Kansas redshirt junior Dedric Lawson posted back-to-back double-doubles in being named the most valuable player of the NIT Season Tip-Off and has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week in a vote by a media panel which covers the league, the conference announced Monday.
This is the second time this season Lawson has earned the honor and the third-straight week Kansas has taken home the conference player of the week. Lawson's two weekly league honors, Nov. 12 and 26, were sandwiched by Jayhawk senior Lagerald Vick being named Nov. 19.
Lawson scored 26 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in Kansas' 77-68 win versus Marquette (11/21) in the NIT semifinals. The Memphis native also had three assists and two blocked shots against the Golden Eagles.
In KU's 87-81 overtime win against No. 5 Tennessee (11/23) in the title game, Lawson scored 24 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and had five assists. It marked the first time since 2003 a Jayhawk has posted 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. He averaged 25 points and 12.5 rebounds in Kansas's NIT title run and in the title game against the Volunteers, Lawson scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half and overtime.
Lawson is the only player in the Big 12 currently averaging a double-double. He leads the league with a 10.4 rebound average and his 17.6 points per game are sixth in the Big 12. He also ranks among the conference leaders in assists (ninth at 3.8).
No. 2 Kansas (5-0) returns home to host Stanford (3-2) in Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 4:30 p.m. (Central). The game will be televised on ESPN. Stanford is coached by former KU guard Jerod Haase.