske's season averages to approach a double-double with 13.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. He leads Michigan with 18 blocks and 11 steals on the season going into Tuesdays game at top-ranked Louisville. Teske has scored in double figures six times and recorded three double-digit rebounding games.

The Battle for Atlantis title vaulted Michigan from unranked to No. 4 in this weeks Associated Press poll, the largest jump in the poll's 70-year history.

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.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership.

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 Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.