Every week for the 2016-17 season, The Catch and Shoot will name a Player of the Week, Freshman of the Week, Team of the Week and Game of the Week among the five Division I schools in the Chicago area.
Here are the winners for the 6th week of the season (Dec. 19-Dec. 25):
Player of the Week
Tai Odiase, UIC
Odiase averaged 21 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks as UIC went 2-0 last week.
The 6’9″ junior was the driving force in the Flames’ 75-65 victory over Northern Arizona with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Although he has struggled historically at the foul line, he shot 8-of-12 against the Lumberjacks.
After last week, Odiase’s field goal percentage is up to 59.3%, more than a nine-point increase from last season.
Honorable mention: Gavin Skelly, Northwestern; Trayvon Palmer, Chicago State; Sanjay Lumpkin, Northwestern
Freshman of the Week
Godwin Boahen, UIC
Boahen was the easy choice this week as he posted UIC’s first triple-double since the 1981 move to Division I with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists against Roosevelt.
Boahen also provided solid minutes in the Northern Arizona win with 9 point, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Honorable mention: Isiah Brown, Northwestern; Marcus Ottey, UIC
Team of the Week
UIC
The Flames went 2-0 last week, which means they will enter conference play with a winning record (7-6) for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
Game of the Week
Chicago State 74, SEMO 65
With this victory, Tracy Dildy won his 50th career game and became Chicago State’s all-time winningest coach.
Past awards:
