BEST of the WEEK | Feb. 28, 2005
Awards based on games from Monday through Sunday
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hakim Warrick, Syracuse
Senior forward Hakim Warrick is in a battle with Boston College junior forward Craig Smith for Big East Player of the Year. Warrick was dominant in a pair of Orange wins.
Against St. John's, he scored 35 points in an easy victory. Then, in helping coach Jim Boeheim secure his 700th career win, Warrick rewrote his career-high by scoring 36 versus the Friars.
COACH OF THE WEEK: Billy Gillispie, Texas A&M
Billy Gillispie, the former UTEP coach, has done a great job turning around the Aggies' program. Last week, Texas A&M had a couple of important Big 12 victories to get back into the NCAA Tournament picture.
The Aggies snapped Iowa State's seven-game winning streak, 75-59. A&M then went out and beat Big 12 contender Texas Tech, 85-63.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Washington
The Huskies moved a step closer to at least a share of the Pac-10 title for the first time since 1985. Coach Lorenzo Romar's team swept the Arizona schools last week.
First came a hard-fought 90-82 win over the Sun Devils of Arizona State. The Huskies followed with a 93-85 victory over Arizona. Tre Simmons had a super week, totaling 53 points in the two victories.
CO-SHOCKS OF THE WEEK:
Nebraska over Oklahoma State and Clemson over Maryland
The Cornhuskers came in 4-8 in Big 12 play and 11-12 overall. The heavily favored Cowboys entered 10-2 in league play and 20-3 overall. But Nebraska prevailed 74-67 as Joe McCray scored 22 points. It marked the Cornhuskers' first win in the past 20 games vs. a top-10 opponent.
Clemson's stunning victory came at College Park. It gave the Tigers a season sweep over the Terrapins.
DIAPER DANDY OF THE WEEK: Bryant Dunston, Fordham
The son of former major-league baseball player Shawon Dunston, freshman forward Bryant Dunston had a monster game in an 87-66 win over St. Bonaventure. The younger Dunston hit 13-of-15 shots from the floor, totaling 34 points, and grabbed 18 rebounds.
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.
