DEC. 10 (awards based on games played Monday-Sunday)
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Florida
Give credit to Billy Donovan for getting his Florida Gators ready to play against two tough opponents (Michigan State and South Florida).
After the win over the Spartans, there could have been a letdown. Florida had a rough road test; South Florida has Greenberg-opolis, a tent city for fans who gather forces before entering the Sun Dome and making it a tough environment for the opponent.
Jason Hamilton played solid defense on Altron Jackson in the second half, and the Gators escaped Tampa with a big W. Here's a salute to Florida, my team of the week.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Matt Bonner, Florida
Matt Bonner, a 6-foot-10 junior from New Hampshire, has become a real PTPer for Billy Donovan's Gators. Bonner posted career-high scoring totals in back-to-back games.
First he scored 23 points in a win over Michigan State. Then Bonner hit 13 of 16 shots from the floor, finishing with 31 points in the win over South Florida. Seth Greenberg's team was fired up, but the Gator forward was too strong and helped his team to the winner's circle.
COACH OF THE WEEK: Lute Olson, Arizona
It has been an incredible start for the Wildcats. Olson's young team gained confidence with early wins over Maryland and Florida in the IKON Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Madison Square Garden. Arizona was impressive in wins over a pair of Big Ten schools last week.
When all is said and done, Olson may be Coach of the Year. He got his team ready after a loss to Kansas. His motivation and teaching ability has been a key for the Wildcats this season.
The 'Cats knocked off Illinois and Purdue. Against Bill Self's team, Arizona built a 16-point halftime lead. Jason Gardner and company handled the Boilermakers on Saturday. Gardner has played as well as any guard in America in the early season. That's one reason Olson has been happy.
UPSET OF THE WEEK: Northern Iowa over Iowa
Is anything really a shock during this wacky start of college basketball? Steve Alford's team was shocked at Northern Iowa. 6-7 center David Gruber scored 22 points (10-of-14 field-goal shooting) and grabbed 12 rebounds in the 78-76 upset. Give credit to first-year coach Greg McDermott as Northern Iowa came up with the big W.
It wasn't an easy week to pick just one upset. Pepperdine stunned USC, Holy Cross knocked off then-unbeaten Massachusetts, Valparaiso stunned Charlotte ... and the hits just keep on coming.
DIAPER DANDY OF THE WEEK: Jason Conley, VMI
Jason Conley didn't receive as much publicity as Dajuan Wagner or Kelvin Torbert, but the 6-5 native of Chevy Chase, Md., has had an impressive start. Last week Conley scored 24 or more points in three games.
Conley had 26 in a tough, one-point loss to Virginia Tech. He had 24 points and seven rebounds in a loss to a ranked Kentucky team. Finally, Conley posted 26 points and 11 boards against St. Mary's of Maryland.
In all, Conley has enjoyed five straight games scoring 20 or more points. Kentucky coach Tubby Smith sang the praises of the wing shooter, saying Conley has big-time touch and could play anywhere in America.
