The Can Ball Report's NC-Double-Eh Player of the Week

As solid and dependable as your parent's station wagon, Mississauga, ON's Andrew Nicholson had some big games this season helping the steadily improving St Bonaventure Bonnies back to respectability in the Atlantic-10 Conference.  For his big efforts this week, Nicholson has been choosen as the Can Ball Report's NC-Double-Eh Player of the Week. 

Player of the Week

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

Andrew Nicholson is probably one of a handful of true post players in college basketball today that no one really knows about.  Even though he’s been steady manning the middle for the Bonnies all season long in relative obscurity, he has been putting up solid numbers.  This past week as he was being named to the All A-10 Conference Second Team, he averaged 21 points, five rebounds, two blocks and an assist while going 16-of-25 from the floor and 10-of-14 from the line to earn this week’s Can Ball Report Player of the Week honors.

In the Bonnies 92-80 win over perennial cell dwelling Duquesne Dukes on March 3, Nicholson posted 21 points with 14 coming in the second half.  He added seven rebounds, two blocks and an assist in 30 minutes in the win.  He went 7-of-10 from the floor and mirrored that going 7-of-10 from the line.  That game marked the seventh time this season, the third time in four games against the Dukes, that he’s hit for 20 or more points. 

In the Bonnies 93-72 loss against an always tough 25^th ranked Xavier squad three days later, Nicholson posted  a team high 21 points, to go with three boards, two blocks and an assist in 36 minutes of game action.  He would go 9-of-15 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the line in this one. 

For the season, Nicholson is averaging 16.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks.  He is shooting 58% from the floor while shooting 76% from the free throw line.  Nicholson is in the top ten in the Atlantic 10 Conference in several statistical categories including scoring (6^th), rebounding (10^th), field goal pct (1^st), free throw pct (10^th), blocked shots (6^th) and defensive rebounds (7^th).   He is also ranked 11^th in the NCAA in FG%. 

Honorable Mention:  Harouna Mutombo, Western Carolina:  16 pts, 4 rbs, 1.5 asts, 1 stl, 12-of-24 FG, 4-of-7 3PT FG, 4-of-9 FTs, 32 mins, two games. 

Line of the Week

Max Boudreau (Montreal) – Sr., Buffalo

As had been the case with Montreal senior Max Boudreau last year, his best games seem to come in big moments namely the conference tournament.  Last year, he had a great run in the Mid-American Conference Tournament that showed how good he really was as a player.  And this year, to start of the conference tourney off right, he had one of his big games.  In the 72-54 opening round thumping Toledo, he had a season high 18 points, 14 in the second half, on 8-of-10 shooting including 2-of-2 from the charity stripe all off the bench.  He also included six rebounds and a block for good measure.  It’s too bad that this is his final year of eligibility.  With what seems to be Boudreau coming into his own, he may have been a better player next season. 

Honorable Mention:  Devoe Joseph, Minnesota:  17 pts, 2 rbs, 2 asts, 2 stls, 6-of-7 FGs, 3-of-4 3PT FGs, 2-of-2 FTs, 28 mins vs. Iowa March 7.

Honorable Mention2.0:  Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga:  1 min, 2 rbs, 1 blk, 2 TOs.  I just had to mention this stat line since he would be the best per 48 guy ever if he kept this up.  Reminds me of Thijin Moses at DePaul a few years back.  Moses took more threes than he had minutes some games.