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Texas Tech basketball: Jarrett Culver named Big 12 Player of the Week

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes to the basket against Mitch Lightfoot #44 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half of the game on February 23, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Kansas 91-62. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes to the basket against Mitch Lightfoot #44 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half of the game on February 23, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Kansas 91-62. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Jarrett Culver was named Big 12 Player of the Week after scoring 26 points in the Texas Tech basketball team’s huge win over Kansas.

Since embarrassing Kansas on national television Saturday night, the Texas Tech basketball team has been showered with praise.  And that continued Monday when Jarrett Culver was named Big 12 Player of the Week after his 26-point performance against the Jayhawks.

This is the second Big 12 Player of the Week honor this season for the Lubbock native.  He was also honored as such following his 30-point outburst against Abilene Christian on December 17th.

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And his second player of the week award further solidifies his case for Big 12 Player of the Year.  Currently in the top 20 in the conference in six categories, the Coronado Product is proving to be one of the best players in the nation.

He ranks third in the Big 12 in points per game at 18.0.  He trails only Kansas’ Dedric Lawson (19.0 p.p.g.) and Iowa State’s Marial Shayok (18.6 p.p.g.)

What’s more, he is fifth in the league in assists at 3.7 per game.  Neither Lawson or Shayok are in the top 20 in that category.

Additionally, he ranks sixth in defensive rebounds at 4.8 per game.  Lawson leads the league with 7.3.

It has been quite a step forward for Culver during his sophomore season.  After seeing Keenan Evans and Zhaire Smith depart from last year’s team, Tech needed Culver to assume a greater role this season and he has done just that.

This season, his scoring is up 7.8 points per game while his shooting is up to 49% from 45% a season ago.  He is grabbing 1.3 more rebounds and 1.8 assists per game as well.

And all of that comes with Culver being the entire focus of opposing teams.  Repeatedly facing double and even triple-teams, he has had just one game in which he did not score at least 10 points.

That’s why he is a consensus top-10 NBA Draft prospect.   He is a true guard that can do everything on the court which makes him a perfect fit in the modern NBA where versatility is a key with virtually every player in the league being able to handle the ball and shoot from anywhere.

Currently, ESPN.com has Culver as the No. 8 overall prospect.  They tout his athleticism, intangibles and defensive versatility while saying that he must improve his ability to finish around the rim and his ability to shoot pull-up jumpers.

Next. Three reasons Texas Tech beat Kansas. dark

But regardless of where he fits in the NBA, Culver is already the best all-around player in the Big 12.  Whether or not he wins conference player of the year will likely depend on whether Tech can win the regular season league title.  And if he continues to play as well as he did against Kansas, that could very well be what happens.

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