Desi Rodriguez Named BIG EAST Player of the Week
12/4/2017 11:35:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK - Overlooked in the preseason, senior Desi Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.) has let his game do the talking, and after his two-game performance in leading Seton Hall past two nationally ranked opponents, he has been named BIG EAST Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. Rodriguez, a preseason All-BIG EAST honorable mention, averaged 26.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in two Seton Hall victories, shooting 55.9 percent from the field and making 19 of 34 attempts.
This is Rodriguez's second career BIG EAST Player of the Week award. He also nabbed the honor back on Jan. 9, 2017. This is the 11th time a Pirate has captured the award under head coach Kevin Willard.
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Against No. 22 Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden, he posted a game-high 24 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field, 3-for-6 from three-point range and 7-for-7 from the free throw line. He also added in four assists and seven rebounds in the victory.
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At No. 17 Louisville on Sunday, Rodriguez went off for a season-high and game-high 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the field to go with eight rebounds and two assists. He scored 19 of his 29 points in the first half to help the Pirates to a halftime lead. Then he connected on the game-winning layup with 7.5 seconds remaining in the second half to break a 77-77 tie and lead The Hall to a 79-77 win over the Cardinals, the program's first win in Louisville since Feb. 25, 1952.
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Rodriguez has now scored 20 or more points in three consecutive games and for the fourth time this season. Seton Hall is 6-0 this year when he is the team's leading scorer and 27-8 all-time when he scores at least 15 points in a game. Rodriguez is averaging 20.0 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 53.1 percent from the field this season.
Rodriguez and the Pirates are 7-1 this season with four wins over teams from "Football Five" conferences and are currently in the KenPom top 20. They will take on VCU on Saturday, Dec. 9 at Prudential Center at 3 p.m., as part of the Never Forget Tribute Classic, which benefits the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
This is Rodriguez's second career BIG EAST Player of the Week award. He also nabbed the honor back on Jan. 9, 2017. This is the 11th time a Pirate has captured the award under head coach Kevin Willard.
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Two ranked opponents was no problem for #EliteDesi last week, your @BIGEASTMBB Player of the Week! #HALLin #PiratePursuit @desirodriguez6 pic.twitter.com/ZXRqMh5teL
— Seton Hall MBB (@SetonHallMBB) December 4, 2017
Against No. 22 Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden, he posted a game-high 24 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field, 3-for-6 from three-point range and 7-for-7 from the free throw line. He also added in four assists and seven rebounds in the victory.
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#BIGEASThoops Player of the Week - Desi Rodriguez
— #BIGEASThoops (@BIGEASTMBB) December 4, 2017
?? 26.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg
?? 2 Ranked Wins
?? 1 Game-Winner vs. Louisville pic.twitter.com/c3gVXnfVKo
At No. 17 Louisville on Sunday, Rodriguez went off for a season-high and game-high 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the field to go with eight rebounds and two assists. He scored 19 of his 29 points in the first half to help the Pirates to a halftime lead. Then he connected on the game-winning layup with 7.5 seconds remaining in the second half to break a 77-77 tie and lead The Hall to a 79-77 win over the Cardinals, the program's first win in Louisville since Feb. 25, 1952.
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Player of the Week: Desi Rodriguez, Seton Hall https://t.co/BSGZLdAI4L
— CollegeBasketbllTalk (@CBTonNBC) December 4, 2017
Rodriguez has now scored 20 or more points in three consecutive games and for the fourth time this season. Seton Hall is 6-0 this year when he is the team's leading scorer and 27-8 all-time when he scores at least 15 points in a game. Rodriguez is averaging 20.0 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 53.1 percent from the field this season.
Rodriguez and the Pirates are 7-1 this season with four wins over teams from "Football Five" conferences and are currently in the KenPom top 20. They will take on VCU on Saturday, Dec. 9 at Prudential Center at 3 p.m., as part of the Never Forget Tribute Classic, which benefits the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
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