March 7, 2012

IRVING, Texas - University of Memphis' Will Barton has been named the 2011-12 Conference USA Player of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday. The C-USA postseason awards were voted on by the league's coaches and media representatives.

It is the third postseason accolade for Barton in as many days. He was named to the All-Conference USA first team Monday and was also selected to the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District 4 Team Tuesday.

With Barton's Player of the Year selection, Memphis made Conference USA history Wednesday by sweeping the league's men's and women's Player of the Year awards. On Monday, Memphis' Jasmine Lee was named the C-USA women's Player of the Year.

Barton is the fourth Tiger to earn the C-USA Player of the Year honor, joining Antonio Burks (2003-04), Rodney Carney (2005-06) and Chris Douglas-Roberts (2007-08) in that group. Barton is also the eighth player in Memphis history to earn a conference player of the year honor. In addition to the four C-USA Players of the Year, Larry Finch (1972) and Larry Kenon (1973) earned Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, Keith Lee was the Metro Conference Player of the Year twice (1982, 1983) and Anfernee Hardaway was the Great Midwest Conference MVP twice (1992, 1993).

Barton leads the team and Conference USA in scoring with an 18.7 average. The 6-foot-6 guard is also ranked among the league leaders in rebounding (6th), field goal percentage (7th), free throw percentage (13th), assists (13th), steals (4th) and minutes played (4th). He is the only guard ranked in the top-10 of C-USA's rebounding leaders.

A Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy midseason candidate, Barton reached the 1,000-point milestone for his career with his 30 points in the regular-season finale victory over Tulsa Mar. 3. He is one of nine players in Tigers history to reach the 1,000-point plateau in only two seasons. The Baltimore, Md., native has 10 double-doubles this season and is one of three players in the nation to average at least 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Last year, Barton was an All-C-USA third team selection and a C-USA All-Freshman Team pick. He was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 11 Team.

Southern Miss' Larry Eustachy was named the C-USA Coach of the Year.

-UofM-