Varnado named SEC Player of the Week
STARKVILLE - Mississippi State All-SEC forward Jarvis Varnado was tabbed the SEC's player of the week after averaging 18 points and 11 rebounds in leading the Bulldogs to a pair of victories against Alabama and South Carolina that clinched the Western Division crown and first-round bye in next week's SEC Tournament.
It was the second time this season he's received the honor and the third time an MSU player has been recognized. On Dec. 14, Ravern Johnson was named player of the week following wins against DePaul and UCLA.
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Against the Crimson Tide and Gamecocks, the 6-foot-9, 230-pound Brownsville, Tenn. , native posted two double-doubles.
Yet, it was his eight-block performance against Bama that caught the nation's attention. With 4:36 to play, Varnando blocked his eighth shot of the night to become the NCAA career leader, surpassing the mark of 535 set by former Louisiana-Monroe standout Wojciech Myrda.
He's currently second in the nation with 143 blocks.
On the year, Varnado is averaging 13.5 points and leads the SEC with 10.9 rebounds an outing. He's also second in the league with 17 double-doubles, while his 32 double-doubles lead all active players.
Varnado and the rest of his teammates return to action on Wednesday as Mississippi State (21-8, 9-5) travels to Auburn for a 7 p.m. showdown that will be televised by the SEC Network.
A win Wednesday would give the Bulldogs their seventh Western Division crown in school history.