Josh Hubbard Earns Second SEC Weekly Honor
The Mississippi State men's basketball team may have lost two of its first three SEC games, but freshman guard Josh Hubbard's impact has been phenomenal the past week.
Hubbard averaged over 17 points the past three games (19.5 in the last two), but his 25 against former No. 5 Tennessee was arguably the primary reason he was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday.
Hubbard and Mississippi State upset Tennessee in a thrilling 77-72 battle on Jan. 10. The Bulldogs made school history in this SEC bout, as it was their first win over an AP Top 10 team since 2002. This dropped the Volunteers rank to No. 6 in Monday's AP Poll voting results.
Nevertheless, this isn't Hubbard's only time earning the prestigious SEC freshman weekly honor, as he was also the recipient on Nov. 20. He becomes the eighth Mississippi State player to earn multiple SEC freshman weekly honors.
For the season, Hubbard has amassed 241 points, which is the fifth-most for a State freshman through 16 games and the most since Rickey Brown (1976-77).
Perhaps what's most impressive about Hubbard's first season playing college basketball is that he's done everything under the sixth-man role. In fact, his 14 games in double figures off the bench are tied for fourth-most among State players dating back to the 1989-90 season.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Hubbard is the only Power 6 freshmen player (ACC, BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC) to average at least 15.0 points per game with a minimum of 15 games off the bench going back to 2005-06.
Hubbard isn't the only player that's earned an SEC weekly honor this season as forward Jimmy Bell Jr. was the recipient on Dec. 26 for his dominant performance against Rutgers.
As All-SEC forward Tolu Smith III continues to shine since his season debut on Dec. 31 (he had a foot injury on Oct. 6), he's another Bulldog that may win a conference weekly award in the near future.
