Weekly Awards
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Arizona
The Wildcats were sitting at 11-8 earlier in the season, but Arizona has won seven in a row to get back into NCAA tournament contention. Big wins over USC and UCLA gave Russ Pennell's team this honor.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut
He is the biggest difference-maker in college basketball. The 7-3 center takes opponents out of their rhythm. He had an amazing performance against Seton Hall, scoring 25 points, grabbing 20 rebounds while blocking nine shots. Versus Syracuse he only scored eight points but pulled down 16 boards while blocking seven shots.
SHOCK OF THE WEEK: Loyola-Marymount over San Diego
The Lions had four players in double figures in the 65-57 stunned. Loyola-Marymount came into game 1-23 and losers of 30 of their prior 31 contests. San Diego entered at 13-11 but was stunned as Vernon Teel had 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the victors.
COACH OF THE WEEK: Roy Williams, North Carolina
It is nice to pick up a couple of road wins in ACC play, but even greater when they come at Duke and Miami. North Carolina rallied from a halftime deficit against the Blue Devils, then held off the charge of the Hurricanes.
DIAPER DANDY OF THE WEEK: Harouna Mutombo, Western Carolina
The Canadian-born guard had a pair of big games for coach Larry Hunter's team. He had 25 points in a loss to College of Charleston. Mutombo later scored 28 in a win over Appalachian State.
