BEST of the WEEK | Jan. 12 | Awards based on games from Monday-Sunday
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brian Cook, Illinois
To me, forward Brian Cook is the best inside-outside performer in the Big Ten. This season, he has lived up to his billing for coach Bill Self's Illini.
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Cook came through with a pair of strong performances against two solid opponents, Minnesota and Wisconsin. He scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds (both game highs), excelling at winning time as the Illini got a 76-70 win over the Golden Gophers at a difficult place to play, Williams Arena.
He scored 31 points and grabbed nine boards in a 69-63 victory over the Badgers.
Yes, there were a number of strong candidates this week, including Hollis Price of Oklahoma, Mike Sweetney of Georgetown for his outing vs. West Virginia Sunday, and Derrick Tarver of Akron (72 points in two games). But the nod goes to Mr. Cook of Illinois.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Florida
The Rowdy Reptiles had to be ecstatic with the week their Gators enjoyed.
Florida earned a big-time 74-66 win at Starkville, slowing down red-hot Mississippi State on Tuesday. Coach Billy Donovan's Gators followed that W up with a 66-63 victory over a Georgia team that entered with an eight-game win streak. The Gators won their ninth in a row by beating the Bulldogs.
Things should get even better, because freshman sensation Christian Drejer is expected to suit up for Florida soon after sitting out the first part of the season due to injury. Numerous scouts claim Drejer could have been a first-round pick in last year's NBA draft.
A salute to Donovan and his Gators as the Team of the Week.
COACH OF THE WEEK: Jim Wooldridge, Kansas State
The Wildcats opened the season 2-4, but coach Jim Wooldridge has turned things around.
Kansas State won its eighth in a row by besting a ranked Texas Tech squad, 68-44. That's right, the Wildcats held Robert Montgomery Knight's Red Raiders to 3-of-19 from 3-point range and a mere 44 points.
The eight-game win streak is Kansas State's longest since 1997-98. One key for Wooldridge's team has been its strength on the glass; the Wildcats have outrebounded 11 of their last 12 opponents.
DIAPER DANDY OF THE WEEK: Anthony Roberson, Florida
You won't see a more fearless performance by a freshman than the one put on in the second half against Georgia by Anthony Roberson. The diaper dandy from Saginaw, Michigan came through big-time with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send the Bulldogs to the showers with an L!
Mr. Roberson hit 7-of-10 trifectas, finishing with 23 points. It was that smooth-as-ice demeanor that said it all.
The tandem of Roberson and Matt Walsh has proven special already for the Gators this season.
SHOCK OF THE WEEK: Penn over USC
There were certainly a number of surprises last week. Vanderbilt beating Alabama, Kansas State easily over Texas Tech, Ohio State over Indiana, NAIA Golden State Athletic Conference member Point Loma over Loyola-Marymount.
My vote goes to the Quakers of Penn. Coach Fran Dunphy's team came into Saturday's game with a 4-4 record, including road losses to Delaware, Providence and Colorado.
But the Quakers humiliated the Trojans, a team coming off a big Pac-10 win over arch-rival UCLA on Wednesday. Penn shot an incredible 72 percent (36-of-50) en route to a 99-61 blowout of the Trojans. USC coach Henry Bibby said he couldn't believe the way the Quakers shot the ball.
