Illinois, Purdue, and Wisconsin Collect Men’s Basketball Weekly Honors

Co-Player of the Week
Braden Smith, Purdue
G – Sr. – 6-0 – Westfield, Ind. - Westfield

• Led Purdue to a pair of wins, averaging 24.5 points, 10.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game
• Scored 23 points with seven assists and three steals in an 81-73 win over Washington
• Paired 26 points and 14 assists in a 93-85 victory over Penn State, becoming the first Big Ten player in at least 20 years to have at least 26 points and 14 assists in a game
• Claims his fourth career Player of the Week honor and third this season
• Last Purdue Player of the Week: Braden Smith (January 5, 2026)

Co-Player of the Week
Nick Boyd, Wisconsin
G – Sr. – 6-3 – Garnerville, N.Y. – St. Mary

• Averaged 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in leading the Badgers to a 2-0 week
• Scored a game-high 20 points while adding eight boards, and five assists in an 80-72 win over UCLA
• Scored 22 points with six assists, three rebounds and no turnovers in Wisconsin’s 91-88 win at No. 2 Michigan
• Scores first Player of the Week honor
• Last Wisconsin Player of the Week: John Blackwell (December 8, 2025)

Freshman of the Week
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
G – 6-6 – Shawnee, Kan. – Shawnee Mission Northwest

• Paced the Illini with 18 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in a 2-0 week for Illinois
• Tallied a game-high 17 points with seven rebounds and three assists in an 81-55 home win over Rutgers
• Earned game-high honors with 19 points to go with five rebounds and four assists in a 75-69 win at No. 19 Iowa
• Claims third Freshman of the Week award
• Last Illinois Freshman of the Week: Keaton Wagler (January 5, 2026)

 2025-26 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Players of the Week
Jan. 12
P: Braden Smith, PUR
P: Nick Boyd, WIS
F: Keaton Wagler, ILL

Jan. 5
P: Morez Johnson Jr., MICH
P: Braden Smith, PUR
F: Keaton Wagler, ILL
F: Hannes Steinbach, WASH

Dec. 22
P: Tariq Francis, RUT
P: Skyy Clark, UCLA
F: Braden Frager, NEB

Dec. 15
P: Lamar Wilkerson, IND
P: Pryce Sandfort, NEB
F: Keaton Wagler, ILL

Dec. 8
P: John Blackwell, WIS
F: Hannes Steinbach, WASH

Dec. 1
P: Yaxel Lendeborg, MICH
F: Kayden Mingo, PSU

Nov. 24
P: David Coit, MD
F: Braden Frager, NEB

Nov. 17
P: Braden Smith, PUR
F: David Mirkovic, ILL

Nov. 10
P: Tucker DeVries, IND
P: Bruce Thornton, OSU
F: David Mirkovic, ILL