Senior named CBSSports.com National Player of the Week

LAFAYETTE – After averaging a double-double and helping the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball to a pair of Sun Belt Conference road victories last week, Shawn Long was bound to earn some weekly accolades on Monday for his performance on the court.

He did.

The 6-foot-11 forward picked up five weekly awards as Long was honored by the Sun Belt Conference, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, CBSSports.com, CollegeInsider.com and College Sports Madness.

Long, who was selected as the Sun Belt Conference and LSWA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, was named the CBS Sports National Player of the Week on Monday, joining a list of recipients that includes two-time winner Buddy Hield of Oklahoma, Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine, Brice Johnson of North Carolina, Grayson Allen of Duke and BYU’s Kyle Collinsworth.

The Morgan City, La., native also was named the College Sports Madness Mid-Major National Player of the Week and the Lou Henson Award National Player of the Week by CollegeInsider.com.

The Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year helped lead the Ragin’ Cajuns to their first two road wins of the season, averaging 23.0 points, 17.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals in the process. He shot a blistering 76 percent (19-for-25) from the floor in wins over Georgia Southern and Georgia State while going 7-for-10 from the free throw line during the week.

"He’s been very consistent for us during our last five (Sun Belt) conference games after the Christmas break," head coach Bob Marlin said. "He’s played outstanding and has been very consistent for us. To get 23 (points) and 17 (rebounds) and then top it with 23 and 18, last week … he’s getting keyed on every night.

"It’s a well deserved honor for Shawn. He’s doing his part and he’s getting better and better. I’m really proud of his leadership and his work ethic. He’s fought through some adversity, but he has been a very steady influence on this team."

Long started the week going 10-for-13 from the field, including a 3-pointer, scoring 23 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in a 74-65 win at Georgia Southern on Thursday. He recorded three steals and blocked two shots in helping the Ragin’ Cajuns earn their first-ever win at Hanner Fieldhouse.

In the Ragin’ Cajuns game against two-time defending SBC champion Georgia State, Long scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half and grabbed a season-high 18 rebounds in helping lead Louisiana to an 87-54 victory. The win, the first-ever for the Ragin’ Cajuns in Atlanta, snapped GSU’s 15-game homecourt winning streak and was the Panthers second loss at home in their last 35 games.

Long finished 9-for-12 from the floor against the nation’s fifth-best team in scoring defense (59.9 ppg.) and was perfect from the free throw line in five attempts.

The double-doubles were the 10th and 11th of the season for Long and increased his career total to 63 – the most among active NCAA players. He became the first player in Sun Belt Conference history to grab 1,200 in a career and enters this week needing 13 points to join the 2,000-point club.