INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Marquette guard Markus Howard as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 19.
As the Big East Conference Player of the Week for a record 12th time in his career, Howard 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.
Howard, a 5-11 senior from Chandler, Ariz., averaged 38.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists while leading the Golden Eagles to conference wins over Xavier and at Georgetown.
The senior had 35 points in an 85-63 win over the Musketeers and 42 versus the Hoyas, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:21 remaining in an 84-80 victory. Howard is the nation's leading scorer with 28.2 average and is scoring 31.7 points per game in Big East play. His 42-point effort at Georgetown put him in eighth place on the league's all-time scoring list in conference games with 1,260 points.
This is the third time the USBWA has selected Howard as its national player of the week in his career. He was honored twice last season.
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.
2019-20 Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week
Week ending Nov. 17: Myles Powell, Seton Hall (Big East Conference)
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Week ending Nov. 24: Vernon Carey Jr., Duke (Atlantic Coast Conference)
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Week ending Dec. 1: Jon Teske, Michigan (Big Ten Conference)
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Week ending Dec. 8: Luka Garza, Iowa (Big Ten Conference)
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Week ending Dec. 15: Payton Pritchard, Oregon (Pac-12 Conference)
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Week ending Dec. 22: Jhivvan Jackson, UTSA (Conference USA)
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Week ending Dec. 29: Nick Richards, Kentucky (Southeastern Conference)
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Week ending Jan. 5: Cassius Winston, Michigan State (Big Ten Conference)
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Week ending Jan. 12: Jared Butler, Baylor (Big 12 Conference)
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Week ending Jan. 19: Markus Howard, Marquette (Big East Conference)
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Week ending Jan. 26: Chris Duarte, Oregon (Pac-12 Conference)
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Week ending Feb. 2: Tommy Funk, Army West Point (Patriot League)
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Week ending Feb. 9: Jalen Harris, Nevada (Mountain West Conference)
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Week ending Feb. 16: Remy Martin, Arizona State (Pac-12 Conference)
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Week ending Feb. 23: Marcus Zegarowski, Creighton (Big East Conference)
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Week ending March 1: Taveion Hollingsworth, WKU (Conference USA)