The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Baylor's Johnathan Motley as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Feb. 21. The USBWA's weekly honor is presented by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.
As the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week, Motley 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. This is the seventh season that the USBWA has selected a national player of the week. He is the fourth winner from the Big 12 this season - the most honorees of any conference in the nation.
Motley, a 6-9 sophomore forward from Houston, Texas, lead the Bears to back-to-back wins versus ranked opponents, with 25.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in 31.5 minutes last week. He connected on 22-of-30 (.733) shots from the field, improving his Big 12-leading field goal percentage from .624 to .640.
In just his second start of the season, Motley matched his career high with 27 points against Iowa State in a 100-91 overtime win last Tuesday to start the week. He followed on Saturday with 24 points at Texas, making 12-of-13 (.923) from the floor, in 28 minutes in a decisive 78-64 road win.
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 Oscar Robertson Trophy will be presented at the College Basketball Awards on April 11, 2016, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award and the Integris Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award will also be presented at the gala to be held annually following the NCAA Men's Final Four.
2015-16 OSCAR ROBERTSON NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
• Week ending Dec. 13: Javan Felix, Texas (Big 12 Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 20: Kay Felder, Oakland (Horizon League)
• Week ending Dec. 27: Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (Big 12 Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 3: Kris Dunn, Providence (Big East Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 10: Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (Big 12 Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 17: Jack Gibbs, Davidson (Atlantic 10 Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 24: Jakob Poeltl, Utah (Pac-12 Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 31: Dillon Brooks, Oregon (Pac-12 Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 7: Ryan Anderson, Arizona (Pac-12 Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 14: Austin McBroom, Eastern Washington (Big Sky Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 21: Johnathan Motley, Baylor (Big 12 Conference)