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Chris Boucher had the best week ever. Well, at least among big forwards playing college basketball.
The Oregon Ducks forward has been named to the NCAA’s all-week team, along with NC State guard Dennis Smith Jr., Kentucky guard Malik Monk, North Carolina forward Justin Jackson and UCF center Tacko Fall.
40% of our All-Week Team played in one instant classic on Saturday: https://t.co/kqQX1TLz38 pic.twitter.com/c7jU90NNUY
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) December 19, 2016
Boucher is always a standout performer for the Ducks, but his effort against Montana is what got him the nod:
Boucher continues to be one of the most unique players in college basketball, and his performance against Montana on Tuesday exemplified that.
The Ducks’ big man scored 23 points and collected 19 rebounds in Oregon’s 14-point win; he also blocked five shots and nabbed two steals. Listed at just 200 pounds, Boucher is rarely pushed around inside – he’s averaging 3.2 rejections on the season and is second on Oregon in rebounding with 7.8 per game. His Tuesday stat line was the best he’s produced all year, but it hardly comes as a surprise.
Boucher is also hitting 35.5 percent of his 3-pointers this season. So to recap: he’s a rim-protecting, stretch center that weighs less than most shooting guards. Yes, he’s as fun to watch as it would seem. Boucher missed the Ducks’ game against UNLV on Saturday with an ankle injury, but his Tuesday performance was so dazzling that he earned a spot on this team anyway. Hopefully, he can get healthy soon.
He should be back in the lineup in time for Oregon’s Pac-12 opener against UCLA Dec. 28. And when he does, opponents better watch out.