In the latest acknowledgment for men’s college basketball, the standout player of the week is Brice Williams from Nebraska.
The 6-foot-7 senior guard delivered exceptional performances, helping Nebraska secure significant victories against ranked teams Illinois and Oregon in the Big Ten Conference. In a thrilling overtime game against then-No. 18 Illinois, Williams scored a season-high of 27 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and assisted four times. His pivotal moment came in the extra period when he netted eight consecutive points to propel his team to the win. Following that, he outdid himself with a remarkable 28 points, seven rebounds, and a season-best six assists in a victory over then-No. 16 Oregon.
Throughout the season, Williams has consistently scored in double figures, achieving this in 20 of his first 22 games. His efforts not only contributed to the Cornhuskers’ success but also marked the team’s fourth victory over a ranked opponent this season, equaling a program record last set in 1998-99.
The runner-up for this week’s honors is Madison Durr from Monmouth. The 6-foot-5 junior opened his week with an outstanding performance, scoring 40 points on an impressive 10-for-11 shooting in a nail-biting 104-97 double-overtime victory against Drexel. This remarkable feat marked the first 40-point game in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in over two years. Durr’s performance also included a flawless 19-for-19 shooting from the free-throw line, setting a new CAA record by completing the most free throws without a miss and placing him among the 26 players in Division I history to achieve this milestone in a single game. He went on to score 27 points in a subsequent match against Delaware, maintaining his perfect free-throw shooting with a 14-for-14 effort at the line.
Honorable mentions include Johni Brome from Auburn and Cooper Flagg from Duke.
Also worth noting is Caleb Love from Arizona. The fifth-year guard, who began his journey at North Carolina, continues to make impactful plays out West, aiding his team’s rise to a tie for the Big 12 lead. In a standout game against then-No. 3 Iowa State, Love shone brightly with a 22-point performance that featured a remarkable shot from beyond half-court to force overtime, ultimately leading to a critical victory. He then followed up this display with 27 points in a rivalry game against Arizona State, marking the highest score for a Wildcat at this venue since 1997. Over his last week, Love averaged 16.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, underlining his importance to the team.
