Alec Burks led Colorado’s upset of then-No. 9 Missouri on Saturday and the Big 12 took notice.
The sophomore guard was named the conference’s player of the week on Monday after averaging 28.0 points in CU’s wins over Western New Mexico and Missouri. His 36 points against Missouri were a career high.
“Anybody that saw that game on Saturday know that Alec Burks is a special, special player,” CU coach Tad Boyle said Monday on the Big 12 coaches teleconference.
Burks, a native of Grandview, Mo., leads CU with a 20.1 points per game average. The weekly award is the first such honor of his career.
“(The award) means a lot,” Boyle said. “It’s great recognition for him and for our basketball program. It’s a well-deserved honor. He took his offensive game to another level against Missouri. He was feeling it.”
Oklahoma State guard Jéan-Paul Olukemi was named the Big 12 rookie of the week. The Cowboys visit Boulder at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
