Player of the Week:
Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
Abmas and Oral Roberts had an undefeated week, winning both of their outings by double digits. Abmas, who has already shown the nation what he can do, during his 2021 march madness performance, and continues to impress this season as well. Abmas scored 28 points shooting 50% from the floor in their first game of the week, and followed that up with a 31 point performance on 53.3% from the floor, and 54.5% from three in their second game of the week. Oral Roberts has won four of their last five games, led by Abmas’s 24 points per game over that stretch. Abmas is one of the best scorers and shooters in the country and continues to impress, leading his team, who currently sits at the number one spot in their conference.
Who’s Hot:
Memphis Tigers
Memphis is in the process of a six game win streak, three of which being this past week. In their most recent game, they went on the road to number eleven ranked Auburn and came out with a 82-73 win over the Tigers. Senior guard, Kendric Davis, had 27 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in the win. They had wins over Ole Miss and Little Rock this week as well. Davis and his fellow senior, Deandre Williams, are the team’s two double digit scorers and have led the Tigers to an 8-2 start to the year, and are currently first in their conference.
Who’s Not:
Binghamton Bearcats
Binghamton had high hopes this season, looking to finish atop of their division this year, after falling short in the semifinals of their conference tournament in the 2021-2022 season. The Bearcats started the season 3-2, but since then are on a five game losing streak. They have lost those five games by an average of eleven points, three of them being by fourteen points or more. Senior guard, Jacob Falko, has led the team in scoring in seven of their ten games this season, including six of the last seven outings. Binghamton is looking to get things going in their next three games, before beginning conference play at Bryant on New Years Eve.
Freshman of the Week:
Micah Handlogten, Marshall
This week, Marshall played two games, and Handlogten was a big contributor to their success. Handlogten has emerged as the starting center for the Thundering Herd, and has done everything asked of him. Handlogten has averaged 7.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, as the key rebounder on his team. He has also been extremely bought in on the defensive end, averaging 3.4 blocks and 1.6 steals per game over that stretch. Marshall lost their first game of the season, but since then haven’t lost and have won nine straight.
Top 5 Mid Major three point shooting teams:
Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky is shooting 43.3 percent from three point range this season on 24.6 attempts. This leads all Mid Major teams in the country. 41 percent of their total shot attempts this season have been from beyond the arc, showing their confidence in their three point game as a team. Western Kentucky is 8-1 to start the year.
North Carolina Central
North Carolina Central is shooting 42.5 percent from three point range this season on 21.9 attempts. The Eagles also shoot just under 50 percent from the floor overall. They are 5-5 on the year so far.
Jacksonville State
Jacksonville State is shooting 41.9 percent from three point range this season on 24.7 attempts. The Gamecocks make 10.3 of those attempts per game so far in their nine games this season. Jacksonville State is sitting at 4-5, second to last in their conference.
Pepperdine
Tied with Jacksonville State, Pepperdine is also shooting 41.9 percent from three point range this season. They make 10.6 threes on 25.2 attempts per game. Pepperdine is 5-4 in their nine games so far this year.
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin is shooting 41.8 percent from three point range this season on 16.2 attempts. They shoot the least amount of threes of the teams on this list, but shoot them at a very efficient rate compared to the rest of the teams in the country. Stephen F. Austin is 5-4 to start the season.