Player of the Week
Finley Bizjack, Butler
Finley Bizjack earned Big East Player of the Week honors after helping Butler extend its winning streak to three games with victories over Marquette and DePaul. Bizjack was the clear standout in both contests, averaging 26 points while shooting 54.1 percent from the field and 46.6 percent from three-point range. His best performance came in an 11-point home win over Marquette, where he poured in 28 points, added five rebounds, and dished out four assists while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor. Bizjack’s scoring efficiency and shot-making have fueled Butler’s recent surge.
Freshman of the Week
Nigel James Jr., Marquette
While team success has been inconsistent for Marquette this season, freshman Nigel James Jr. has emerged as one of the top first-year players in the country, earning Conference Freshman of the Week honors. On the season, James Jr. is averaging a team-second-best 15.1 points and a team-leading 4.6 assists per game while shooting over 47 percent from the field. Last week, he elevated his play even further, averaging 26.5 points and eight rebounds while shooting 64.5 percent overall and 55.5 percent from three. His signature performance came in a one-point overtime win over Providence, where he erupted for 38 points and eight rebounds on 65 percent shooting in 42 minutes.
Who’s Hot
Alex Karaban, UConn
Alex Karaban continues to be the model of consistency for UConn, serving as the connective piece for a talented roster on the nation’s No. 2 team. This season, Karaban is averaging 13.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 41.8 percent from beyond the arc. In an overtime win against Villanova, he delivered when it mattered most, scoring all 17 of his points in the second half and overtime while adding eight rebounds in 40 minutes to lead the Huskies to victory.
Tre Carroll, Xavier
Despite Xavier’s uneven 11–9 start and current eighth-place standing in the Big East, senior Tre Carroll has been one of the conference’s hottest scorers. Over his last four games, Carroll is averaging 26.8 points per game on an impressive 61.9 percent shooting. Last week alone, he averaged 30 points per game while shooting 66.6 percent from the field and 62.5 percent from three-point range, though those performances came in losses to St. John’s and Creighton.
St. John’s Red Storm
St. John’s has surged into the conversation as a potential top seed in the Big East. After a slow start, the Red Storm have rattled off six straight wins, capped by a five-point road victory at Xavier last week. With an experienced roster and strong leadership, St. John’s has found its stride. Zuby Ejiofor has once again positioned himself as a Player of the Year candidate, anchoring the team on both ends of the floor.
Who’s Not
Providence Friars
Projected to finish fourth in the Big East preseason, Providence has struggled to meet expectations. The Friars currently sit at 9–11 overall and 2–7 in conference play, having dropped both of their games last week to ninth-place Georgetown and last-place Marquette.
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Providence
Named to the preseason Big East All–Third Team, Erhunmwunse was expected to take on a larger role this season. Instead, his sophomore campaign has fallen short of expectations. He is averaging 7.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for a struggling Providence team. Last week, he posted eight points and 12.5 rebounds per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field, but the Friars were unable to translate that production into wins.
Top Five Big East Guards
1. Silas Demary Jr., UConn
Demary Jr. has the potential to be the best guard in the Big East, playing a vital role for the conference’s top team. He is averaging 10.2 points and a team-high 6.2 assists while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and over 40 percent from three. He also leads UConn with 1.9 steals per game and has scored in double figures in five of the last six contests. His best outing came in an overtime win over Providence, where he recorded 23 points and 15 assists in 41 minutes.
2. Josh Dix, Creighton
The Iowa transfer has made an immediate impact at Creighton, leading the Blue Jays with 12.8 points per game. While his assist numbers are modest, that is partly due to sharing ball-handling duties with pass-first guard Nik Graves. Dix has scored in double figures in three straight games, helping Creighton remain near the top of the Big East standings.
3. KJ Lewis, Georgetown
Lewis leads Georgetown with 15.2 points per game while also averaging two steals. His strength and physicality make him one of the league’s better rebounding guards at 5.3 rebounds per game. Last week, he delivered a standout performance in a road win over Providence, scoring 26 points and grabbing five rebounds while shooting 66.7 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three.
4. Jason Edwards, Providence
Edwards is one of the Big East’s most prolific scoring guards, averaging 17.2 points per game on nearly 43 percent shooting. A score-first guard who consistently pressures defenses, Edwards has played only 15 games this season after being sidelined since January 10, but remains central to Providence’s offensive identity.
5. Ian Jackson, St. John’s
A transfer from North Carolina, Jackson has not fully matched preseason expectations but remains one of the league’s top guards. He is averaging 10.8 points per game on nearly 45 percent shooting. Playing alongside ball-dominant teammate Zuby Ejiofor has impacted his usage, but Jackson flashed his upside with an 18-point performance in a seven-point road win over Villanova earlier this season.