Make that the 3x Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, Mouhamed Gueye

SAN FRANCISCO – For the third time in his young career, Washington State Men's Basketball freshman Mouhamed Gueye was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, earning the award for the week ending Feb. 16. While Gueye has taken the award three times, the latest honor marks the second time for the big forward in Pac-12 play after also taking home the top freshman award three weeks prior on Jan. 16. He becomes the second newcomer to earn three Freshman of the Week awards in the conference trailing Stanford's Harrison Ingram who has earned a league best five weekly awards on the year.

In a season in which he should be a senior in high school, Gueye continued his ascent to Pac-12 stardom with a dominant effort in the post in the Cougs' sweep of the Bay Area schools over the weekend. The sweep of Stanford and Cal on the road was the first for the Cougs in nearly 30 years with the last Bay Area sweep coming in 1993. With the wins the Cougs improved to 7-3 in conference action, tying for the best 10-game start to Pac play since the 2006-07 season.

Opening the weekend, Gueye fell just short of yet another double-double in Pac play finishing his afternoon with 8 points and 9 rebounds. All of the young forwards points came on dunks as he found cracks in the Cardinal defense thanks in part to his growing connection with 5th year guard Michael Flowers. The nine rebounds led the way for the Cougs once again as he finished with a team-best on the glass for the ninth time on the year. Defensively, Gueye led the way as well grabbing a pair of steals to tie his game high in a conference contest. 

With the Cardinal game in hand, Gueye led the Cougs into Berkeley where WSU would take its fourth-straight over the Bears. He would finish his day with an impressive 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals. The 10 points included a season-best two from distance while also marking the sixth time on the year he has gone for double-digits in the scoring column. Controlling the air, Gueye's three blocks also tied a career high for the freshman.

On the week, Gueye finished 8-for-13 (61.5%) from the field while also hitting 2-of-3 from deep. He would average 7.0 rebounds per game for the two contests while adding four blocks and four steals on the defensive end.
 
Gueye's third award becomes the 36th overall award for WSU since 1986.
 
The Cougars host their biggest game of the year Thursday, Feb. 10 when No. 4 Arizona and the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week, Azuolas Tubelis, come to Beasley. Tip time is scheduled for 6 p.m. on FS1.