After playing two big games, one of them being what you can only call a monster game, Andrew Nicholson seems to be on track to leading his team into a furious finish to the season. For his efforts this week, we have named him our NC-Double-Eh Player of the Week ...
Player of the Week
Andrew Nicholson - Senior, St. Bonaventure
Andrew Nicholson had a slow start to his senior season but has been playing well of late and last week was one of his best stretches this year. In two games, he averaged 22.5 points, 16 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 34 minutes. He shot an incredible 19-of-30 from the floor while shooting 7-of-10 from the free throw line earning Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week honors. With his monster line for the week he has also got our nod for NC-Double-Eh Player of the Week.
In the St. Bonaventure 76-67 loss to Massachusetts on February 8, Nicholson had 24 points, 9 rebounds, an assist, a steal and 3 blocks in 33 minutes. He shot 11-of-17 from the floor and made 2-of-3 from the foul line.
In the Bonnies 69-48 win over Duquesne three days later, Nicholson had a real breakout game. In his 35 minutes of action, he went for 21 points, 23 rebounds and added 2 blocks in what is easily one of the single best performances of Canadian in the NCAA this season. He shot 8-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the charity stripe.
For the season Nicholson is averaging 15.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 0.9 assists and 0.8 steals in 28.3 minutes. He's shooting .558 from the floor and .755 from the line in 28.3 minutes per game. He's the team's leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker. His averages place him in the top ten of the Atlantic 10 Conference in several categories including scoring (8th), rebounding (tied for 2nd), field goal percentage (7th), blocks (6th), offensive rebounds (10th with 2.5) and defensive rebounds (2nd with 5.3).
Honorable Mention: Kris Joseph, Syracuse - 22 ppg, 3 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2 spg, 13-of-31 FGs, 9-of-15 3PT FGs, 9-of-12 FTs in 40 mpg vs. Georgetown and Connecticut.
Rookie of the Week
Kevin Pangos - Freshman, Gonzaga
Freshman Kevin Pangos has been playing like a vet since his first game for Gonzaga and it should be no surprise that he had another monster week. In the Zags two wins last week, he averaged 24 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals in 32.5 minutes. He shot a sizzling 19-of-30 from the floor including 10-of-13 from the three and going a perfect 6-of-6 from the stripe. He was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week and we will honor him this week as our NC-Double-Eh Rookie of the Week.
In Gonzaga's 73-59 blowout win over Saint Mary's on Feb. 9, Pangos was lights out going off for 27 points shooting 8-of-16 from the field, only missing one of his 6 three pointers and making all of his 6 free throws. He also added 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in his 33 minutes of action for good measure.
In the Zags' 78-59 win over Loyola Marymount two days later, Pangos was just as spectacular going for 21 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds and a steal in 32 minutes of action. He shot 8-of-12 from the floor, including 5-of-7 from the arc.
For the season, Pangos is averaging 13.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 31.6 minutes. He's shooting .442 from the floor, .411 from the three and .852 from the line. He's currently the team's leading scorer while also leading in assists, steals and free throw percentage. He is ranked in the top ten in the West Coast Conference in scoring (8th), assists (3rd), free throw percentage (2nd), steals (10th), three point percentage (5th), threes made per game (2nd with 2.4), assist-to-turnover ratio (4th with 2.0) and minutes per game (8th).
Honorable Mention: Chris Johnson, St. Bonaventure - 14.5 ppg, 1 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2 spg, 11-of-23 FGs, 4-of-7 3PT FGs, 3-of-3 FTs in 27.5 mpg vs. Massachusetts and Duquesne.