AP player of the week: North Carolina’s RJ Davis sets Smith Center scoring record
North Carolina guard RJ Davis (4) drives to the basket against North Carolina State guard DJ Horne (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March. 2, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
The Associated Press national player of the week in men’s basketball for Week 17 of the season:
RJ DAVIS, NORTH CAROLINA
The 6-foot senior guard broke the 38-year-old Dean Smith Center record by scoring 42 points in a 75-71 win over Miami on Monday. Davis scored the most points by a North Carolina player since 1998 and outscored the rest of his teammates by nine points, the first time a Tar Heels player outscored the rest of the team since Michael Jordan in 1983. Davis hit 14 of 22 shots and went 7 for 11 from the 3-point arch. He followed with 14 points in a win against North Carolina State to pass Brad Daugherty for 10th on North Carolina’s all-time scoring list.
RUNNER-UP
Baylor Scheierman, Creighton. The 6-7 senior averaged 23 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals in a pair of wins last week. Scheierman had 20 points and 11 rebounds in an 85-64 win over Seton Hall and followed with 26 points and 16 rebounds in an 89-75 win over No. 8 Marquette. He is third in the Big East in scoring at 18.5 points per game and second in rebounding at 8.9 per game.
HONORABLE MENTION
Deivon Smith, Utah; Jordan King, Richmond; Tylor Perry, Kansas State.
KEEP AN EYE ON
Dalton Knecht, Tennessee. The Vols are within reach of their first SEC title under coach Rick Barnes and Knecht has been a big part of the run. The 6-6 senior had 39 points and made 5 of 8 from 3-point range in a 92-84 win over No. 13 Auburn after scoring 13 points in an 81-74 win at No. 16 Alabama. Knecht and the Vols can clinch their first regular-season title in six years with wins over No. 17 South Carolina and No. 15 Kentucky this week.
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AP voters: Aaron Beard, Cliff Brunt, Gary B. Graves, Beth Harris, Mike Marot, John Marshall, Eric Olson, Dave Skretta, Teresa M. Walker.
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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball