Jan. 2, 2012

LEXINGTON, KY – The UK men’s basketball team swept the Southeastern Conference weekly awards as announced by the league office on Monday.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a 6-foot-7, 232-pound freshman guard from Somerdale, N.J., was named SEC Player of the Week after averaging 21.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in wins over Lamar and fourth-ranked Louisville. Kidd-Gilchrist followed his career-high 18-point night against Lamar with a career-game against intrastate rival Louisville, where he posted his second career double-double with career highs in points (24) and rebounds (19). For his efforts against UofL, he was named the game’s MVP by the Bluegrass Sports Commission. His 19 rebounds was a UK-UofL series record.

Anthony Davis, a 6-foot-10, 222-pound freshman forward from Chicago, Ill., was named SEC Freshman of the Week after averaging 14.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, six blocks, 1.5 steals and one assist in wins over Lamar and fourth-ranked Louisville. Davis blocked 12 shots on the week and is on pace to destroy the UK single season blocks record. He hit a career-high 12 free throws in the win over Louisville, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds while blocking six shots for the second-straight game and tying his career high in steals with three.

It marks the fifth time Kentucky has swept the weekly awards since the freshman of the week award was introduced in 2006 and the fourth time under UK head coach John Calipari. The award is Davis’ second this season, and the first for Kidd-Gilchrist. The Wildcats have now won four SEC weekly awards this year.

Kentucky returns to action on Tuesday, taking on Arkansas-Little Rock in Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky. Scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. ET tip, the game can be seen live on Fox Sports South and will be tape-delayed on the UK IMG Sports Network.