This week we honor a player that may have some down numbers from this time last season but is playing well and reminded people why he was nominated for some very big awards coming into this season ...
Player of the Week
Andrew Nicholson - Senior, St. Bonaventure
Andrew Nicholson has been having to deal with a whole lot of junk defenses all season and that has really kept him in check but this past week he was finally able to breakout. In St. Bonaventure's split last week of their two games, he averaged a double-double, 25 points, 10 rebounds, as well as 1.5 steals and 3.5 blocks while shooting 16-for-32 from the floor and 17-of-19 from the line. Nicholson was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week for his effort and so we also honor him with his first nod as our NC-Double-Eh Player of the Week.
In the Bonnies' 81-73 home win over Dayton January 11, Nicholson had a season highs with 30 points and 13 rebounds for his third double-double of the year. He also added 2 steals and a season high 6 blocks in the victory. He shot 10-of-20 from the floor and 10-of-11 from the line in 34.
In the Bonnies' 77-64 loss to Xavier on the road three days later, Nicholson was just as great in defeat going for 20 points, 7 rebounds while adding a steal and a block in 38 minutes. He shot 6-of-12 from the field, including making a three, and he shot 7-of-8 from the line.
For the season, Nicholson is averaging 15.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 29.3 minutes. He's shooting .517 from the floor and .765 from the free throw line. He currently leads the Bonnies in scoring, rebounding and blocks. He places in the top ten in the Atlantic 10 Conference in several statistical categories including points (10th), rebounds (5th), blocks (10th) and defensive rebounds (4th with 4.8).
Honorable Mention: Laurent Rivard, Harvard - 16 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 apg, 1 bpg, 10-of-18 FGs, 7-of-14 3PT FGs, 5-of-5 FTs in 35 mins in two games.
Rookie of the Week
Justin Edwards - Freshman, Maine
Justin Edwards has turned in a rookie season to remember in the America East. Last week in his team's two losses he was very good in defeat. In the two contests, Edwards averaged 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal in 34.5 minutes. He shot 9-of-20 from the field and 12-of-14 from the line on his way to earning his fifth America East Rookie of the Week award and we follow suit honoring Edwards with his latest NC-Double-Eh Rookie of the Week.
In Maine's 77-68 loss to Boston University at home, Edwards had his first double-double of his career posting 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while also dishing out 6 assists and garnering a steal. He shot 4-of-8 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the line in 33 minutes.
Three days later in the narrow 76-75 loss to Albany on the road, Edwards has another great game posting 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal in 36 minutes. He shot 5-of-12 from the field and 9-of-10 from stripe.
For the season Edwards is averaging 15.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals in 31.4 minutes. He's shooting .485 from the floor, .344 from behind the arc and .727 from the charity stripe. He ranks second in the team in scoring, rebounds and is tied for second in assists. His averages also rank amongst the best in the America East Conference in several categories including scoring (5th), rebounding (8th), field goal percentage (6th), assists (8th), steals (1st), blocks (tied for 5th), assist-to-turnover ratio (7th with 1.8), offensive rebounds (8th with 2.4) and defensive rebounds (8th with 4.8).
Honorable Mention: Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State - 11.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg, 11-of-15 FGs in 34.5 mpg in two games.