BEST of the WEEK | Jan. 5 | Awards based on games from Monday-Sunday

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jason Kapono, UCLA
Where has he been all season long? UCLA has needed senior Jason Kapono to provide firepower for a struggling team, and he did as the Bruins won road tests at Washington and Washington State.

	Kapono

After scoring 15 in a win against the Washington Huskies, Kapono exploded to tally 44 points at Pullman, hitting 9-of-10 trifectas. Prior to that game, he had gone over 20 points just once all season. Kapono showed the ability that was projected since day one when he walked onto the Westwood campus.

The Bruins need all the Ws they can get, and Kapono has to continue to step up and perform up to expectations. He didn't do that earlier in the season as UCLA lost to San Diego and Northern Arizona at Pauley Pavilion.

Kapono decided to forego the NBA and come back for one more season. He responded on the Washington trip, and now perhaps we will see the real Jason Kapono the rest of the season.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Georgia
Coach Jim Harrick has his whole team together now, so watch out come tournament time. Georgia has experience, size, talent and an underrated backcourt.

After a 1-3 start, the Bulldogs are on a roll, baby! Georgia beat a pair of ranked teams this past week, and did it in dominating fashion, topping Pittsburgh 79-67 on New Year's Eve and LSU 89-63 on Sunday.

It helps to have Chris Daniels and Steve Thomas back from earlier suspensions. The Bulldogs are loaded, with the twins, Jarvis Hayes and Jonas Hayes, plus Ezra Williams (who scored 25 big points against the Tigers).

It's impressive to blow out LSU considering the Tigers have a victory over Arizona.

COACH OF THE WEEK: Rick Majerus, Utah
Rick Majerus had his Utes prepared, especially on the defensive end, for the showdown against then-No. 1 Alabama. The game plan worked out perfectly as Utah shut down the Crimson Tide 51-49, holding Erwin Dudley and Kenny Walker in check.

Utah then completed a solid week by knocking off Weber State 72-58. Ute fans were jumping for joy after a super week.

DIAPER DANDY OF THE WEEK: Bracey Wright, Indiana
The MVP of the Maui Invitational continues to excel. Freshman Bracey Wright put up 31 big points in a win over Ball State when Hoosiers coach Mike Davis was sitting out a one-game suspension.

Wright came through with 17 more points in a victory over Charlotte. He continues to provide serious firepower from the perimeter for the Hoosiers.

SHOCK OF THE WEEK: Toledo over Michigan State
Toledo coach Stan Joplin got a big win over his mentor, Tom Izzo. The Rockets were ready to perform and never folded under the pressure at a tough place to play, Breslin Center.

Virtually all non-league opponents leave there with a loss, but Toledo came through big-time. The MAC has risen to the occasion many times over the years -- simply chalk up another surprise for the league.