FEB. 4 (awards based on games played Monday-Sunday)
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Oregon
At MacArthur Court, the Oregon Ducks are a perfect 13-0 at home after big wins over UCLA and USC. Coach Ernie Kent's team is atop the Pac-10 standings now.
The dynamite trio of Luke Ridnour, Luke Jackson and Freddy Jones proved they were ready by blowing out UCLA. Then the Ducks handled the Trojans and Sam Clancy. What a fantastic week for Oregon!
COACH OF THE WEEK: Gary Waters, Rutgers
What a great week it was in Piscataway, N.J.! Coach Gary Waters has done a brilliant job in his first season with the Scarlet Knights.
It isn't easy competing for recruits in the New York area and against the Philadelphia schools. Waters, who came over from Kent State, is making big noise. For the first time in Rutgers history, the school has beaten two Top 25 teams in the same week.
First Rutgers gave Connecticut its first loss in Big East play. Then the Scarlet Knights proved it was no fluke by putting away Syracuse. Waters has done a brilliant job wherever he has been.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Casey Jacobsen, Stanford
He had an outstanding performance against Arizona State, scoring 49 points, hitting 14-of-22 shots, including 6-of-10 from behind the trifecta line. He also showed he was Mr. Clutch, hitting 15-of-17 from the foul line. It was a thing of beauty.
Jacobsen and the Cardinal also experienced a tough loss against Arizona. The Wildcats came back big-time in Palo Alto and now Lute Olson's team is back in the Pac-10 race.
Jacobsen had 24 points and six assists in the loss to Arizona. He is one of America's premier performers and a great kid. There is no doubt he's a student-athlete.
CO-DIAPER DANDY OF THE WEEK:
Dajuan Wagner, Memphis and Rick Rickert, Minnesota
Coach John Calipari has the Tigers rolling with an unblemished record in Conference USA. The key reason is the stature of Wagner.
This diaper dandy may struggle shooting on occasion, but he makes all the other Tigers better, guys like Kelly Wise and Earl Barron. Wagner's driving ability and scoring talent is second to none among frosh. He has lived up to his billing coming out of Camden, N.J. He had 24 points and six assists against TCU. Earlier in the week, Wagner scored 23 in a win over coach Rick Pitino and Louisville.
Rickert had a pair of big games against Penn State and Indiana. He totaled 53 points and shot 60 percent from the floor (18-of-30). His performance helped the Golden Gophers stay in the hunt in the Big Ten.
SHOCK OF THE WEEK: Kansas State over Oklahoma State
The Wildcats got a big home win over Oklahoma State, 70-61. The Cowboys faced a fired-up club as coach Jim Wooldridge's kids were ready to play. Kansas State came in 2-5 in Big 12 play.
It was the Wildcats' first win over a Top 10 team since 1994. Larry Reid came through big-time with 18 points and seven assists.
