Dillard earns second Freshman of the Week honor
A basketball player who is hitting over 50 percent of his shots is having a pretty good game. So when Tennessee Tech freshman Jud Dillard hit 16-of-18 shots on the week, shooting 88.9 percent from the field, it’s no surprise he was a nearly unanimous selection as the OVC’s Freshman of the Week.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – A basketball player who is hitting over
50 percent of his shots is having a pretty good game. So when
Tennessee Tech freshman Jud Dillard hit 16-of-18 shots on the week,
shooting 88.9 percent from the field, it’s no surprise he was
a nearly unanimous selection as the OVC’s Freshman of the
Week.
Dillard averaged 17 points and five rebounds per game as Tech went
2-0 in league games for the week. He scored a career-high 23 points
against Austin Peay and had 17 of his 23 points in the second half,
as the Golden Eagles erased a halftime deficit to clinch a crucial
league win. Dillard hit 11-of-12 shots in that game and collected
six rebounds.
In Tech’s win against Tennessee State, Dillard went 5-of-6
from the field and scored 11 points to go along with four rebounds
and a steal.
Dillard did an exceptional job of moving without the ball in both
games, and his teammates did a great job finding him, as he got to
the rim at will and finished at the basket. He received nine out of
10 first-place votes for the award, and one second place vote.
“Jud had two great games for us this week,” TTU head
men’s basketball coach Mike Sutton said. “He is
probably our best player when it comes to moving without the ball.
He never stops moving and he really understands the
game.”
Dillard is averaging 8.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in his
freshman campaign for the Golden Eagles. He has played in all 20
games this season off the bench and is playing nearly 20 minutes
per contest. He is second on the team in field goal percentage on
the season, hitting 59.8 (76-of-127) percent of his shots, trailing
only Alfred Jones, who leads the OVC with a 69.5 field goal
percentage.
The award is Dillard’s second Freshman of the Week honor this
season. He was also named Freshman of the Week on Dec. 14, two days
after finishing with 15 points, four rebounds, two assists, a
blocked shot and a steal in 19 minutes of play in Tech’s win
over Ball State.
Dillard, along with fellow freshman teammate Terrell Barnes, comes
to Tech from Riverdale High School in Riverdale, Ga. The 6-4, 180
pound guard is enrolled in general curriculum.
With the two wins on the week Tech improved to 10-10 overall and
4-5 in OVC play. The Golden Eagles host two OVC games this week as
they kick off the week looking to avenge an overtime loss to
Eastern Illinois earlier in the season when the Panthers visit on
Jan. 28. The Golden Eagles will wrap up the week with a game
against Southeast Missouri on Jan. 30. Tech got a win at SEMO on
Jan. 2.
For ticket information please contact the Golden Eagle athletic
ticket office at (931) 372-3940 or visit TTUsports.com.
