Trendon Watford Named SEC Freshman of the Week; Basketball Ranked No. 22

After a pair of strong outings on national television, LSU forward Trendon Watford was named the SEC Freshman of the week.

Watford averaged 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and a block in last week’s games against Florida and Texas. Saturday in Austin, Watford scored a career-high 22 points and knocked down a pair of free throws with 16 seconds in regulation to essentially end the game.

Against Florida, Watford was nearly perfect, shooting 6-7 from the floor. Watford would also grab six rebounds and an assist despite being weighed down with four fouls.

“He’s just getting more acclimated,” Tiger head coach Will Wade said Monday during media availability. “He’s getting used to the pace, the athletes, how things function. Once he gets more comfortable, the positive results will follow.”

LSU is also back in the polls after pushing its winning streak to eight games. The Tigers are ranked 22nd in the AP Poll and 24th in the USA Today coaches poll. LSU (15-4, 6-0) were ranked to begin the year but fell out of the Top 25 in the second week of the season after losing to VCU 84-82.

The only other SEC schools ranked in this week’s polls are Kentucky, ranked 13th in both the AP and coaches, and Auburn, ranked 17th in the AP and 16th in the coaches.

LSU is back on the court Tuesday evening, as the Tigers’ look to remain unbeaten in league play at home against Alabama.