TJ WCC co-player of the week, again

Campbell Earns Second Straight WCC Weekly Honor
11/30/2009 12:46:24 PM

SAN BRUNO, Calif. --- Portland senior point guard T.J. Campbell has been named the West Coast Conference Co-Player of the Week for the second consecutive week, the league announced on Monday. Campbell led the Pilots to a second-place finish at the 76 Classic with wins over UCLA and Minnesota, before losing the title game to No. 8 West Virginia. He earned all-tournament honors after averaging 16.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the three games. Portland jumped into the national rankings at No. 25 in the Associated Press poll after the weekend performance.

Campbell shared the league’s weekly honor with Gonzaga junior guard Stephen Gray, who led the Bulldogs to the Maui Invitational title.

A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Campbell becomes only the sixth Pilot in school history to earn the WCC weekly honor twice in the same season. No Portland player has earned three league player of the week awards in one season.

In the opening round 74-47 victory over storied UCLA, Campbell scored 15 points on 3-of-5 shooting and 6-of-7 from the free throw line in 29 minutes of action. He followed with a career-high 23 points and five rebounds in a 61-56 win over No. 16 Minnesota on Friday. Against the Mountaineers on Sunday, Campbell finished with 12 points (all in the second half), five assists and three rebounds.

For the weekend, Campbell shot 50 percent from the field, 47 percent from the three-point line (9-19) and 90 percent from the free throw strip (17-19).

Gray averaged 18.3 points and 5.3 rebounds as Gonzaga knocked off Colorado, Wisconsin and Cincinnati to win the Maui Invitational championship. The Bulldogs also moved to No. 16 in the ESPN/USA TODAY coaches poll and No. 17 in the AP poll.

The Pilots will look to prove their ranking with a tough test on Wednesday as they host crosstown rival Portland State. The Vikings have reached the NCAA Tournament each of the last two seasons and have won three in a row in the series with the Pilots. Tip-off on Wednesday is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Chiles Center.

Tickets are still available for all upcoming Portland home games online at Ticketmaster.com, by calling (800) 745-3000 or in-person at Pilot Box Office (M-F, 11am-5pm). For more information, visit portlandpilots.com or contact the Pilot Box Office at (503) 943-7525.

Multiple WCC Player of the Week Honorees in the Same Season (Portland only)
Rick Raivio, 1979-80 (2)
Jose Slaughter, 1981-82 (2)
Greg Anthony, 1986-87 (2)
Canaan Chatman, 1994-95 (2)
Donald Wilson, 2003-04 (2)
T.J. Campbell, 2009-10 (2)