JAN. 14 (awards based on games played Monday-Sunday)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Matt Barnes, UCLA
Talk about a player turning into a superstar. Barnes can do it all for the Bruins; he can handle the rock, play defense and now he can shoot the trifecta.
Barnes stepped up his scoring last week in a big way. He hit 12-of-17 shots, finishing with 34 points against USC. Barnes made 10-of-14 from the field in UCLA's big win over Kansas, scoring 27 big points. Coach Steve Lavin has to be happy with Barnes' productivity.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Oklahoma
Coach Kelvin Sampson was one of my top candidates for midseason Coach of the Year. His team has been playing well, and the Sooners came up with a pair of big Ws. Oklahoma won on the road at Connecticut, and coach Jim Calhoun's team is always prepared to play.
Hollis Price, Ebi Ere and company finished off the week with a strong showing against the General, one Robert Montgomery Knight. The Sooners turned the game against Texas Tech (remember, the Red Raiders entered with just one loss) into an M&Mer, a real mismatch. That's a credit to the athleticism of Oklahoma.
COACH OF THE WEEK: Jim Harrick, Georgia
It has been a super season so far for Harrick. His Bulldogs have scored several big wins early, including one against then-ranked Georgetown. Last week, Georgia came through with a couple of big victories.
That is especially true of a W in Lexington; Georgia hit 10 trifectas en route to an 88-84 win over Kentucky. That marked only the third time Georgia has left Lexington with a win. Jarvis Hayes and Ezra Williams were super, scintillating and sensational, combining for 50 points. The Bulldogs followed with a hard-fought win over Tennessee on a buzzer-beater by Williams. Harrick's team can be dangerous in SEC play.
SHOCK OF THE WEEK: Clemson over Virginia
At the time, the Cavaliers were a top-five team while the Tigers had lost at home to Yale less than a week earlier. Give coach Larry Shyatt's team credit for solid defense (Virginia hit just 2-of-25 trifectas). The Tigers were able to get to the winner's circle with solid outside shooting and terrific defense.
It isn't easy to win on the road in the ACC. Pete Gillen's team found that out at Clemson, but still responded with a big win at Chapel Hill in the next outing.
DIAPER DANDY OF THE WEEK: Jason Conley, VMI
The 6-foot-6 Conley has had a big season. He totaled 60 points in two outings last week (31 vs. NC-Greensboro and 29 against East Tennessee State). Conley has had seven straight games scoring 25 or more points. He's also a solid foul shooter, making 31-of-32 over the past four games.
