BTN.com staff, January 16, 2012

The Big Ten Conference released its Men's Basketball Players of the Week for Jan. 9-15 action. It was a crazy week of action that saw several upsets, including Northwestern handing Michigan State its first Big Ten loss and first loss in it last 16 games. See the conference's latest weekly winners and find out what they did to earn the prestigious honors in this post.

Player of the Week: Brandon Paul, Illinois, G - Jr. - 6-4 - Gurnee, Ill. - Warren

  • Had a career night against No. 5/5 Ohio State, scoring 43 points and adding eight rebounds and four blocks in the Fighting Illini?s 79-74 win
  • The 43 points marked a career high, the most by a Big Ten player since 1994 and the second most by any player in the country this season
  • Shot 73 percent from the field (11-15), including 80 percent from three-point range (8-10)
  • Earns his first Big Ten weekly award
  • Last Illinois Player of the Week: Meyers Leonard (Jan. 2, 2012)

Freshman of the Week: Joe Coleman, Minnesota, G - 6-4 - Minneapolis, Minn. - Hopkins

  • Averaged 15.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, helping Minnesota earn road victories at No. 7/8 Indiana and Penn State
  • Posted 23 points and five rebounds in the Gophers? 80-66 win over the Nittany Lions
  • Recorded eight points, including four free throws with under a minute remaining in the game, helping seal Minnesota?s 77-74 win at Indiana
  • Takes home his first weekly award
  • Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: N/A