November 20, 2006

WEEKLY AWARDS

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tyler Hansborough, North Carolina

The Tar Heels star started the week well, scoring 29 points (11-of-14 field goals) while grabbing nine boards in a win over Sacred Heart. He had a double-double (20 points, nine-of-13 field goals and 10 rebounds against a stubborn Winthrop team. Then he finished with 18 points and seven rebounds against Gardner-Webb.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Maryland

The Terps really showed something by winning the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. Maryland destroyed St. John's, taking charge right away. Gary Williams squad earned the championship with a hard-fought win over Michigan State.

COACH OF THE WEEK: Todd Lickliter, Butler

The Bulldogs were not expected to make it to the NIT Final Four. Someone forgot to tell Lickliter that his team wasn't supposed to beat Notre Dame and Indiana in consecutive nights. Butler was picked in the middle of the pack in the preseason Horizon League rankings. Mike Green and A. J. Graves, the backcourt tandem of the Bulldogs, did a great job getting Lickliter's team to the winner's circle out of Conseco Fieldhouse.

SHOCK OF THE WEEK: Oral Roberts over Kansas

There were plenty of surprises this week, ranging from Vermont over Boston College, Fairleigh Dickinson over Seton Hall, Stony Brook over Penn State. The bottom line was Kansas entered Allen Field House as the nation's third-ranked squad. The Jayhawks left with an "L" as Scott Sutton's Oral Roberts team, favored to win the Mid-Continent, scored a big-time upset.

DIAPER DANDY OF THE WEEK: Chase Budinger, Arizona

He had 32 big points (11-of-15 from the floor) and seven boards against Northern Arizona early in the week. He chipped in with 19 points and seven rebounds in a victory over New Mexico State.

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.