AP Player of the Week: Antonio Reeves of Kentucky shines in pair of wins
Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves (12) shoots past Tennessee forward Jonas Aidoo (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. Credit: AP/Wade Payne
The Associated Press national player of the week in men’s basketball for Week 18 of the season:
ANTONIO REEVES, KENTUCKY
The senior guard from Chicago had 27 points and seven rebounds in leading the Wildcats to a win over then-No. 4 Tennessee last week, helping to earn Reeves the final AP men's player of the week honor for the 2023-24 season. He also had 20 points, six rebounds and four assists as Kentucky rolled past Vanderbilt, and his seven straight games of at least 20 points are the most by a Wildcat player since Jamal Murray went 12 straight during the 2015-16 season. Ninth-ranked Kentucky is the No. 2 seed for the SEC Tournament and will play Ole Miss or Texas A&M in the quarterfinals on Thursday night in Nashville.
RUNNER-UP
Zach Edey, Purdue. The reigning AP player of the year finished the regular season with a pair of big performances. The 7-foot-4 Edey had 28 points and eight rebounds in a win over then-No. 12 Illinois, then had 25 points and 14 rebounds while helping the third-ranked Boilermakers beat Wisconsin on Sunday. Purdue is the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
HONORABLE MENTION
Cormac Ryan, North Carolina; L.J. Cryer, Houston; DaRon Holmes II, Dayton.
Kentucky head coach John Calipari, right, talks to guard Antonio Reeves (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee, Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. Credit: AP/Wade Payne
KEEP AN EYE ON
PJ Haggerty, Tulsa. The transfer from TCU had a career-high 32 points, seven rebounds and five assists in leading the Golden Hurricane to an upset of No. 24 South Florida last week. Haggerty has scored in double-figures in 25 consecutive games. Tulsa plays East Carolina in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference tourney on Thursday.
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AP voters: Aaron Beard, Cliff Brunt, Gary B. Graves, Beth Harris, Mike Marot, John Marshall, Eric Olson, Dave Skretta, Teresa M. Walker.
Purdue center Zach Edey (15) shoots the ball over Wisconsin forward Steven Crowl (22) during the NCAA men's basketball game, Sunday, March 10, 2024, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue won 78-70. Credit: AP/Alex Martin/Journal and Courier
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