The Utes are back on the winning track after a couple of wins over the Washington schools, and that is largley due to the play of Justin Bibbins. The senior grad-transfer has been good all season long, but he has stepped up his game to another level since Pac-12 play has started.
This past week he averaged 16.5 points per game, while also bringing down 5.5 rebounds and and an impressive 8.5 assists per game. For a guard of his size to contribute in so many areas of the game is impressive. He is basically the do everything player for the Utes. He gets them into the offense, he hits clutch shots, he makes the right pass, and can pull down the crucial rebound. For him to come in and make this kind of an impact on the team is exactly what this team needs. I just wish he was on the roster last season when the team was missing a playmaking, pass first point guard. Here’s hoping he can keep it up for the remainder of the season, because the Utes need it.
Here’s the full press release:
“Bibbins, a senior out of Carson, Calif., helped lead Utah to its second Pac-12 weekly sweep of the season as Utah downed both Washington and Washington State at home this past week. In Thursday’s win over the Huskies, Bibbins tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds, and then followed with 13 points and 12 assists in Sunday’s win over the Cougars. Bibbins became the first Utah player to register back-to-back double-doubles on the season and with his season-high 12 assists on Sunday, he became the first Utah player to dish out at least 10 assists in a game since Brandon Taylor totaled 10 assists against USC back on Feb. 21, 2016. For the week, Bibbins averaged 16.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while dishing out 17 assists and recording a pair of steals. He was 6-of-15 from three-point range and a perfect 5-of-5 from the charity stripe. Bibbins is tied for 18th in the Pac-12 in scoring at 14.2 points per game and in the top-five in the league in five categories, including assists (T-3rd, 5.1 apg) and three-pointers (T-2nd, 2.7 3FG/gm). His production has increased to 17.1 points and 5.9 assists per game through eight league contests. This marks the first Pac-12 Player of the Week honor for Utah this season and the first since Jakob Poeltl was tabbed the conference POW back on Feb. 22, 2016. Bibbins is the first Utah guard to earn the honor since Delon Wright was named POW back on Dec. 15, 2014. Overall, Utah has had eight Pac-12 weekly honors since joining the league in 2011-12. Utah (12-7, 4-4) embarks on the desert road swing this week against nationally ranked No. 21 Arizona State on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Networks, and No. 11 Arizona on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. MT on FOX.”