Carl Berman 
31 Jan 2012 
0 comments Big East
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette, 6’2”, G, Sr.
Marquette’s most valuable guard did not disappoint this week playing all but 5 minutes in wins over South Florida and at Villanova. Johnson-Odom averaged 21.5 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg, and 2 spg over the two game stretch. The senior remained poised, leading Marquette back from an 18 point deficit at Villanova as the Golden Eagles fought for a tough road win. The 15th ranked Golden Eagles are sitting on 6 straight wins, making them the hottest team in the Big East.
Mason Plumlee
ACC
Mason Plumlee, Duke, 6’10”, F, Jr.
It was the man in the middle for the Dukies. Plumlee averaged 19 points and 14.5 rebounds in wins at Maryland and over St. Johns. Plumlee scored a season high 23 points against Maryland and ripped a season high 17 boards against St. Johns, starting a new streak of wins at Cameron Indoor (1). His back-to-back double doubles gives him an ACC-leading 9 for the season. At 9.8 rpg on the year, Plumlee is .1 board behind UNC’s John Henson for the conference lead.
Pac-12
Tony Wroten, Washington, 6’5”, G, Fr.
Washington’s fabulous freshman hasn’t received the hype of Kentucky’s Anthony Davis or Florida’s Bradley Beal, but the 206 native, who followed fellow Garfield High School alum Brandon Roy to Washington is making the locals proud. The Huskies (14-7, 7-2) made good on their trip to the sunshine state picking up two close wins at Arizona State and Arizona to keep pace with Cal (17-5, 7-2) atop the conference. Wroten scored 22 and gathered 6 rebounds while contributing 4 assists against Arizona State. Then, though he struggled from the field (5-of-18), Wroten tallied 17 points, 5 boards, and 4 assists to down Arizona. In the final seconds, Wroten collapsed the distance between him and fellow freshman Josiah Turner swatting his potential game tying layup off the backboard to preserve the victory.
Big Ten
Co Players of the Week
Brandon Richardson, Nebraska, 6’0”, G, GS1.
Draymond Green, Michigan State, 6’7”, F, Sr.
It was another competitive week in the Big Ten. Wisconsin rises, defeating Indiana in a fantastic basketball game and Michigan falls via a 15 point loss to kingpin (for now) Ohio State. In a flurry of close games and true team victories two individual performances stuck out, warranting this week’s Co-Player of the Week honors.
In a matchup of weakness versus weakness Nebraska marched their 260th ranked scoring offense into Iowa to try their luck against the Hawkeyes’ 241st ranked defense. It was the offense that prevailed behind a career night from Brandon Richardson. The lead guard dropped 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists on 9-of-10 shooting. Richardson did most of his damage from behind the arc netting 6 of 7 treys to spur the Huskers to a come from behind victory.
On Wednesday, Draymond Green returned to dominant form scrapping and shooting his way to 22 points, 14 boards, and 6 assists in the Spartans win over Minnesota. It was his third 20 point, 10 rebound game of the season, the last one coming against Iowa on January 10th.
Perry Jones
Big 12
Perry Jones III, Baylor, 6’11”, F-C, So.
Iowa State’s Royce White’s 18 point, 9 rebound, and 5 assist performance cannot be overlooked as the Cyclones knocked off the then 5th ranked Kansas Jayhawks but it is Baylor’s Perry Jones III who takes this week Player of the Week honors. After disappointing losses to Kansas and Missouri last week the Bears looked like a second tier team in the very strong Big 12. Kansas’ loss this week has us geared up for a wild second half where, including the steady rising Missouri Tigers, it appears to be a three horse race. Jones III averaged 21.5 ppg, and 13 rpg this week in close wins at Oklahoma and over an improving Texas squad. The Bears are now 5-1 in games decided by 5 points or less and look poised and prepared to compete till the very end.
SEC
Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt, 6’7”, F, Sr.
Also the NetScouts Basketball International Player of the Week, Taylor from Norrkoping, Sweden led the Commodores in scoring on their way to two straight wins. Taylor started the week with 23 points and 9 rebounds while hitting all three of his trey attempts to take down Tennessee. On Saturday, against Sun Belt pace- setters Middle Tennessee, Taylor scored 17 and added 6 boards.
Andrew Greenblatt is a Correspondent for NetScouts Basketball. Thanks to Baylor University, Vanderbilt University and Duke University for the photos.
