CJ Massinburg Named To Citizen Naismith Trophy Men's Midseason Team
2/13/2019 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
COMPLETE RELEASE FROM ATLANT TIPOFF CLUB
CLEVELAND, OH - University at Buffalo senior guard CJ Massinburg has been one of 30 players nationally named to the Citizen Naismith Trophy Midseason Team, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Wednesday morning. The Naismith Trophy is awarded to the nation's top player.
Massinburg has led the nationally ranked Bulls to a 21-3 record so far this season, including a 9-2 record in league play. He leads Buffalo at 18.5 points per game, while adding 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest. He has scored in double figures in all, but one game this year and has scored at least 20 points nine times.
Fans nationally were introduced to Massinburg in November when he dropped 43 points on then ranked West Virginia, leading the Bulls to an overtime victory over the Mountaineers. He added 25 points in a road victory at Syracuse in the Carrier Dome and had 31 points in a nationally televised game inside Alumni Arena against Eastern Michigan.
"Each of the 30 players on the midseason team display the talent and drive worthy of the Citizen Naismith Trophy," said Eric Horowitz, managing director U.S. and travel retail, Citizen Watch Company of America, Inc. "We are looking forward to watching these men compete at the highest level, and we get closer to awarding the Player of the Year honor."
On March 4, 2019, the list will narrow even further to 10 national semifinalists. The four finalists will be announced on March 19, 2019, and fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite player leading up to the final announcement. The 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy will be awarded at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Mortenson on April 7, 2019, during the Final Four in Minneapolis. Only players on the midseason team are eligible to advance to the next round.
Coming off a 76-70 win at Akron on Tuesday night, Massinburg and the Bulls remain on the road Friday evening when they face Toledo at 7pm on ESPNU.
