Arizona Wildcats’ Tobe Awaka named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week

Arizona Wildcats junior forward Tobe Awaka was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Monday.

Awaka started in both wins against BYU and then-ranked No. 13 Texas Tech. He averaged 14 points on 67.5% shooting to go along with 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks across 20 minutes.

Tobe Awaka’s week in review

Awaka started off his award-winning week strong with 14 points, nine rebounds, one assist and one block in a span of 19 minutes in Arizona’s 85-74 win over BYU on Tuesday.

He followed that up with a double-double, scoring 14 points with 11 rebounds, one assist and two blocks in 21 minutes of action in the Wildcats’ 82-73 rout of Texas Tech on Saturday.

Awaka’s double-double versus Texas Tech is his fifth of the season. 

His double-double total is good enough for fifth in the conference. Baylor’s Norchad Omier leads the Big 12 with 12 double-doubles.

The transfer forward out of Tennessee has started 22 of the 23 games he has played this season. Awaka is averaging 8.1 points and 8 rebounds on 61.2% shooting in 19 minutes. It’s his career-best in all major statistical categories.

Awaka is also fifth in the Big 12 in rebounds per game with eight. Baylor’s Norchad Omier leads the conference with 10.3 rebounds per game.

The Wildcats picked up their second Big 12 award in the span of a week, following senior guard Caleb Love’s Big 12 Player of the Week nod last Monday.

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