Back-to-Back: Jones named Big East Player of Week again

Posted Feb 1, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Feb 1, 2010 at 02:16 PM

USF junior guard Dominique Jones is playing the best basketball of his career, and the Big East Conference has taken notice.

Jones was named Big East Player of the Week for the second consecutive week Monday after leading the Bulls to home wins over Seton Hall and No. 17 Pittsburgh.

Jones scored 28 points in Thursday’s victory over the Pirates—marking the first time USF won back-to-back Big East games—and he scored 37 in Sunday’s win over the Panthers.

Jones was named Big East Player of the Week on Jan. 25 after scoring 46 points in a 109-105 win at Providence, the second-highest individual scoring performance in conference history.

“It’s pretty special. I’ve never had a guy that’s elevated his game so much and really carried a big portion of the team,’’ USF coach Stan Heath said after Jones’ performance against Pittsburgh.

Prior to Jones’ hot stretch, a USF player had been named Big East Player of the Week just twice: Melvin Buckley (11/20/06) and McHugh Mattis (2/5/07).

Jones is the first league player to win back-to-back player of week honors since Hasheem Thabeet of Connecticut last season.