COLUMBIA, MO.– Mizzou Men’s Basketball redshirt senior Dru Smith was named SEC Player of the Week, as announced Monday by the league office. It’s first SEC Player of the Week honor of Smith’s career.
After Mizzou senior Mark nabbed SEC Player of the Week honors last week, the Tigers have now had a player win the honor in back-to-back weeks for the first time since Kassius Robertson earned the award on Feb. 5 and Feb. 12, 2018.
Dru averaged 16 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in wins over Liberty and No. 6 Illinois. The elite defender guarded the opponent’s best player for nearly the entirety of each win. In the final minutes against Illinois, he took a pair of key charges and forced a turnover with a steal to key the victory.
Dru led Mizzou in scoring vs. the Illini, and finished the week shooting 12-of-13 from the free throw line. He’s helped Mizzou start 5-0 for the first time since 2013 and knock off a Top-6 opponent for the first time since 2014.
The Tigers were tabbed No. 16 in Monday’s Associated Press Top 25. It’s Mizzou’s highest ranking since Jan. 7, 2013 (No. 10).
Mizzou is back in action Friday night at home vs. Prairie View A&M. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus.
