Purdue, Illinois, Rutgers Score Men’s Basketball Weekly Accolades

ROSEMONT, Ill.– The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Basketball Players of the Week for the weeks of December 23, 2024 through January 5, 2025.

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

• Averaged 25.3 points, 9.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals while shooting 27-of-55 from the field and 14-of-32 from three-point range with a 4.14 assist-turnover ratio as No. 20 Purdue went 3-0
• Recorded a pair of points-assists double-doubles (34-12 vs. Toledo; 20-10 vs. Minnesota) and narrowly missed a third with 22 points, seven assists against Northwestern.
• Claims first Player of the Week honor
• Last Purdue Player of the Week: Zach Edey (March 11, 2024)

Co-Freshman of the Week
Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois
G – 6-6 – Vilnius, Lithuania – Barcelona FC

• Averaged a team-best 16.0 points and 5.3 assists and along with 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals across three wins for No. 13 Illinois
• Recorded 16 second-half points with game-high six assists along with six rebounds in a 109-77 victory at then-No. 9 Oregon, as the Illini recorded the largest road win over a top-10 team in college basketball history.
• Earns his second Freshman of the Week award
• Last Illinois Freshman of the Week: Kasparas Jakucionis (Dec. 16, 2024)

Ace Bailey, Rutgers
G – 6-10 – Chattanooga, Tenn. – McEachern

• Averaged 31.5 points on 57.4 percent shooting from the field, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots, as Rutgers split a pair of games
• Tied the program freshman scoring record with 39 points with eight rebounds, four blocks and one steal on 16-of-29 shooting in an 84-74 loss to Indiana
• Collects his first Freshman of the Week award
• Last Rutgers Freshman of the Week: Dylan Harper (Dec. 16, 2024)

2024-25 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Players of the Week
 
Jan. 6
P: Braden Smith. PUR
F: Kasparas Jakucionis, ILL
F: Ace Bailey, RUT

Dec. 23
P: Bruce Thornton, OSU
F: John Mobley Jr., OSU

Dec. 16
P: Brice Williams, NEB
F: Kasparas Jakucionis, ILL
F: Dylan Harper, RUT

Dec. 9
P: Vladislav Goldin, MICH
F: Derik Queen, MD

Dec. 2
P: Trey Kaufman-Renn, PUR
F: Dylan Harper, RUT

Nov. 25
P: John Tonje, WIS
F: Derik Queen, MD

Nov. 18
P: John Tonje, WIS
F: Dylan Harper, RUT

Nov. 11
P: Nick Martinelli, NU
F: Will Riley, ILL