SEC Player of the Week – Missouri guard Tamar Bates, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound graduate from Kansas City, Kan., averaged 22.0 points and four steals in wins over California and No. 1 Kansas. He scored a season-best 29 points on 9-of-15 (60 percent) shooting in the victory over Kansas. Bates scored 18 first half points versus the Jayhawks, surpassing his season-best total in the first 20 minutes alone. He also matched his career high with five steals versus the Jayhawks. Bates led the Tigers to their fifth win in school history over the nation’s No. 1 team and first since 1997.
SEC Freshman of the Week – Georgia forward Asa Newell, a 6-foot-11, 220-pound freshman from Destin, Fla., had 20 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and a steal in a win over Notre Dame in the SEC/ACC Challenge. He recorded his second 20-point performance and second double-double of the season in the victory. Newell equaled his season highs for rebounds (11) and assists (2) against Notre Dame.