NEW YORK - Alex Karaban from UConn and Villanova's Acaden Lewis have earned BIG EAST weekly men's basketball awards. Karaban was named BIG EAST Player of the Week after averaging a full stat line in a 2-0 week: 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.0 blocks. Lewis won Freshman of the Week honors after shining as the primary playmaker for the Wildcats in a 2-0 week, tallying 11.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per outing.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Alex Karaban, UConn, F, R-Sr.
Karaban led No. 3/3 UConn to a pair of victories this week, averaging 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.0 blocks. The redshirt senior forward connected on 68.2% (15-22) of his attempts from the floor, including 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. His best performance of the week came in a win over No. 7/7 BYU in Boston on Nov. 15, scoring 21 points (8-11 FG; 4-4 3FG) to go with three rebounds, two steals, an assist, and a blocked shot. In a Nov. 10 win over Columbia, Karaban tallied 20 points, six boards, four assists, a steal, and a blocked shot.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Acaden Lewis, Villanova, G, Fr.
Lewis averaged 11.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in a 2-0 week for Villanova. The newcomer from Washington, D.C. shined against Duquesne on Nov. 15, scoring a season-best 19 points to go along with four rebounds and six assists. He dished out a season-high eight assists on Nov. 11 against Sacred Heart. For the season, Lewis is averaging 5.3 assists per game - second in the BIG EAST and ninth nationally among freshmen.
BIG EAST Honor Roll
Finley Bizjack, Butler, G, Jr.
Bizjack averaged 20.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game this past week. The junior guard connected on nearly 56% of his 3-point attempts, making 10-of-18 for the Bulldogs. He tallied 22 points and six assists against Chicago State on Nov. 11 and had 18 points, four assists, and three steals at SMU on Nov. 15.
Chase Ross, Marquette, G, Sr.
Ross averaged 23.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals for the Golden Eagles last week. He scored a career-high 31 points against Maryland on Nov. 15, making 10-of-19 shots from the floor. He added 16 points, three rebounds, and five assists in 23 minutes against Little Rock on Nov. 12.
Jason Edwards, Providence, G, Gr.
Edwards posted 19.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in a 1-1 week for the Friars. The graduate student made all 14 of his attempts from the charity stripe over the two-game span. At Colorado on Nov. 14, Edwards tallied 24 points, three boards, and six assists. He registered 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists in a win over Penn on Nov. 11.
KJ Lewis, Georgetown, G, Jr.
Lewis was outstanding for the Hoyas in a 2-0 week, averaging 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 3.0 steals. The 6-4 guard's best performance came in a win over Clemson on Nov. 15, finishing with a career-high 26 points to go with four rebounds, two assists, and five steals.
Bryce Lindsay, Villanova, G, R-So.
Lindsay averaged 22.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game for the Wildcats this past week. Lindsay connected on nearly 56% from the floor, knocking down 12-of-22 attempts from beyond the arc over the two games. He poured in a season-high 27 points, setting new Villanova single-game record with nine 3-pointers.