Paul Davis Earns Big Ten Player of the Week Honors

Jan. 19, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State sophomore center Paul Davis was named the Big Ten men's basketball Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. Davis averaged 16 points on 53 percent shooting and 7.5 rebounds during a 2-0 week to earn the weekly laurel. This is the first Big Ten weekly award of Davis' career and the first weekly recognition awarded to the Spartans in 2003-04.

The only Spartan to start every game this season, Davis was one of five Spartans to score in double figures against Penn State, producing 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting (.571) while adding a game-high eight boards and two blocked shots. The Rochester, Mich., native concluded the week with a game-high 22 points in a victory over in-state rival Michigan, connecting on 6-of-12 shots from the field and 9-of-11 free throw attempts, adding seven rebounds and three steals in the win.

Davis has posted nine straight double-figure scoring games and has scored 20 points or more in four of those contests. He ranks among the Big Ten's leaders in scoring (7th with 15.2 ppg) and rebounding (8th with 6.7 rpg). He also leads the team with 11 blocked shots and 22 steals.

Davis is a preseason All-Big Ten honoree, a John R. Wooden Award Preseason All-American and a Naismith Award Candidate.

Michigan State opens a three-game road swing in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 21, against Northwestern at 7 p.m. EST.