Barone named WAC Player of the Week

IDAHO'S FOUR GAME WIN STREAK BEGAN with the win at Nevada, then continued last week in Moscow with victories over Seattle U, New Mexico State, and Louisiana Tech. Junior center KYLE BARONE was key on that run, and for his efforts earned his first career WAC Player of the Week honor. For the week he averaged 15.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, shot 51 percent from the floor and 73 percent at the line.

University of Idaho junior Kyle Barone was honored on Monday with his first career Verizon Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honor for his efforts in leading Idaho to a 3-0 record during the week of Feb. 6-12.

Barone, a third-year Vandal from Garden Grove, Calif. (Pacifica HS), averaged 15.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 2.0 assists per game last week, while shooting 51.4 percent from the floor and 73.3 percent from the free throw line.

In Tuesday’s 70-69 win over Seattle University, Barone led Idaho with 17 points and 12 rebounds. He blocked a pair of shots and hit seven of his eight free throw attempts. On Thursday, he led Idaho to a 59-58 win over New Mexico State with a game-high 16 points, eight rebounds and a career-high-tying four assists.

With Idaho trailing, 58-51, and less than five minutes remaining in the game, Barone scored six straight Idaho points, then drove and dished to teammate Djim Bandoumel for the game-winning layup with 5.4 seconds remaining as Idaho closed the game on an 8-0 run and held NM State scoreless for the final five minutes, 58 seconds.

He put a cap on the weekend in the 73-64 victory over Louisiana Tech with a career-high-tying 15 rebounds, three blocks, one assist and 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting to lead Idaho to its first season sweep over the Bulldogs in series history.

During the week, Barone also hit several career milestones, including his 800th point, 500th rebound, 300th made field goal, 200th made free throw and 75th block.

The honor is the first of his career and the first by a Vandal player this season. It is the first since Jeff Ledbetter claimed the honor for the week of Jan. 10-16, 2011.

In addition to his WAC honor, Barone was also named Madness WAC Player of the Week by College Sports Madness for the second week in a row.