Vucevic earns Pac-10 Player of the Week
Following resounding victories over No. 10 Arizona and Arizona State, USC junior forward Nikola Vucevic was named Pac-10 men’s basketball Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 21-27.
Inside presence · Junior Nikola Vucevic has been a double-double machine for the USC men’s basketball team the entire season, averaging 17.5 points and 10.3 rebounds. - Carlo Acenas | Daily Trojan
Vucevic’s strong play as of late has powered the Trojans to four straight wins, increasing their chances of earning an NCAA tournament at-large bid.
In the Trojans’ 65-57 upset win over No. 10 Arizona, which snapped the Wildcats’ eight-game winning streak, Vucevic had a game-high of 25 points and 12 rebounds.
But it was his 17-point contribution in the second half that helped the Trojans bounce back from a late four-point deficit to win the game.
In the Trojans’ 62-46 win over Arizona State on Saturday, Vucevic tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds, finishing the week with per game averages of 22 points and 11 rebounds.
He notched his 18th double-double of the season, and sixth straight overall.
Vucevic’s father, Borislav, was in attendance for both games at the Galen Center — it was the first time he was able to watch his son play in person while at USC.
This is Vucevic’s first career Pac-10 Player of the Week honor and the 33rd Trojan basketball player to receive the award for USC all-time.
It is the second time this season a Trojan has won Pac-10 Player of the Week, as junior guard Jio Fontan earned the award for the week of Dec. 20-26.
Vucevic and the Trojans will finish off their season on the road, going head-to-head with Washington State on Thursday and Washington on Saturday.