Around The Big Ten – February 26

More on this week’s edition of “Big Ten Whip Around” — start listening to SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Ch. 372) on the SiriusXM app now.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Player of the Week
Nate Bittle, Oregon
G – Sr. – 7-0 – Central Pointe, Ore. – Prolific Prep

• Paired 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.7 blocked shots in Oregon’s 3-0 week
• Recorded double-doubles in wins over Rutgers and at Iowa
• Scored a game-high 23 points, including six in the extra period, as the Ducks claimed a 77-73 overtime win at No. 11 Wisconsin
• Earns first Player of the Week honor

Freshman of the Week
Jase Richardson, Michigan State
G – 6-3 – Denver, Colo. – Columbus (Fla.)

• Averaged 16.5 points per game as the Spartans scored a pair of top 20 wins
• Recorded a team-high 21 points in the Spartans’ 75-62 victory at No. 12 Michigan
• Claims first Freshman of the Week award
• Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: Max Christie (January 17, 2022)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Co-Player of the Week
JuJu Watkins, USC
Sophomore – Guard – Los Angeles, Calif. – Sierra Canyon
• Paced USC to a pair of wins over ranked opponents in No. 22 Michigan State and No. 25 Illinois
• Had 28 points, eight rebounds, three steals, three blocks and three assists against the Spartans
• Added 22 points, five rebounds, four blocks and three assists versus Illinois
• Was a perfect 10-for-10 at the free throw line against the Illini
• Moved up two spots in USC’s career list and is ranked No. 11 all-time with 1,574 career points, surpassing Cynthia Cooper
• Earns the sixth Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career
• Last USC Player of the Week: JuJu Watkins (Feb. 17, 2025)

Co-Player of the Week
Lauren Betts, UCLA
Junior – Center – Centennial, Colo. – Grandview
• Averaged 22 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 2.5 assists in two wins for UCLA
• Scored 22 points with seven rebounds, six blocks and three assists versus No. 25 Illinois
• Broke UCLA’s single-season blocks record with her six-rejection effort, surpassing Monique Billings for the all-time spot
• Recorded a double-double (22 points, 12 rebounds) while shooting 75.0 percent (9-of-12) from the field at Iowa
• Claims the third Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career
• Last UCLA Player of the Week: Lauren Betts (Jan. 27, 2025)

Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll
Alexis Markowski, NEB: Dropped a career-high 35 points to go along with a season-best 15 rebounds in Nebraska’s comeback victory over Oregon
Elle Ladine, WASH: Put up 28.0 points on 62.9 percent shooting with 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists during two Washington triumphs
Grace Grocholski, MINN: Led Minnesota past Purdue on a career-high 27 points while going 8-for-12 from the field and 8-for-9 at the charity stripe

Freshman of the Week
Jaloni Cambridge, Ohio State
Guard – Nashville, Tenn. – Montverde Academy
• Averaged a team-high 22.3 points, 3.7 assists and 3.0 steals over Ohio State’s three games
• Finished with a game-best 29 points, four assists and three rebounds versus Iowa
• Tallied 18 points with four steals and four rebounds at Indiana
• Had 20 points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds against Purdue
• Went 7-for-7 at the free throw line versus the Boilermakers
• Collects her third Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel
• Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Ava Watson (Feb. 17, 2025)

HOCKEY

First Star
Arsenii Sergeev, Penn State
Jr. – G – Yaroslavl, Russia — UConn (NCAA)

• Helped No. 18/17 Penn State secure five of six points against No. 1/1 Michigan State, Feb. 21-22, in East Lansing, Mich.
• Recorded a .951 save percentage (78-of-82) and a 1.92 goals-against average as the Nittany Lions skated to a 2-2 overtime tie on Friday and a 3-2 win on Saturday
• Spearheaded a penalty killing unit that went 6-for-6 for the weekend series
• The Calgary Flames draft pick has been tabbed First Star three times this season (Jan. 7, Feb. 11, Feb. 25)
• Last Penn State Star: Simon Mack (Second Star) on Feb. 18, 2025

Second Star
Brody Lamb, Minnesota
Jr. – F – Byron, Minn. — Green Bay (USHL)

• Led Big Ten skaters with three goals on the weekend in No. 5/4 Minnesota’s sweep of No. 7/6 Ohio State
• Finished the series against the Buckeyes with four points, a plus-four rating and two blocked shots
• The Gophers are 10-1-1 this season when Lamb scores a goal
• The New York Rangers draft pick receives his fourth career weekly award (3-Second Stars, 1-Third Star) and his third of the season
• Last Minnesota Star recipient: Jimmy Snuggerud (First Star) on Feb. 4, 2025

Third Star
Justin Janicke, Notre Dame
Sr. – F – Maple Grove, Minn. — U.S. National Team Development Program

• Amassed four points (two goals, two assists) for Notre Dame in a weekend split against Wisconsin in Madison, Wis.
• Scored the game-winning goal and helped the penalty killing unit negate a five-minute major in Saturday’s 6-1 victory
• Leads the Fighting Irish with 13 goals and ranks second in scoring with 31 points
• The Seattle Kraken draft choice collects his second Big Ten Star honor of the season
• Last Notre Dame Star honoree: Justin Janicke (Second Star) on Jan. 14, 2025