Creighton's Maurice Watson Jr. named Big East Player of the Week

By foxsports
Published

For the second time this season, Creighton junior point guard Maurice Watson Jr. has been named Big East Player of the Week.

This decision comes as a no-brainer after the 5-foot-10 floor general torched No. 5 Xavier's top-20 defense for a career-best 32 points in a 70-56 upset win on Tuesday night. 

The Boston University transfer has silence critics in his first season in the Big East. Watson is averaging 14.9 points, 6.6 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game and has led the Bluejays to third place in the conference standings. 

"Coach Mac and Creighton took a chance on me when I decided to transfer, and we put in a lot of work on my year off," Watson said after Tuesday's win. "To see it pay off and see everyone have so much faith in me, it kind of makes me a little emotional."

Watson capped his stellar week with 18 points and 10 assists -- his third double-double of the season -- in a 65-62 victory at Marquette on Saturday.

Marquette forward Henry Ellenson earned Big East Freshman of the Week honors for the sixth time this year.

The 6-foot-10 projected lottery pick played 48 of 50 minutes in Wednesday night's double overtime win over No. 20 Providence, scoring 26 points and grabbing 16 rebounds for his 15th double-double of the season.

The Golden Eagles went 1-1 on the week, falling to Watson and the Bluejays later in the week. Ellenson posted 16 points and eight boards in a losing effort.