Jan. 21, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame point guard Eric Atkins (Columbia, Md.) has been named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the second time this season and the third time in his career. Akins averaged 17.5 points, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals in helping the Irish to a 1-1 week.
Sean Kilpatrick of Cincinnati garnered BIG EAST player-of-the-week honors, while Jakarr Sampson of St. John’s earned BIG EAST rookie-of-the-week accolades.
Atkins played all 40 minutes in both of Notre Dame’s games last week — a 67-63 loss at St. John’s and a 69-66 victory at home against Rutgers. In the loss to St. John’s the 6-2, 182-pound guard netted a season-high 21 points as he connected on seven-of-nine shots from the field, in addition to dishing off four assists and making a career-high six steals.
In the win over Scarlet Knights, Atkins registered double figures for a career-best sixth consecutive outing as he finished with 14 points, four assists and two steals. Atkins has netted double figures in 13 games in 2012-13, 41 times during his career and topped the 20-point mark on four occasions.
Joining Atkins on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll were Otto Porter of Georgetown, Russ Smith of Louisville, Byrce Cotton of Providence and Brandon Triche of Syracuse.
Atkins is Notre Dame’s third-leading scorer through 18 games this season as he is averaging 12.3 points per game and leads the team in assists (6.7) and steals (1.8). He also leads the team in minutes played at 36.8 minutes per game and has played 40-plus minutes in four games this season and is shooting 50.0 percent from the field (79-158) and 46.0 percent from three-point range (23-50).
Atkins is Notre Dame’s leading scorer in BIG EAST games with a 16.0 scoring average and also tops the Irish in assists (5.6) and steals (2.2) in five conference games thus far. In five BIG EAST contests thus far, he has connected on 54.9 percent from the field (28-51) and 66.7 percent from beyond the arc (8-12).