Three share men's Big 12 hoops honors

Withey posted 16.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as the Jayhawks recorded wins over K-State and Texas.  The senior center shot 47.6 percent from the field and made 80 percent of his free throws while blocking seven shots and grabbing three steals.  He had double-doubles in both games, finishing with 17 points and 10 boards versus the Wildcats and following with 15 points and 10 rebounds against UT.  He has nine double doubles this year. He is also the career leader in blocked shots in the Big 12 with 265. Rodriguez averaged 19.5 points, 8.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals in 34.5 minutes per game as K-State split two games.  The sophomore connected on 48.1 percent of his shots from the floor, including 42.9 percent from 3-point range.  He also made 7-of-9 (.778) from the free throw line.  The highlight of the week came against Baylor, as he recorded his first career double-double with 22 points and 10 assists.  He has scored in double figures in seven of the last nine games, including 20 points or more twice in the past three outings.Marcus Smart  averaged 19 points in two Cowboy wins, while totaling 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocked shots.  The freshman shot 55 percent from the floor, including 4-of-6 (.667) from beyond the arc, while making 12-of-15 (.800) from the line.  His top performance came against in-state rival Oklahoma, as he led the Cowboys to a second-half comeback and finished with a career-high 28 points.  One of his steals versus the Sooners came on a block of a 3-point attempt with less than 20 seconds remaining that resulted in a turnover.View the list »
Marcus Smart was named rookie of the week for the fourth time this week.

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Players from each of the three tied for the Big 12 lead shared honors this week, league officials announced Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. Oklahoma State freshman Marcus Smart was named rookie of the week. Kansas senior Jeff Withey and Kansas State sophomore Angel Rodriguez were named co players of the week.

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The three teams are tied for the Big 12 lead with three losses each. Kansas plays at Oklahoma State Wednesday, and Kansas will play Kansas State again before the season ends. Oklahoma State also plays Kansas State again down the stretch.

Smart has been a big part of Oklahoma State's seven-game winning streak, and has had a huge February. This was the second consecutive week he was named Rookie of the Week, and he was named league player of the week on Feb. 4. It was his fourth time to be named the league's top rookie and his fifth accolade overall. Smart is on several award finalist lists, and he is being mentioned among players being considered for All American status. He could also be one of the top players chosen in the NBA draft next year.

Kansas State's Rodney McGruder has the second most honors, having been named player of the week four times. Kansas freshman Ben McLemore has been named freshman of the week twice and player of the week once.

Kansas and Kansas State have each had three different players win weekly honors. Oklahoma State has had two.

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  • Marcus Smart  averaged 19 points in two Cowboy wins, while totaling 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocked shots.  The freshman shot 55 percent from the floor, including 4-of-6 (.667) from beyond the arc, while making 12-of-15 (.800) from the line.  His top performance came against in-state rival Oklahoma, as he led the Cowboys to a second-half comeback and finished with a career-high 28 points.  One of his steals versus the Sooners came on a block of a 3-point attempt with less than 20 seconds remaining that resulted in a turnover.
  • Rodriguez averaged 19.5 points, 8.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals in 34.5 minutes per game as K-State split two games.  The sophomore connected on 48.1 percent of his shots from the floor, including 42.9 percent from 3-point range.  He also made 7-of-9 (.778) from the free throw line.  The highlight of the week came against Baylor, as he recorded his first career double-double with 22 points and 10 assists.  He has scored in double figures in seven of the last nine games, including 20 points or more twice in the past three outings.
  • Withey posted 16.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as the Jayhawks recorded wins over K-State and Texas.  The senior center shot 47.6 percent from the field and made 80 percent of his free throws while blocking seven shots and grabbing three steals.  He had double-doubles in both games, finishing with 17 points and 10 boards versus the Wildcats and following with 15 points and 10 rebounds against UT.  He has nine double doubles this year. He is also the career leader in blocked shots in the Big 12 with 265. 
View the list
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, Oklahoma State Cowboys Examiner

James Jordan has written for newspapers and magazines for the past 20 years, and much of that time has been spent covering sports on the east coast. College sports is particularly a passion. The Big 12 and Oklahoma State will be the focus of this journey and he invites you to come along.

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