BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Kentucky freshman guard Isaiah Briscoe was tabbed the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week on Monday after averaging a team-best 19.0 points and 4.5 rebounds for the top-ranked Wildcats last week.
Against Illinois State, Briscoe took over point-guard duties for the injured Tyler Ulis (hyperextended elbow). Briscoe was 7 of 13 from the field en route to a career-high 18-point performance. He also dished out a team-high three assists and hauled in seven rebounds, which was the second most of any player on the team.
Playing in the first true road game of his career against UCLA, Briscoe was a team-best 7 of 10 from the field to top his previous career high this time with 20 points. He is the fourth different player to top 20 points this season for the Wildcats. For the week, Briscoe utilized a team-best .609 field-goal percentage of players who shot more than 10 times.
Briscoe, a Union, N.J., native, is averaging 13.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in seven games this season. His scoring average is second on the team and his rebounding numbers are the best of any UK guard. He’s scored in double figures in all but one game.
It’s the first weekly SEC honor of Briscoe’s career and the third such award for the Wildcats this season. Ulis previously won SEC Co-Player of the Week honors and freshman forward Skal Labissiere was named the SEC Co-Freshman of the Week to start the season.
After a five-day break, Kentucky’s longest of the season thus far, UK returns home Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game Eastern Kentucky in Rupp Arena. That game is set for an ESPN2 telecast.
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