Illinois, Purdue, and Wisconsin Collect Men’s Basketball Weekly Honors

by | Jan 12, 2026 | Basketball Blogs, College Sports, Headlines, Players of the Week

Illinois, Purdue, and Wisconsin Collect Men’s Basketball Weekly Honors

Boilermakers’ Smith, Badgers’ Boyd, and Illini’s Wagler score Big Ten weekly accolades

 

Co-Player of the Week

Braden Smith, Purdue

G – Sr. – 6-0 – Westfield, Ind. – Westfield

  • Led Purdue to a pair of wins, averaging 24.5 points, 10.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game
  • Scored 23 points with seven assists and three steals in an 81-73 win over Washington
  • Paired 26 points and 14 assists in a 93-85 victory over Penn State, becoming the first Big Ten player in at least 20 years to have at least 26 points and 14 assists in a game
  • Claims his fourth career Player of the Week honor and third this season
  • Last Purdue Player of the Week: Braden Smith (January 5, 2026)

 

Co-Player of the Week

Nick Boyd, Wisconsin

G – Sr. – 6-3 – Garnerville, N.Y. – St. Mary

  • Averaged 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in leading the Badgers to a 2-0 week
  • Scored a game-high 20 points while adding eight boards, and five assists in an 80-72 win over UCLA
  • Scored 22 points with six assists, three rebounds and no turnovers in Wisconsin’s 91-88 win at No. 2 Michigan
  • Scores first Player of the Week honor
  • Last Wisconsin Player of the Week: John Blackwell (December 8, 2025)

 

Freshman of the Week

Keaton Wagler, Illinois

G – 6-6 – Shawnee, Kan. – Shawnee Mission Northwest

  • Paced the Illini with 18 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in a 2-0 week for Illinois
  • Tallied a game-high 17 points with seven rebounds and three assists in an 81-55 home win over Rutgers
  • Earned game-high honors with 19 points to go with five rebounds and four assists in a 75-69 win at No. 19 Iowa
  • Claims third Freshman of the Week award
  • Last Illinois Freshman of the Week: Keaton Wagler (January 5, 2026)

 

2025-26 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Players of the Week

Jan. 12

P: Braden Smith, PUR

P: Nick Boyd, WIS

F: Keaton Wagler, ILL

 

Jan. 5

P: Morez Johnson Jr., MICH

P: Braden Smith, PUR

F: Keaton Wagler, ILL

F: Hannes Steinbach, WASH

 

Dec. 22

P: Tariq Francis, RUT

P: Skyy Clark, UCLA

F: Braden Frager, NEB

 

Dec. 15

P: Lamar Wilkerson, IND

P: Pryce Sandfort, NEB

F: Keaton Wagler, ILL

 

Dec. 8

P: John Blackwell, WIS

F: Hannes Steinbach, WASH

 

Dec. 1

P: Yaxel Lendeborg, MICH

F: Kayden Mingo, PSU

 

Nov. 24

P: David Coit, MD

F: Braden Frager, NEB

 

Nov. 17

P: Braden Smith, PUR

F: David Mirkovic, ILL

 

Nov. 10

P: Tucker DeVries, IND

P: Bruce Thornton, OSU

F: David Mirkovic, ILL

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