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B1G basketball honors 4 stars as Players of the Week following first week of 2022

Grant Bricker

By Grant Bricker

Published:

It was yet another exciting week of B1G basketball.

We had No. 3 Purdue losing at home to No. 23 Wisconsin 74-69. Illinois is still rolling through its B1G schedule and is off to an 11-3 start. There were also some freshmen who keep having major contributions for their teams as well.

Here’s who made B1G Player of the Week honors this past week:

First up is a guy who has been a defensive nightmare all season for the first B1G Co-Player of the Week. Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis had 37 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals in the 74-69 win over No. 3 Purdue on Jan. 3.

Davis is also averaging 22 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game and is shooting 45.2% from the floor this season for the Badgers.

Next up is a guy that many Fighting Illini fans have come to know for the other B1G Co-Player of the Week. Kofi Cockburn had a stellar showing against Minnesota and Maryland on Jan. 4 and Jan. 6. Cockburn averaged 26 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, and 1 steal in those 2 games. He also had a double-double in each of those games.

Now, we move on to the freshmen. Michigan State’s Max Christie is the first B1G Co-Freshman Player of the Week. He had 21 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in the Spartans’ recent 79-67 win over Nebraska on Jan. 5.

This is Christie’s 1st time being a Player of the Week in 2022, but he has received the award in 2021 as well, more recently this past December.

Last, but not least is Ohio State’s Malaki Branham. Branham earned the B1G Co-Freshman of the Week award after averaging an impressive stat line this past week. Branham averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks in his most recent games.

Grant Bricker

Grant Bricker covers the B1G for Saturday Tradition. His previous stops include the Williamson Homepage and Nashville Post.