INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected North Carolina forward/center Armando Bacot as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 16.
As the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week, Bacot 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.
A 6-10 junior from Richmond, Va., Bacot matched his career high with 29 points along with 12 rebounds in an 88-65 win over Georgia Tech last Saturday in North Carolina's lone game of the week. With that line, Bacot became the first Tar Heel to record at least 29 points and 12 rebounds in consecutive games since Charlie Scott in 1970 and just the fourth in program history. The previous Saturday he had 29 points and 22 rebounds in a 74-58 win over Virginia.
Against Georgia Tech, Bacot was 10-for-16 from the floor and a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line in recording his seventh consecutive double-double, the longest streak by a Tar Heel since 2011. He leads the ACC with 12 double-doubles this season and is the first Tar Heel to score 29 or more points in consecutive games since 2008.
The Tar Heels continue ACC play on tonight at Miami with a 7 p.m. ET tipoff on the ACC Network.
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.
2021-22 Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week
Week ending Dec. 12: Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona (Pac-12
Conference)
· Week ending Dec. 19: Alondes
Williams, Wake Forest (Atlantic Coast Conference)
·
Week ending Dec. 26: Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (Southeastern
Conference)
· Week ending Jan. 2: Walker Kessler,
Auburn (Southeastern Conference)
· Week ending
Jan. 9: Johnny Davis, Wisconsin (Big Ten Conference)
·
Week ending Jan. 16: Armando Bacot, North Carolina
(Atlantic Coast Conference)
· Week ending Jan.
23: Isiaih Mosley, Missouri State (Missouri Valley Conference)
·
Week ending Jan. 30: Bryce Hamilton, UNLV (Mountain
West Conference)
· Week ending Feb. 6: Hunter
Maldonado, Wyoming (Mountain West Conference)
·
Week ending Feb. 13: KJ Williams, Murray State (Ohio
Valley Conference)
· Week ending Feb. 20: Julian
Champagnie, St. John's (Big East Conference)
·
Week ending Feb. 27: KJ Williams, Murray State (Ohio
Valley Conference)
· Week ending March 6: Jaime
Jaquez Jr., UCLA (Pac-12 Conference)