Freshman Michael Dixon was named Rookie of the Week in the Big 12 Conference.Freshman Michael Dixon was named Rookie of the Week in the Big 12 Conference.
Men's Basketball

That's A Sweep

Dec. 28, 2009

Irving, Texas -

Missouri Basketball swept the Big 12 Conference's Player and Rookie of the Week Awards on Monday, as sophomore guard Kim English (Baltimore, Md. / Randallstown) was named the league's Player of the Week and freshman guard Michael Dixon (Kansas City, Mo. / Lee's Summit West) was named the top rookie. It's the first time either Tiger has been honored by the Big 12 in their young careers.

 

Missouri went 2-0 last week, earning an 81-68 win against Illinois in the Busch Braggin' Rights Game on Dec. 23 in St. Louis, before running their home court winning streak to 26 games with a 94-79 win against Austin Peay on Sunday afternoon at Mizzou Arena.

 

English led Missouri to the two victories, averaging 23.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. The 6-foot-6 guard shot 50 percent (8-of-16) from three-point distance and 55.2 percent (16-of-29) from the floor. The Baltimore, Md., native opened the week with 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting in the 13-point win against Illinois. He also chipped in a career high six rebounds, while ripping away a pair of steals. The win snapped a nine-game skid to the Fighting Illini and has helped Missouri to its current four-game winning streak.

 

The Tiger sophomore continued his roll on Sunday, dropping in 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting vs. the Governors. He also hit 4-of-5 free throws and ripped away a pair of steals in 25 minutes of action. English is actually on an offensive tear over his last four games where he is averaging 21.3 points per contest, with a combined 11 steals.

 

Dixon is just the second Big 12 freshman to earn Rookie of the Week honors after averaging 14.0 points, 4.5 assists, 3.5 steals and just 0.5 turnovers in two starts. Dixon was magnificent in Missouri's win against Illinois, scoring a career high 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting. He consistently kept the pressure on Illinois' backcourt, ripping away three steals, while going a perfect 3-of-3 from the foul line.

 

The Kansas City native was once again in the starting lineup for the win against Austin Peay. He scored 12 points on an efficient 4-of-5 shooting and was again a perfect 3-of-3 from the free throw line. The 6-foot-1 guard also dished four more assists and failed to commit a turnover, while recording a career high four steals.  Dixon's solid play is nothing new for Head Coach Mike Anderson's club. The rookie has now reached double figures in six of his last seven contests and has dished 24 assists and committed just four turnovers during that stretch.

 

It's just the second time this season that a Big 12 club has swept Player and Rookie of the Week honors. Iowa State accomplished the feat on Nov. 23 when junior Craig Brackins won Player of the Week and transfer senior Marquis Gilstrap won the Rookie award.

 

It's also just the second time in school history Missouri has swept Player and Rookie of the Week honors in the Big 12 Conference. The Tigers actually accomplished the feat on Feb. 9, 2009, when DeMarre Carroll won Player of the Week and Zaire Taylor was named the league's top rookie.

 

Missouri returns to action on Wednesday vs. Missouri-Kansas City at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers have won four consecutive and have pushed their season mark to 9-3. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.

 

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