Northwest Notes Dec. 29, 2020
Kispert, Suggs named WCC Player and Freshman of the Week
SAN MATEO, Calif. — The West Coast Conference named Gonzaga's Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs the Men's Basketball Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week.
There have been five player of the week recognitions so far this season by the conference, and four different Zags have received the honor. The exception came on Dec. 14, a week when GU did not play a game. Suggs has received the freshman of the week honor three times.
Kispert, a senior forward, scored a career-high 32 points in a 98-75 victory over No. 16 Virginia in Fort Worth, Texas. He matched the GU program record for most makes from behind-the-arc in the win, connecting on 9-of-13 from deep. Kispert totaled 77 points in three Gonzaga wins, his 25.7-point average for the week, bumped his season average to a team-high 22.4 points per outing. He made 14 3-pointers during the week at a 60.9 percent clip.
Kispert became the second Zag in as many weeks to be named NCAA “March Madness” National Player of the Week. Jalen Suggs collected the honor for the week of Dec. 21.
Suggs, a freshman guard, totaled 39 points, 20 rebounds, 18 assists and eight steals in a trio of victories for the Zags. Versus Virginia, Suggs had seven rebounds, as well as seven assists to just one turnover against one of the nation’s top defenses.
BSU's Alston earns Player of the Week award
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Boise State fifth-year senior guard Derrick Alston, Jr. was named the Mountain West Men's Basketball Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday. Alston averaged 21 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists per game last week, leading the Broncos to an emphatic sweep of New Mexico.
Boise State returns to action Thursday and Saturday, against San Jose State in Phoenix.
BSU's Williams receives All-America honor
Boise State redshirt senior Avery Williams was named to the 2020 AP All-America third team as an all-purpose player Monday.
Williams leads the nation this season with four special teams touchdowns, scoring on a pair of kickoff returns and two punt returns.
In the Mountain West Championship, he returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown to tie the NCAA record for career return touchdowns with nine (six punts, three kickoffs).
He is the only player to rank in the top 20 nationally in both punt returns (third, 15.3 average) and kickoff returns (12th, 28.1).
A native of Pasadena, Calif., Williams was also named USA Today All-America First Team as a kick returner this season.
Though he could return to Boise State for another senior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams recently declared for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Williams is the first Boise State returner to be an All-American since Kyle Wilson in 2008 and the first the Bronco to earn a first-team honor on special teams since place kicker Mike Dodd (Kodak) in 1992.
Idaho's Bea named Big Sky Player of the Week
FARMINGTON, Utah — Idaho sophomore Beyonce Bea earned the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honor, as announced by the conference office Monday morning.
In two games against Seattle U. and No. 6 Arizona, Bea averaged 22 points and 8.5 rebounds per game to go along with 2.5 blocks and 2.0 assists per game.
The Washougal, Wash., native scored a career-high 33 points in a 105-96 win over Seattle U on Monday. She also recorded seven rebounds, four blocks and three assists.
At No. 6 Arizona on Wednesday Bea had 11 points and 10 rebound.
Bea leads the Vandals in scoring at 16.3 points per game and is averaging a team-high 1.5 blocks per game.
In addition to earning Big Sky Player of the Week Bea was also named the Player of the Week for the Big Sky by collegesportsmadness.com.
Bea and the Vandals will hit the road this week and take on Northern Arizona on Thursday, Dec. 31 in Flagstaff.
WSU's Abogidi, Leger-Walker named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week
SAN FRANCISCO – Washington State center Efe Abogidi was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
Abogidi posted three-straight double-doubles, two of which came in the week of the award, to become just the second freshman in program history to achieve the feat since all-time great Steve Pudoikas in 1974. In addition, Abogidi became the first freshman in program history to record 14-plus rebounds in back-to-back games when he grabbed 14 rebounds against Prairie View A&M Monday night. The last player to come up with 14-plus rebounds in back-to-back games was Mark Hendrickson in his sophomore season (1994-95). In addition to his 14 rebounds against Montana State, Agogidi led the Cougs with 16 points as WSU scored 90 points against the Panthers, eclipsing the 90-point threshold for the first time in the Kyle Smith era.
To cap off the week, Abogidi once again led the Cougs in scoring and rebounding as he scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead WSU to a perfect finish in non-conference play with a 62-52 win over Northwestern State.
On the season, Abogidi is averaging 10.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, the latter of which ranks third in the Pac-12. In addition, he has tallied 2.1 blocks per game, second most in the conference and a number which would rank sixth all-time in program history.
The Cougars look to continue their hot streak at home Thursday when they host Arizona State at 1 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.
Guard Charlisse Leger-Walker of WSU was named women's Freshman of the Week by the Pac-12.
Leger-Walker scored 20 points against No. 8 Oregon, the most scored by any player against the Ducks this season. She also dished out four assists in 40 minutes of action.
Leger-Walker added 12 points, four rebounds and three steals in a win the next day over Eastern Washington.
SWX to air five Vandal men's games, one women's game
Six Vandal basketball games will be televised this season by SWX, including five men's games and one women's game.
The first televised game for the Vandals will be Jan. 16, when the Northern Colorado men come to Moscow.
Idaho games on SWX
Times Pacific and subject to change
MEN
Saturday, Jan. 16 vs. Northern Colorado, noon
Saturday, Jan. 30 vs. Weber State, noon
Saturday, Feb. 6 at Eastern Washington, noon
Thursday, Feb. 25 vs. Montana State, 6 p.m.
Thursday, March 4 at Montana, 4 p.m.
WOMEN
Thursday, Feb. 4 at Eastern Washington, 6 p.m.
SWX to air nine EWU men’s games, one women's game
A total of 10 Eastern Washington University basketball games will be televised this winter by SWX, including nine men's games and one for the Eagle women's program.
The broadcasts begin on Thursday when the Eagles host Portland State at 6 p.m. New SWX/KHQ sports director Dennis Patchin will call the play-by-play for Eagle games, with former Eagle Marc Axton scheduled to handle analyst duties for EWU men's games.
EWU games on SWX
Times Pacific and subject to change
MEN
Thursday, Dec. 31 vs. Portland State, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 14 vs. Southern Utah, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 28 vs. Sacramento State, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 6 vs. Idaho, noon
Thursday, Feb. 11 at Montana State, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13 at Montana State, 11 a.m.
Thursday, Feb. 18 vs Montana, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 20 at Montana, 11 a.m.
Friday, March 5 vs. Idaho State, noon
WOMEN
Thursday, Feb. 4 vs. Idaho, 6 p.m.