Wright Named Pac-12 Player Of The Week
January 06, 2020 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER – University of Colorado junior guard McKinley Wright IV was named the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week for games played Jan. 2-5, the league office announced on Monday.
Wright averaged 17.5 points, 9.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds as the Buffaloes split the opening weekend of conference play at home against the Oregon schools. Wright shot 54.5 percent (12-22) from the field and 77 percent from the free throw line (10-13), picking up his second career Pac-12 Player of the Week honor and the first this season for Colorado.
Wright scored a game-high 21 points, dished out eight assists and pulled down five rebounds in Colorado's 74-65 win over then-No. 4 ranked Oregon on Jan. 2. He was 6 of 11 from the field and 8 of 10 from the free throw line.
Ironically, Wright's first Pac-12 Player of the Week honor came under similar circumstances. Two years ago, almost to the date (Jan. 4, 2018), Wright led the Buffaloes to an upset of No. 4 ranked Arizona State at home with 19 points and five assists.
Wright also put up big numbers in a losing effort to Oregon State on Jan. 5. He had 14 points and 10 assists against the Beavers, recording his eighth career double-double and third in the last four games. The double-double was his sixth of the points-assists variety, tying Jay Humphries (1980-84) school record for that category.
Monday's Player of the Week award is Colorado's 11th of the Pac-12 era. Wright joins Josh Scott (2015-16) and Askia Booker (2013-14) as Buffs to win the league's weekly award twice. Colorado has had at least one conference Player of the Week each of the last five seasons and in eight of nine seasons as members of the Pac-12.
The Buffaloes, at 12-3 and ranked No. 25 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, return to the CU Events Center on Sunday, Jan. 12, to face Utah at 4 p.m.
