 "Photo: Brad Tollefson")
The Big 12 Conference awarded Texas Tech guard David Tairu its Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week award for the week of Nov. 9 through Nov. 15 on Monday.
It was Tairu’s — a South Plains College transfer — first weekend of Division I basketball.
“That’s why I recruited David,” said Tech coach Pat Knight after Sunday’s win against Oregon State. “I wanted to get more athletic at the guard situation. I’m not surprised because that’s how he played in junior college.”
Tairu finished the weekend as the Red Raiders’ leading scorer in two of their first three games and trails Mike Singletary for the team best in points scored with 42. Most importantly, Tairu kept Tech out in front Sunday with 17 second-half points in a 64-60 win against Oregon State.
For his efforts, Tairu was named the 2009 Duel in the Desert’s Most Valuable Player, while Tech came away with a 3-0 record.
Tairu became just the sixth player from Tech to earn rookie honors in Big 12 history. The 6-foot-3 junior also is averaging 14 points per game and is 10-for-20 from beyond the three-point line.
Despite his early impact on the team, Tairu has remained humble.
“I keep my head level and keep my mind focused on Christ,” Tairu said after being awarded the MVP award. “That’s what is helping me through this process.”
Baylor’s LaceDarius Dunn earned the Big 12’s Player of the Week award, averaging 30.5 points in Baylor’s first two games on the season.
The weekly honors were voted on by a panel of media members that cover Big 12 basketball.
Tech will play Northwestern (Louisiana) State 7 p.m. Thursday in the United Spirit Arena and Tech players are expecting more of the same from Tairu.
“We knew that he was going to be a big part of this team coming into the beginning of the year,” Singletary said after Sunday’s game. “But I didn’t think we knew to what extent. Now I think you’re starting to see all that he can do, and it’s really going to help us out.”
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