PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jaycee Carroll, Utah State
The 6-2 senior guard had consecutive nights scoring 30+ points. In a win over Northern Arizona, Carroll hit 12-of-15 field goals while totaling 33 points in 36 minutes. The night before, against Utah Valley, he converted 11-of-16 field goal attempts en route to a 32-point performance. Carroll also went over the 2,000-point mark for his career vs. Utah Valley.
COACH OF THE WEEK: Tom Izzo, Michigan State
His Spartans came through with a big win over Texas. Michigan State is a sure thing to move up in the national rankings after that victory.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Memphis
John Calipari has scheduled several tough non-conference tests. His Tigers came through with a big-time W over another top-five team, Georgetown. Memphis pulled away in the second half behind Chris Douglas-Roberts.
DIAPER DANDY OF THE WEEK: DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
For the second straight week, Blair came up big in a key win. This time he scored 15 points, grabbed 20 boards and blocked three shots as Jamie Dixon's squad remained unbeaten by taking down Duke.
CO-SHOCK OF THE WEEK: Wofford over Purdue and Appalachian State over Arkansas
It was a great week for the Southern Conference underdogs. The Terriers came into the contest with a 4-4 mark, while Purdue entered at 7-2. The Boilermakers were coming off a win over Louisville, so Matt Painter's team may have thought this home game would be easy. That was not the case as Wofford scored the final six points in a 69-66 stunner. Three-point shooting was a factor as the Terriers hit seven-of-14 while the Boilermakers made just three-of-16. I have said it many times, the trifecta is the great equalizer in college basketball! Then Appalachian State … that's right, a champion in football, baby … scored a stunner. Houston Fancher's team beat the Razorbacks in a game played in Little Rock.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.
