Feb. 12, 2001

MEMPHIS - Memphis junior forward Kelly Wise was named the Conference USA Player of the Week on Monday.

Wise averaged 21 points and seven rebounds last week as the Tigers knocked off South Florida 100-89 to take sole possession of Conference USA's National Division before defeating Tulane 91-64 for the team's 10th win in 11 games.

Wise tallied a season-high 24 points on 9-for-12 shooting at South Florida. He was 7-of-9 from the field in the second half, scoring 20 of his 24 points after intermission as the Tigers became the first opponent to win in the Sun Dome this season and the first opponent to ever score 100 points against USF in the arena.

He followed up the South Florida showdown with 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting in the win over Tulane.

Wise is the only player in Conference USA to be averaging a double-double (15.3 points and 10.5 rebounds). He was the first Tiger to win the league's player of the week award since Keiron Shine was honored on Dec. 6, 1999 and the first for his performance in C-USA play since Omar Sneed on Feb. 23, 1998.

The Tigers, now 14-9 and 8-2 in the league, play host to five-time defending Conference USA champion Cincinnati Thursday in a nationally-televised game on ESPN.