The Can Ball Report NC-Double-Eh Player of the Week - Dec 27

With a slow week due to the holiday break for most programs, the games were a little sparse but that didn't mean that there was a shortage of great action.  Thanks to his great performance on Dec 22 against Clemson, Western Carolina's Harouna Mutombo is The Can Ball Report's NC-Double-Eh Player of the Week.

Player of the Week

Harouna Mutombo (Pickering, ON) – Soph., Western Carolina

Mutombo has had a strange start to his sophomore campaign.  After a stellar freshman season, teams have really honed in on him this season and his numbers have dropped a little.  But when his Catamounts faced the ranked Clemson Tigers, Mutombo looked to be the guy to lead an upset early. 

In that game on Dec 22, Mutombo had a great first half scoring the Catamounts’ first 12 points and almost single-handedly keeping the team in the game early.  He would total a season high 19 on the night to go along with four rebounds, two assists and a steal.   For the game Mutombo shot 8 of 12 from the floor including a sizzling 3 of 4 from behind the arc in 36 minutes of action.

For the season, Harouna is averaging 9.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals for the 10-2 Catamounts. He currently is the team’s top rebounder and is second in assists and steals.

Honorable Mention:  Bryson Johnson, Bucknell – 17 pts, 5 rbs, 2 asts, a steal, 4 of 9 FG, 3 of 8 3PT FG, 6 of 6 FTs in 22 minutes off the bench Dec 22 vs. Notre Dame. 

Line of the Week

Andrew Nicholson (Mississauga, ON) – Soph., St Bonaventure

Nicholson has been going along all season as a new and improved player it seems.  His blocks may be down but he has increased every other stat of his as well as anchoring the offense and defense on an improving St Bonaventure squad.  In the Bonnies only game this past week Nicholson had a great game in the loss to in state rival Niagara, 77-71.

In a game where Nicholson drew a lot of attention, he scored a game high 24 points on 10 of 14 shooting from the floor and a perfect 4 of 4 from the free throw line.  Did I mention that he was limited to 16 minutes of action due to foul trouble?  That’s almost a field goal attempt and 1.5 points per minute!  Nicholson was always a very high percentage scorer but this was probably his most efficient scoring game in his young career.  And he threw in seven rebounds and an assist for good measure.  His performance also earned a media honor making the Chalktalk Starting Five as well. 

Honorable Mention:  Francis-Cedric Martel, Richmond – 8 pts, 5 rbs, 5 asts, 3 stls, 2 blks, 3 of 3 FG, 2 of 2 3PT FG in 22 minutes Dec 22 vs. UNC-Greensboro.