INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Memphis guard Kendric Davis as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 15.
As the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, Davis 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. Davis is the first AAC player to earn the weekly award.
The 6-0 fifth-year senior guard from Houston scored a career-high 42 points in a 107-104 double overtime loss at UCF last Wednesday, including 19 points after regulation. He was 10-for-23 from the floor and 21-of-23 from the free-throw line in the loss.
His 42 points were the fifth-best single-game tally in program history, just one point shy of the AAC single-game record of 43, set by former Tiger Jeremiah Martin in 2019. He also set the conference record with 21 made free throws and tied the Memphis record for free throws attempted set in 1966 by Win Wilfong.
On Sunday, the reigning AAC Player of the Year responded with a 20-point outing that included the game-winner as time expired give the Tigers a 61-59 win at Temple, In 39 minutes, Davis was 9-for-16 from the floor and scored 16 of his 20 points after halftime.
For the week, Davis averaged an AAC-best 31.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists to go along with 2.5 steals. He finished 19-of-39 (48.7%) from the floor and converted on 21-of-25 (84.0%) trips to the free throw line.
Memphis (13-5, 3-2 AAC) hosts Wichita State at 6 p.m. CT Thursday on ESPNU.
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 winner of the award will announced at the 2023 Men's Final Four in Houston with the formal presentation to follow at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
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.