NEW YORK - Solo Ball of UConn and Nigel James Jr. from Marquette are this week's BIG EAST Weekly award winners. Ball led the Huskies to a pair of wins, averaging 22.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. James Jr. averaged 19.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 1.0 steal in two games for the Golden Eagles.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Solo Ball, UConn, G, Jr.
Ball averaged 22.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in a 2-0 week for the No. 6/5 Huskies. He registered back-to-back 20-point performances, connecting on 11 3-pointers over the two wins - the most by a player over a two-game span in BIG EAST play this season. The junior finished with a game-high 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting at Butler on Feb. 11, connecting on a season-best six 3-pointers against the Bulldogs. Last time out on Feb. 14 against Georgetown, Ball tallied 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists. The 6-3 guard connected on five 3-pointers in the win over the Hoyas.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Nigel James Jr., Marquette, G, Fr.
James Jr. averaged 19.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 1.0 steal this past week in a pair of games for Marquette. On Feb. 14 at Xavier, James Jr. finished with 30 points and a career-best 12 assists. It was the first 30+ point/12+ assist game in BIG EAST play since Feb. 23, 2002. He also became the first BIG EAST freshman to log three 30+ point performances in league play since the 1998-99 season. Earlier in the week, the 6-0 guard finished with nine points, four rebounds, and six assists at Villanova. This marks James Jr.'s third BIG EAST Freshman of the Week award.
BIG EAST Honor Roll
Josh Dix, Creighton, G, Sr.
Dix averaged 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while connecting on 50% of his shots from the floor and 40% from the perimeter in a pair of games for Creighton this week. He tallied 14 points, five boards, and three assists against Villanova on Feb. 14.
NJ Benson, DePaul, F, Sr.
Benson shined in his lone game of the week, finishing with 23 points and 10 rebounds - his third double-double of the season. The 6-8 forward was 10-for-11 from the floor in the Blue Demons' home win over Creighton - the best single-game FG% performance (min 10 FGA) ever by a DePaul player.
Dylan Darling, St. John's, G, Jr.
Darling averaged 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals in a 2-0 week for St. John's. He had 23 points, making 6-of-11 shots including three 3-pointers, to go with eight rebounds, and three steals in a Feb. 14 win at Providence. He had 16 points, five boards, and four assists against Xavier.
Budd Clark, Seton Hall, G, Jr.
Clark averaged 19.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 3.0 steals in a 2-0 week for the Pirates. He poured in a season-high 31 points to go with eight assists and five steals in a Feb. 11 win over Providence. The junior guard finished with eight points and seven assists in a win at Butler on Feb. 15.
Tyler Perkins, Villanova, G, Jr.
Perkins averaged 19.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steal in a 2-0 week for Villanova. He finished with 22 points and eight rebounds against Marquette on Feb. 10 and logged a double-double (17 points/11 rebounds) at Creighton on Feb. 14.
Jovan Milicevic, Xavier, F, So.
Milicevic averaged 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in a 1-1 week for Xavier. He scored a career-high 23 points, making five 3-pointers in a Feb. 14 home win over Marquette. The sophomore logged 13 points, four boards, and two steals in an overtime loss at St. John's.