White Earns Third Big Ten Weekly Honor

Bloomington, Ind. - For the third time in the last seven weeks, IU's D.J. White has been tabbed as the conference's player of the week. White averaged 18 points and 16 rebounds in wins over Michigan and Illinois...

Bloomington, Ind. – For the third time in two months, D.J. White has been tabbed as the Big Ten’s best.

White was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Week Monday, marking the third time in the last seven weeks White has earned the honor. White averaged 18 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks in wins over Michigan and Illinois last week, including a career-best 22-rebound effort in Tuesday’s win in Ann Arbor.

The Hoosiers’ senior forward was also honored by the conference Dec. 3 and Dec. 10.

White helped IU to a 62-58 win over Illinois on Sunday with 15 points and 10 rebounds, marking the 10th time in his last 11 games he’s recorded a double-double. White now ranks fifth in the conference in scoring at 16.6, while his 10.9 rebounds/game tops the conference by two rebounds per contest.

His play has helped the Hoosiers to 10 straight wins, a 14-1 overall mark, and a top-10 national ranking, but IU Coach Kelvin Sampson thinks White’s maturity has been just as important for his young team.

“He’s been our rock,” Sampson said. “If there’s one kid from a maturity standpoint that handles things on a daily basis, doesn’t have many highs and lows, it’s D.J. He’s been a great role model for the rest of the guys, especially the new guys.”

With his 10 rebounds Sunday, White has reached double figures in rebounding 11 times this season. That exceeds last year’s season total of nine for the 6’9”, 251-pounder.

“You look at the stat sheet, rebounding is such a ‘want to’ statistic, and D.J. leads as a great example by his rebounding,” Sampson said.