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Player of the Week

Robbie Hummel, Purdue

The Boilermakers have played themselves into the NCAA tournament despite some big-time adversity, and Hummel is the reason why. Purdue handed Michigan its only home loss of the season Saturday, then demolished Penn State 8-56 on Wednesday. Over the past four games, Hummel’s averaging 23.7 points and 9.8 rebounds as Purdue has gone 4-1. He’s shot 47.8 percent in that span. Despite that mark, he’s still only shooting 40.9 percent from the field this season, the lowest mark of his career. His rebounding is at 7.0 per game, matching his career high.

Who’s Hot

DeShaun Thomas, Ohio State

Averaged 21 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games this past week, a home loss against Wisconsin and a road win at Northwestern when teammate Jared Sullinger hit a game-winning shot. Thomas shot 17-of-30 from the field this past week, continuing his torrid percentage that now is at 53.0 percent, which ranks eighth in the Big Ten.

Meyers Leonard, Illinois

The 7-1 sophomore continues to be one of the lone bright spots for the Illini, who have collapsed down the stretch. He’s averaged 17 points and 9.3 rebounds in his past three games, two losses and a win. He’s getting quality looks, shooting 20 of 36 (55.5 percent) in the same span. For the season, he’s at 13.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, 11.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game better than last season.

Brandon Ubel, Nebraska

The 6-foot-10 junior is 13 for his last 16 from the field in two games this past week, averaging 15 points and four rebounds. He went 7-for-7 from the field Wednesday in a loss against Iowa and grabbed seven rebounds. He’s averaging 6.7 points and 5.4 rebounds this season for the struggling Cornhuskers.

Tim Frazier, Penn State

The Nittany Lions have lost their past three games, but Frazier has averaged 22.3 points, six assists and 3.3 assists in those games. He’s also cut down on his turnovers, averaging two despite a season average of 3.7 a game. Frazier is the Big Ten’s leading assist man by far, dishing out 6.3 per game, 1.5 more than second-best Trey Burke of Michigan. Frazier remains second in the Big Ten in scoring at 18.8 points per game, behind John Shurna’s 20.1 mark.

Who’s Not

Evan Smotrycz

The sophomore makes another appearance on this list after another subpar week (five points, two rebounds in 17 minutes vs. Purdue; three points, five fouls, two rebounds at Illinois). He’s well below his 7.7 points per game average the past four games (3.0).

Tyler Griffey, Illinois

Two points, six fouls, and five rebounds this past week as the Illini went 1-1. The 6-foot-8 junior is four for his last 19 from the field since an 18-point outburst at Michigan, averaging five points and 3.4 rebounds per game for the season but continues to start for Illinois.

Top 5 conference player of the year candidates

1. Draymond Green, Michigan State

Averaging 16.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He’s been a force all year and he’s the clear frontrunner as a senior.

2. Robbie Hummel, Purdue

He’s pretty much single-handedly kept the Boilermakers in the NCAA tournament discussion and is the sentimental pick.

3. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

Last year’s Big Ten freshman of the year won’t win the big award this year since almost all of his number went down, but he’s in the discussion with numbers like 17 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

4. John Shurna, Northwestern

Another impressive year by the senior has the Wildcats thinking NCAA tournament. No Northwestern player has ever won the award.

5. Tim Frazier, Penn State

He won’t win mostly because his team is terrible, but Frazier is second in scoring, first in assists, second in steals, seventh in free-throw shooting, 20th in rebounding.

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