Player of the Week:
Jordan Walker, UAB
This week, Jordan Walker led UAB to a 2-0 record providing 22.5 points per game. Walker scored 30 points in 36 minutes in an 87-73 win over Georgia. He also added 5 assists and 5 steals to go along with the 30 points in the win. Walker’s hot start to the season is no surprise after coming off a very impressive junior season where he led UAB to a 27-8 record scoring 20.3 points per game. In that year, Walker averaged 31 points per game in the Conference USA Tournament which earned him C-USA Tournament MVP honors. Walker has proven he can be this team’s leader in the past, and is continuing to prove it early on this season.
Who’s Hot:
Houston Cougars
Houston had a huge week, passing UNC as the number one team in the country. Senior guard, Marcus Sassar, led the team to a 2-0 week, and extended their win streak to five to start the season. Sassar led the team in points in both wins with 16 and 19 against Oregon and Kent State respectively. Houston is now 6-0 with five double digit wins, including four wins by 35 points or more. Houston is off to the start everyone expected, coming off a run to the elite eight last season. Houston’s first match up against a ranked team comes on December 10, taking on eleventh ranked Alabama at home. This will be their first major test of the season, giving them a chance to prove to everybody why they are the number one team in the nation.
Who’s Not:
Rider Broncs
Rider fell to 1-4 after a three game losing streak, tracking back to November 18.Rider lost by double digits in each of their last three outings. Rider lost to Stetson and Central Arkansas on back to back days, and then suffered a 30 point loss to Rutgers in their most recent game on November 22. Senior guard, Dwight Murray Jr, is their only double digit scorer, averaging 19.8 points per game. Murray Jr and the rest of his team need to find a way to get Rider back in the win column on Wednesday, November 22 vs Monmouth.
Freshman of the Week:
Jackson Paveletzke, Wofford
Jackson Paveletzke averaged 19.3 points and 5.6 assists per game in a 2-1 week for Wofford. Paveletzke led the team in both categories in all three games this week. He leads his team and is third in his conference in scoring so far this year. Paveletzke is shooting at a very high rate this season, shooting 59.3 percent from the floor, 52.6 percent from three and 88.4 percent from the free throw line. Paveletzke has had a hot start to his freshman year and looks to continue to grow as the season goes on.
Top 5 Mid Major Scorers (per game) so far this season:
Jordan Walker, UAB
Walker averages 24.6 points per game on 44.8%, 40%, and 89.3% shooting splits in 31.6 minutes in five games this season. He continues to put up great numbers scoring the ball, just like he did last season. UAB has a 4-1 record in the five games Walker has played this season.
Antoine Davis, Detroit
Davis averages 23.3 points per game on 40%, 39.1%, and 83.3% shooting splits in 37.3 minutes in seven games this season. Davis is averaging over 23 points per game again this season, for which will be the fifth time in his college career if this stands. Detroit is 3-4 in their seven games so far this season.
Sam Sessoms, Coppin State
Sessoms averages 22.8 points per game on 50.4%, 38%, and 79.4% shooting splits in 37.8 minutes in eight games this season. Sessoms is also top 25 in the nation in assists, averaging 5.8 per game. Coppin State has a 3-5 record this season.
Foster Loyer, Davidson
Loyer averages 22.7 points per game on 46.8%, 46.3%, and 86.8% shooting splits in 36.1 minutes in seven games this season. Loyer also fills up the stat sheet, averaging over five rebounds and assists per game as well. Davidson has a current record of 6-1 this season.
Drew Pember, UNC-Asheville
Pember averages 22.7 points per game on 51.9%, 50%, and 81.6% shooting splits in 30.8 minutes in six games this season. Pember is a six foot ten inch forward who also gives his team eight rebounds per game, along with being fifth in the nation in scoring. UNC-Asheville is 4-2 this season.