Northwestern University Athletics
Vedran Vukusic Named Big Ten Player of the Week
12/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Vedran Vukusic was named the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week after averaging 24.5 points on 59 percent shooting while playing every minute in a two-game split against against Arizona State and Illinois-Chicago.
The Wildcat sophomore opened the week by pouring in a career-best 26 points, including a career-high five three-pointers, to guide Northwestern to a narrow two-point victory over the Sun Devils, who entered last week receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Today poll. He added six rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots in the win. Vukusic followed that performance by connecting on 8-of-12 attempts (.667), including three more treys, and scoring 23 points in a loss at Illinois-Chicago. He hit 16-of-27 shots on the week, including 8-of-13 from long range and 9-of-11 from the free throw line.
The Croatia-native has now scored 20 or more points in three straight games and ranks ninth in the Big Ten with 14.7 points per outing and sixth in the Conference with 2.11 three-pointers per game (19 total). He leads Northwestern in treys and blocks (six) while rating second on the team in scoring, rebounding (4.3), assists (31) and steals (13).
Vukusic earns his first Big Ten Player of the Week accolade as he is the first Wildcat selected this season.
