Tyler Ulis’ sensational performance in the Kentucky men’s basketball team’s victory over No. 16/15 Louisville was more than enough to earn him Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors on Monday.
Ulis matched a career high with 21 points on a career-best four 3-pointers in the win over the Cardinals. The Chicago native also dished out a game-high eight assists, just one shy of matching a career best, and he committed just one turnover in 39 minutes of action.
The 5-foot-9 guard was named the Bluegrass Sports Commission Most Valuable Player of the game for the second straight season, becoming the first multi-year winner since the award’s inception in 2010.
In this year’s game, Ulis scored 12 first-half points to spark Kentucky to a halftime advantage. Ulis’ night was capped by a deep made 3 as the shot clock was winding down to give the Wildcats a four-point lead with less than five minutes remaining in the contest.
Ulis was also named NBC Sports’ College Basketball Talk’s national player of the week for his efforts.
In two career games against Louisville, Ulis has notched 35 points, 10 assists, one turnover and six made 3-pointers in 65 minutes.
Ulis also had a career day against UK’s other top-25 ranked opponent this season in Duke. In two games this season against top-25 opponents, Ulis has averaged 19.5 points, 7.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals per game and 1.0 blocks.
Over his last five games, Ulis is averaging 7.0 assists per game. For the season, Ulis is averaging 12.8 points, second best on the team, and a team-high 5.5 assists. He’s dished out five or more assists in eight of the 11 games he’s played in.
This week’s honor marks the second of the season for Ulis, who also won SEC Player of the Week on Nov. 23.
Kentucky has now won an SEC award a league-high five times and picked up an honor in all but two of the seven weeks they’ve been awarded by the league thus far. Ulis leads the Wildcats with two SEC honors. Skal Labissiere, Isaiah Briscoe and Jamal Murray have each been named SEC Freshman of the Week this season.
Kentucky returns home Saturday for its SEC opener vs. Ole Miss. That game will take place at 7 p.m. in Rupp Arena on the SEC Network.
