Around The Big Ten – March 12

More on this week’s edition of “Big Ten Whip Around” — start listening to SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Ch. 372) on the SiriusXM app now.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Player of the Week
D’Marco Dunn, Penn State
G – Sr. – 6-5 – Tucson, Ariz. – Westover (N.C.)

• Scored a career-best and game-high 25 points in Penn State’s 86-75 win at No. 12 Wisconsin, the Nittany Lions’ first win at Wisconsin in over 30 years
• Shot 10-for-12 (83.3%) from the field and 4-for-5 (80%) from three-point range
• Recorded 15 of his 25 points in the second half as Penn State erased an early double-digit deficit
• Earns first Player of the Week honor
• Last Penn State Player of the Week: Camren Wynter (March 6, 2023)

Freshman of the Week
Jase Richardson, Michigan State
G – 6-3 – Denver, Colo. – Columbus (Fla.)

• Averaged 20 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and one steal per game, as the No 7-ranked Spartans scored a pair of wins
• Scored a game-high 22 points in a 91-84 win at Iowa
• Tallied 18 points in Michigan State’s 79-62 win over No. 17 Michigan
• Claims third consecutive Freshman of the Week award
• Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: Jase Richardson (March 3, 2025)

BASEBALL

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aaron Manias, Purdue
Jr. — DH/2B — Uxbridge, Ontario — Nebraska (NCAA)

• Hit the go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning of Purdue’s 11-6 win over Minnesota on Saturday that clinched the series victory
• Produced eight RBI, second-most in school history, in a 14-4 win over Indiana State
• Finished the week with a .529 batting average (9-for-17), a 1.118 slugging percentage and 19 total bases, helping the Boilermakers to a 3-1 record
• The DH/infielder earns his first Big Ten weekly award
• Last Boilermaker named Big Ten Player of the Week: Logan Sutter on Feb. 17, 2025

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Aaron Savary, Iowa
Jr. — S-RHP — Dubuque, Iowa — Wahlert HS

• Earned the win in Iowa’s 16-0 road triumph of Rutgers on Saturday.
• Tossed five scoreless innings, striking out six batters and holding the Scarlet Knights to a .176 batting average
• Allowed three hits (none for extra bases) and has given up only nine hits in 21.2 innings of action this season.
• Collects the first Big Ten weekly honor of his career
• Last Hawkeye to earn Big Ten Pitcher of the Week: Cade Obermueller on May 20, 2024

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Cooper Malamazian, Indiana
Fr. — 3B — Clarendon Hills, Ill. — Nazareth Academy

• Tied a Big Ten record and broke an Indiana record with four doubles in Indiana’s 17-6 win at Penn State on March 7
• Compiled a .438 average and .550 on-base percentage in 20 plate appearances
• Fielded 1.000 at third base, making three putouts and nine assists
• Receives his first Big Ten weekly award after just six collegiate starts
• Last Hoosier chosen Freshman of the Week: Joey Brenczewski on April 8, 2024

SOFTBALL

Player of the Week
Brooke Klosowicz, Penn State
So. – DP – Johnsburg, Ill. – Johnsburg – Major: Kinesiology

• Guided Penn State to a 4-0 week which included a trio of run-rule victories

• Hit 9-for-12 with seven RBI, scoring nine runs and amassed six extra-base hits, which included three doubles and three home runs

• Finished the weekend with a 2.536 OPS (.786 OBP, 1.750 SLG)

• Klosowicz is one double shy of cracking the Penn State single-season doubles leaderboard before the season has reached its midpoint
• Last Penn State Player of the Week: Kaitlyn Morrison (March 4, 2024)

Pitcher and Freshman of the Week
Ella Harrison, Rutgers
Fr. – RHP – Clarence, N.Y. – Clarence – Major: Undeclared

• Tossed three complete-game shutouts, including her first career no-hitter in her three appearances at the Bob Heck Memorial Tournament and finished the weekend with a 0.00 ERA

• Gave up six hits, none for extra bases, seven walks while striking out 34 batters

• Captured a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over North Dakota behind a career-high 16 strikeouts, the most by a Rutgers pitcher since Jaden Vickers’ 17 on April 29, 2022

• Added another shutout in a 1-0 win over West Georgia, striking out eight and allowing no walks

• Recorded her fourth consecutive shutout and sixth game this season in double-figure strikeouts in an 8-0 win over Georgia State, giving up two hits and one walk while striking out 10

• Harrison has not allowed an earned run in her last 33 innings pitched

• Last Rutgers Pitcher of the Week: Ella Harrison (Feb. 17, 2025)

• Last Rutgers Freshman of the Week: Ryann Orange (Feb. 27, 2023)