Around The Big Ten – March 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.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Player of the Week
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
F – Jr. – 6-7 – Glenview, Ill. – Glenbrook South

• Tallied of 22.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.1% from the field, while leading the Wildcats to a pair of wins
• Logged 29 points on 11-of-20 shooting and 3-of-5 from three, posting the most points by a Northwestern forward in a league game since 2012 in Northwestern’s 75-63 win at Minnesota
• Fell just shy of a double-double with 16 points and a game-high nine boards in a 68-57 win over Iowa
• Earns second Player of the Week honor
• Last Northwestern Player of the Week: Nick Martinelli (November 11, 2024)

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

• Averaged 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, as the No. 8 Spartans scored a pair of top 20 wins
• Paired 15 points and a career-best eight rebounds in a 58-55 win at No. 16 Maryland
• Added 11 points, five rebounds, and five assists in Michigan State’s 71-62 win over No. 11 Wisconsin
• Claims second consecutive Freshman of the Week award
• Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: Jase Richardson (February 24, 2025)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Player of the Week
JuJu Watkins, USC
Sophomore – Guard – Los Angeles, Calif. – Sierra Canyon
• Dropped 30 points in USC’s 80-67 road win over No. 2 UCLA to clinch the Big Ten regular-season title
• Chipped in five assists, three blocks, three rebounds and two steals against the Bruins
• Has 20 career 30-point games, ranking second in USC history behind Cheryl Miller (25)
• Her 684 points scored this season is the sixth most in program history
• Earns the seventh Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career
• Last USC Player of the Week: JuJu Watkins (Feb. 24, 2025)

Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll
Shyanne Sellers, MD: Tallied 23.0 points and 5.0 assists while shooting 92.9 percent at the charity stripe during Maryland’s two victories, including an overtime upset of No. 12 Ohio State
Alexis Markowski, NEB: Went 13-of-19 from the field on her way to 30 points with eight rebounds in a win over Northwestern
Ajae Petty, OSU: Accumulated 17.5 points, 12. 5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in Ohio State’s split week

Freshman of the Week
Jaloni Cambridge, Ohio State
Guard – Nashville, Tenn. – Montverde Academy
• Averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the final week of the regular season
• Scored a career-high 33 points and connected on a career-best five three-pointers in a win over No. 23 Michigan State
• Totaled 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in just 18 minutes of play versus Maryland
• Collects her fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel
• Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Jaloni Cambridge (Feb. 24, 2025)

HOCKEY

First Star
Oliver Moore, Minnesota
So. – F – Mounds View, Minn. — U.S. National Team Development Program

• Helped No. 2/2 Minnesota to four of six points against No. 15/16 Penn State, resulting in a Big Ten Championship for the Gophers
• Compiled four points (goal, three assists), a plus three rating and won 57.1 percent of his faceoffs (20-for-35)
• Assisted on game-tying goal that forced overtime Friday and generated three points on Saturday, including an insurance goal with 30 seconds left that sealed the conference title
• The Chicago Blackhawks draft pick earns his first Star of the season and the second of his career
• Last Minnesota First Star: Jimmy Snuggerud on Feb. 4, 2025

Second Star
Tiernan Shoudy, Michigan State
Jr. – F – Marysville, Mich. — Youngstown (USHL)

• Recorded his first multiple-goal game in Michigan State’s 5-2 win over Notre Dame Saturday as the No. 3/3 Spartans defended their Big Ten Championship
• Scored twice against the Fighting Irish and finished the weekend series with three points (2-1), two block shots and 16 faceoff wins in a road sweep
• Becomes the ninth different Spartan to earn a Star Award this season
• The Academic All-Big Ten selection earns his first Big Ten weekly award
• Last Michigan State Star recipient: David Gucciardi (Second Star) on Jan. 28, 2025

Third Star
Simon Mack, Penn State
Sr. – D – Brockville, Ont. — Des Moines (USHL)

• Scored the game-winning goal in overtime to propel No. 15/16 Penn State past No. 2/2 Minnesota, 4-3, on Feb. 28
• Netted goals both nights against the Gophers and blocked four shots on defense
• Ranks second among Big Ten defenseman in overall scoring with 26 points (3 goals, 23 assists)
• The Big Ten Distinguished Scholar earns his third weekly award of the season (1-Second, 2-Thirds)
• Last Penn State Star recipient: Arsenii Sergeev (First Star) on Feb. 25, 2025