BEST of the WEEK | Feb. 14, 2005
Awards based on games from Monday through Sunday

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Alabama
Coach Mark Gottfried's Crimson Tide won a pair of SEC games by convincing margins. Alabama went on the road to beat Tennessee 72-54 (not an easy place to play). Alabama followed that up with a 71-45 blowout over Mississippi, a total M&M'er (a mismatch, baby!)

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wayne Simien, Kansas
The Big Dub had another big week. Kansas big man Wayne Simien had 23 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Kansas State and then scored 25 in a victory over Colorado.

COACH OF THE WEEK: Gary Williams, Maryland
The Terps knocked off Virginia Tech and Duke last week. Williams kept his team fired up despite a nine-point second-half deficit against the Blue Devils. That victory should end any doubts of the Terps securing an NCAA bid. Sweeping the Dukies makes it an automatic, in my mind.

SHOCK OF THE WEEK: Memphis over Louisville
The fact that John Calipari got his 300th career win at Louisville was a surprise. The shock came in the margin: 85-68. That was Rick Pitino's worst home loss in his time as Louisville coach.

DIAPER DANDY OF THE WEEK: Darius Washington Jr., Memphis
It was another solid week for Darius Washington Jr., the improving freshman point guard. He scored 25 points against Louisville, and then he had 16 points (5-of-6 field goals) and nine assists in a 103-71 blowout at home over Tulane.

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.