Husky Basketball: C.J. Wilcox Named Pac-12 Player of the Week

No surprise here. C.J. Wilcox has been given the Pac-12 Player of the Week award primarily for his high-powered, efficient performance against Stanford on Saturday. He headed into the game averaging 18 points, 5 boards, and 2 assists, but on the road against the Cardinal he racked up 27 points on only 16 shots while also pulling down 9 boards and blocking 2 shots.

January 12, 2013; Stanford, CA, USA; Washington Huskies forward C.J. Wilcox (23) drives to the basket during the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. Washington won 65-60. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports.

While the scoring and rebounding totals were unusually high, the performance was vintage Wilcox. Running around screens before taking advantage of a half-second of open time to catch the ball and launch daggers just before the defender can get his hand up, not to mention the inside moves that have become more and more common. Daring floaters and penetrating lay-ins have started to become the standard, and so is the forward-level rebounding. Over the last 5 games, Wilcox has averaged 6.6 rebounds, and has only had fewer than 7 once.

Before the season started I beat to death the point that Wilcox would have to do two things to help Washington succeed: replicate his past efficiency at a much higher rate every single night, and crash the boards and act as a third reliable rebounder. He has done just that while also blocking 1.4 shots per game. In case that doesn’t seem significant, remember that 7’0″ 260 pound Aziz N’Diaye only averages 1.3 blocks a game, so that makes Wilcox the third best rebounder and the very best shot blocker on the team to go along with the near-20 point per game average.

The guy is a star, and this award is just more recognition of that fact.