Nov. 24, 2008
ST. LOUIS -
One day after scoring a career-high 28 points and being named the most valuable player of the SMU Tipoff Classic, Illinois State senior-transfer Champ Oguchi was tabbed the Missouri Valley Conference's Newcomer of the Week Monday.
In the 84-73 win over SMU Sunday night, Oguchi shot 8-for-11 from the field, including 6-of-8 on three-point tries, to register a career-best 28 points. The win gave Illinois State its first regular-season tournament championship since 1998.
In the three-day event, Oguchi averaged 18.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He shot 53.6 percent (15-for-28) over the three games and 55.6 percent on three-point field goals (10-for-18).
This is the first weekly conference award for the Redbirds this season, and the first career Valley honor for Oguchi, who sat out last season to meet NCAA transfer rules after beginning his career at Oregon.
