Dillard named adidas® OVC Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Following a week of hard work, close wins, and career-highs, the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team added another significant accomplishment to its resume, an adidas® OVC Player of the Week Award in the name of Jud Dillard.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Following a week of hard work,
close wins, and career-highs, the Tennessee Tech men's basketball
team added another significant accomplishment to its resume, an
adidas® OVC Player of the Week Award in the name of Jud Dillard.
The award comes as no surprise as Dillard has posted one of the best starts to a season in Tech history. While leading the Golden Eagles to a 3-0 record for the first time since 2008-09, Dillard is averaging a double-double and has led Tech in scoring in all three contests. In fact, only one player in all of Division I basketball has scored more than Dillard this season, as the Golden Eagle go-to guy sits second in the nation with 28.0 points per game.
Dillard opened the week with a career-best 34 points against a dangerous Coastal Carolina team that had beaten Mid-American Conference preseason favorites Akron in its season opener. His scoring display helped edge the Chanticleers 71-69 in a game that saw six different lead changes. He added 12 rebounds, giving him his first double-double of the season. Dillard wrapped up the week averaging 29.5 points per game, 11 rebounds per game, and 3.5 assists per game, all while shooting over 60 percent from the field and 55 percent from 3-point range.
He backed-up the career performance with perhaps an even more impressive display on the road against a tough East Tennessee State team. Dillard willed his team to a 65-62 victory by scoring both early and late and pulling down a crucial rebound at the end of the contest to seal the win. The Atlanta, Ga., native scored 25 points in the contest, leading all scorers for the third consecutive game, and added 10 boards to give him a second consecutive double-double. He also flirted with a triple-double, adding six assists on the night on top of playing solid defense.
During the week, Dillard recorded his 600th career rebound and 1,200th career point as a Golden Eagle. He now sits 14th all-time in rebounds and 17th all-time in scoring in program history. His career field goal percentage of 52.7 percent ranks 11th in the Tech record books.
The senior guard is no stranger to Ohio Valley Conference
recogition. As a sophomore, Dillard was named to the 2011 OVC
All-Tournament Team. He followed that up with all-OVC first-team
honors last season and a preseason all-OVC nod this season. He also
led the OVC in rebounding in 2011-12 while finishing fourth in
scoring.
This week's award marks the fifth time Dillard has won an OVC
weekly award in his career. He was named Player of the Week for the
week of Feb 20, 2012 and earned Freshman of the Week honors on
three occasions during the 2009-10 season.
Here's a look at the rest of the awards in the OVC this week:
Player of the Week
Other Nominated: Ian Clar, Belmont; Josh Piper, Eastern Illinois; Mike DiNunno, Eastern Kentucky; Ronnie Boggs, Jacksonville State; Milton Chavis, Morehead State; Isaiah Canaan, Murray State; Tyler Stone, Southeast Missouri; Jerome Jones, SIU Edwardsville; Robert Covington, Tennessee State; Myles Taylor, UT Martin
Newcomer of the Week
Glenn Cosey, G, Jr., 6-0, 182, Flint, Mich. - Eastern Kentucky
Cosey earned Comfort Suites Invitational MVP honors after leading EKU to three wins in three days. He averaged three assists and 2.67 steals per game in addition to making 11-of-18 shots inside the arc. The junior had 21 points, four assists and four steals against Kennesaw State. He had 14 points, four assists and three steals in an overtime victory against Towson. Cosey scored 20 points against Radford.
Others Nominated: Sherman Blanford, Eastern Illinois; Chad Posthumus, Morehead State; Dexter Fields, Murray State; Bobby Jones, UT Martin
Freshman of the Week
Chris Horton, C, Fr., 6-8, 195, Decatur, Ga. - Austin Peay
Recorded his first career double-double against Western Kentucky with 12 points, going 5-of-10 from the floor, and 10 rebounds. Has had at least two blocked shots in each of the Governors first three games and tallied three steals vs. DePaul.
Others Nominated: Craig Bradshaw, Belmont; Chris Deanes, Jacksonville State; Dee Oldham, UT Martin
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