Jan. 22, 2007
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| Byars ranks second in the SEC in scoring (18.8/game), fifth in 3-point shooting (53.3%), sixth in 3-pointers made (3.20/game) and eighth in field goal shooting (53.1%) since the start of league play. |
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Vanderbilt senior wing player Derrick Byars has been named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week the league announced on Monday.
Byars averaged 19.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 56.5 percent (13-of-23) from the field and 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from 3-point range while helping lead Vanderbilt to a pair of wins over nationally ranked opponents last week. He posted a game-high 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field with four 3-pointers and a game-high eight rebounds in the Commodores’ 72-67 win at then-No. 25 Kentucky on Saturday. He also registered 15 points and a trio of 3-pointers in Vanderbilt’s 94-73 home victory over then-No. 10 Alabama on Jan. 17.
The Memphis native ranks second in the SEC in scoring (18.8 per game), fifth in 3-point shooting (53.3 percent), sixth in 3-pointers made (3.20 per game) and eighth in field goal shooting (53.1 percent) since the start of league play.
Byars has posted 20 or more points in three of his last four SEC contests, including his SEC career-high 25-point effort against then-No. 16 Tennessee on Jan. 10. During the stretch, he is averaging a team-best 21.5 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 58.3 percent from 3-point range (14-of-24).
Byars is tied with fellow wing player Shan Foster for Commodore scoring honors on the season with 15.5 points per game. Byars ranks second on the team in assists (3.1 per game) and steals (1.3 per game) and is third in rebounding (5.0 per game).
The 6-7, 230-pound product of Ridgeway High School also earned the league’s weekly honor during his junior campaign. He is the first Commodore to earn the accolade this season.
Byars transferred to Vanderbilt after playing two seasons (2003 and 2004) at the University of Virginia.
Vanderbilt (13-6, 3-2 SEC) returns to action Wednesday when it travels to No. 21 LSU (13-5, 2-2 SEC) on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest. The Tigers will be the fourth ranked opponent Vanderbilt has faced in its last five games. The Commodores are 4-1 against ranked opponents this season.