Around The Big Ten – February 5

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.

Player of the Week
Brice Williams, Nebraska
G – Sr. – 6-7 – Huntersville, N.C. – Hopewell

• Averaged 27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in leading the Huskers to a pair of wins over ranked teams last week
• Scored 27 points, including eight straight in overtime, and added a season-high eight rebounds in an 80-74 overtime win against Illinois
• Paired 28 points, seven boards, and a season-high six assists in a 77-71 win at Oregon
• Claims second Player of the Week honor
• Last Nebraska Player of the Week: Brice Williams (December 16, 2024)

Freshman of the Week
Will Riley, Illinois
F – 6-8 – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada – The Phelps School (Pa.)

• Led the Illini to a 1-1 week, averaging 20.0 points on 52% shooting from the field, including 45.5% from three-point range
• Scored a team-high 24 points, including 20 in the second half, off the bench in an 87-79 comeback win over Ohio State
• His 24 points off the bench are the most in a Big Ten game this season
• Added 16 points in an 80-74 overtime loss at Nebraska
• Earns his second Freshman of the Week award
• Last Illinois Player of the Week: Kasparas Jakucionis (January 6, 2025)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Co-Player of the Week
Lucy Olsen, Iowa
Senior – Guard – Collegeville, Pa. – Spring-Ford
• Averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in a pair of Iowa wins
• Recorded 16 points, six assists and five rebounds versus Northwestern
• Scored 28 points, shooting 10-of-18 from the field, to help the Hawkeyes hand No. 4 USC its first Big Ten loss of the season
• Earns the first Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career
• Last Iowa Player of the Week: Caitlin Clark (March 4, 2024)

Co-Player of the Week
Genesis Bryant, Illinois
5th-Yr. – Guard – Jonesboro, Ga. – Lovejoy
• Led Illinois to a 3-0 week, including two road victories and the program’s first-ever win over Maryland
• Finished the three-game swing averaging 20.3 points with a 91.7 free throw percentage
• Added 13 points against Purdue while shooting 83.3 percent from the floor
• Dropped 28 points, six rebounds and two assists at Rutgers
• Connected on the game-winning free throws to upset No. 14 Maryland
• Had 20 points, went 6-for-6 at the charity stripe and grabbed four rebounds versus the Terps
• Claims the third Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career
• Last Illinois Player of the Week: Kendall Bostic (Nov. 25, 2024)

Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll
Yarden Garzon, IND: Connected on eight three-pointers, the second-most in a single game in Hoosier history, on her way to a career-high 35 points against Washington

Freshman of the Week
Olivia Olson, Michigan
Guard – New Hope, Minn. – Benilde St. Margaret’s
• Recorded the first 30-point game of her career on 13-of-19 shooting with four rebounds, three steals and an assist against Wisconsin
• Posted a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) in 26 minutes versus Oregon
• Collects her second Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel
• Last Michigan Freshman of the Week: Olivia Olson (Dec. 9, 2024)

HOCKEY

First Star
Jimmy Snuggerud, Minnesota
Jr. – F – Chaska, Minn. — U.S. National Team Development Program

• Produced two goals and two assists as No. 4/4 Minnesota swept No. 17/18 Wisconsin in the Border Battle rivalry, contested Jan. 31-Feb. 1 in Minneapolis, Minn.
• Sparked a 5-2 come-from-behind win on Friday with two goals, extending his goal-scoring streak to six games while scoring his Big Ten-best 17th goal in conference play
• Took over the NCAA scoring lead (41 points) and became the first Minnesota player to record three consecutive 20-goal campaigns to begin a career in over 70 years
• The junior captain snags his seventh career Big Ten weekly award (6-Firsts, 1-Second) and his third of the season
• Last Minnesota First Star: Jimmy Snuggerud on Jan. 21, 2025

Second Star
Aiden Fink, Penn State
So. – F – Calgary, Alberta – Brooks (AJHL)

• Netted a conference-high three goals to help Penn State to a series split at No. 13/12 Michigan
• Buried two goals in Penn State’s 5-4 win on Friday, setting a Penn State record with his 14th career power play goal
• Scored his first career shorthanded goal on Saturday and continues to pace the Nittany Lions in scoring with 37 points in 26 games
• The Nashville Predators draft pick garners his fifth career Star Award and second of the season
• Last Penn State Star recipient: Reese Laubach (Third Star) on Jan. 28, 2025

Third Star
Will Felicio, Michigan
Fr. – D – Holden, Mass. — Waterloo (USHL)

• Contributed four points (goal, three assists) in Michigan’s split against Penn State, Jan. 31-Feb. 1 in Ann Arbor
• Shared the national lead for points among defenseman last week
• Finished the conference series with a plus-five rating and has yet to be whistled for a penalty 18 games into his collegiate career
• Becomes just the third Big Ten freshman this season honored with a Star Award
• Last Michigan Star honorees: Michael Hage (First Star) and T.J. Hughes (Second Star) on Nov. 26, 2024