University of Minnesota Athletics
Mbakwe Honored With Big Ten Weekly Award
11/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Minnesota's Trevor Mbakwe and Ohio State's Jared Sullinger share Big Ten men's basketball Player of the Week honors, while Sullinger earns the nod for Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday.
Mbakwe takes home his first Player of the Week award after helping Minnesota capture the Puerto Rico Tip-Off title with victories over Western Kentucky, No. 8/8 North Carolina and West Virginia. Mbakwe was named Most Outstanding Player at the tournament, averaging 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds over three games. With a game against Siena on Monday, the junior posted two double-doubles on the week, the first of which came against the Saints as he scored 10 points and added 11 rebounds. Against Western Kentucky, Mbakwe scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, giving him three double-doubles on the season. For the week, he averaged 14.0 points and 9.3 boards as the Gophers extended their record to 5-0.
This marks Minnesota's first Big Ten Player of the Week honor since Blake Hoffarber on Dec. 21, 2009.
Ohio State's Jared Sullinger earns his second straight Freshman of the Week award and his first Player of the Week honor after scoring a career-high 26 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the Buckeyes' 93-75 win at No. 9/10 Florida on Tuesday. He followed that effort with 11 points and eight rebounds against UNC Wilmington in an 81-41 home victory on Saturday. For the week, Sullinger averaged 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds.
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