Big Ten Announces Weekly Awards - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

Big Ten Announces Weekly Awards

The Big Ten on Monday announced the men's basketball Players of the Week. Below are this week's honorees.

Co-Players of the Week

D.J. Richardson, Illinois

6-3, Sr., G, Peoria, Ill./Findlay Prep

• Led the Illini to two wins over top-20 opponents last week, averaging 18.0 points on 50.0 percent shooting and 2.5 steals
• Against top-ranked Indiana, poured in a game-high 23 points, including 15 in the second half and eight in the final minutes of the game
• Scored 13 points in a road win over Minnesota, shooting 60 percent from three-point range, and chipped in three rebounds, two assists and two steals
• Wins his first career Big Ten Player of the Week honor
• Last Illinois Player of the Week: Tracy Abrams (Dec. 31, 2012)

 Ben Brust, Wisconsin

6-1, Jr., G, Hawthorn Woods, Ill./ Mundelein

• Helped Wisconsin to a pair of overtime wins against Iowa and Michigan over the weekend, averaging 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals
• Scored 14 points and forced overtime against Michigan with a buzzer-beating three-point shot just inside halfcourt, then hit the eventual game-winning three in overtime
• Played 45 minutes against Iowa, scoring 18 points and hauling in six rebounds
• Shot 43.8 percent from three-point range in two games.
• Wins his first Big Ten Player of the Week honor
• Last Wisconsin Big Ten Player of the Week: Jordan Taylor (Jan. 23, 2012)

Freshman of the Week

Mitch McGary, Michigan

6-10, F, Chesterton, Ind./Brewster Academy

• Averaged 13.0 points on 56.5 percent shooting, 7.0 rebounds and 3.5 steals in a pair of overtime contests against Ohio State and Wisconsin last week
• Recorded career highs with 14 points and four steals in a midweek win over Ohio State, while also adding six rebounds
• Posted a career-high 32 minutes against Wisconsin over the weekend, finishing with 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals
• Earns his second Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor
• Last Michigan Big Ten Freshman of the Week: Glenn Robinson III (Jan. 28, 2013)

2012-13 Big Ten Men's Basketball Players of the Week

Nov. 12         P:    Tim Hardaway Jr., Jr., MICH

                        F:    Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell, IND

Nov. 19         P:    Deshaun Thomas, Jr., OSU

                        F:    Gary Harris, MSU

Nov. 26         P:    Andre Hollins, So., MINN

                        F:    Nik Stauskas, MICH

Dec. 3            P:    Andre Almeida, Sr., NEB

                        F:    Nik Stauskas, MICH

Dec. 10         P:    Brandon Paul, Sr., ILL

                        F:    Gary Harris, MSU

Dec. 17         P:    Trey Burke, So., MICH

                        F:    Mike Gesell, IOWA

Dec. 24         P:    Derrick Nix, Sr., MSU

                        F:    Mitch McGary, MICH

Dec. 31         P:    Tracy Abrams, So., ILL

                        F:    Nik Stauskas, MICH

Jan. 7             P:    Trey Burke, So., MICH

                        F:    Glenn Robinson III, MICH

Jan. 14          P:    Cody Zeller, So., IND

                        P:    Deshaun Thomas, Jr., OSU

                        F:    Sam Dekker, WIS

Jan. 21          P:    Tim Hardaway Jr., Jr., MICH

                        F:    Shavon Shields, NEB

Jan. 28          P:    Victor Oladipo, Jr., IND

                        F:    Glenn Robinson III, MICH

Feb. 4            P:    Cody Zeller, So., IND

                        P:    Keith Appling, Jr., MSU

                        F:    A.J. Hammons, PUR

Feb. 11         P:    D.J. Richardson, Sr., ILL

                        P:    Ben Brust, Jr., WIS

                        F:    Mitch McGary, MICH