Sam Hauser named ACC Player of the Week

For the first time this season, a Virginia Cavalier has earned a weekly award from the conference. Sam Hauser was named the ACC Player of the week on Monday, February 8, after averaging 20.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in wins over NC State and Pittsburgh.

Hauser shot a combined 13-for-20 from the field, going 8-for-10 from two and 5-for-10 from three. Against Pitt, Hauser was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in the second half, including two threes that helped Virginia pull away from the Panthers for good. He also went a combined 10-for-10 from the free throw line last week.

For the season, Hauser is shooting 43% from three and 61% from two. After a slow start, Hauser has caught fire offensively. He’s connecting on 45% of his threes in conference play, and he is 20-for-40 from downtown over the last six games. Hauser leads the Cavaliers in scoring (15.4 points) and rebounds (7.0) per game.

On Saturday’s victory over the Panthers, Hauser dropped 23 points and helped lock down Pitt’s Justin Champagnie defensively. “Sam…was the difference in this game with his offense and his defense,” Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said after the game. “I thought he was really good at being what we we call ‘a wall on wheels.’ Yes, that part I was really pleased with. There were a couple stretches but that was the difference on the defense and one of the bright spots defensively.”

Hauser, a fifth-year transfer from Marquette, has been a huge part of Virginia’s (13-3, 9-1 ACC) success this season. “Sam is so steady,” Bennett stated. “He’s poised. He’s been through the wars, he’s a fifth-year senior. When you’re shooting like that and you can go inside…I think we sensed that and tried to get him opportunities. He just knows how to play the game. He’s been well taught way before he got here. He’s unselfish and he’s learning to be aggressive when we need it. I think he’s becoming that.”

Virginia, now No. 9 in the country, heads to Georgia Tech for a tough road game on Wednesday night. The game is set to start at 7pm and will be broadcast on the ACC Network.