Trey Burke Wins 6th B1G Freshman of the Week

Submitted by Ace on

Trey Burke has now equaled Cody Zeller for the most Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards with six on the year, and this is his second in a row. Here's the full press release via U-M Media Relations:

Burke Repeats as Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Earns Sixth Honor
 
Feb. 27, 2012
 
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- University of Michigan men's basketball guard Trey Burke (Columbus, Ohio/Northland HS) earned his sixth Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor, as announced by the conference Monday (Feb. 27).
 
Burke continues to lead the Wolverines as they bid for the Big Ten regular-season title and a first-round bye for the Big Ten Tournament. For the week, Burke averaged 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists while playing 41.0 minutes per game.
 
Burke was instrumental in Michigan's comeback win at Northwestern (Feb. 21) as the Wolverines rallied to beat the Wildcats, 67-55, in overtime for the second time this season. He led U-M with 19 points and added four assists, two steals and six rebounds while playing all 45 minutes.
 
Burke spearheaded Michigan's offense in the extra period, draining the first of three straight triples as U-M took control of the extra five minutes en route to its 21st win of the season. In U-M's loss to Purdue (Feb. 25), Burke tallied 12 points, four assists and a rebound in 37 minutes of action.
 
On the season, Burke is averaging 14.2 points and 3.4 rebounds and ranks second in the Big Ten with 4.8 assists per game. He also leads U-M with 35.8 minutes per game and is tied for the team lead in steals (26) and second in blocks (10). Burke is three assists away from breaking U-M legend Gary Grant's school single-season freshman assists record of 140 during the 1984-85 season.
 
A candidate for All-Big Ten honors, including Freshman of the Year, Burke has hauled in seven Big Ten awards this season, with one Player of the Week and six Freshman of the Week honors. He was a top-20 finalist for the Bob Cousy Award for the nation's top point guard.
 
Michigan is tied for second in the Big Ten with Ohio State at 11-5, two games back of 13-3 Michigan State. The Wolverines will play the first of their two remaining regular-season games when they travel to Illinois on Thursday (March 1). Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. CST, and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

MGoBoard
Basketball
Trey Burke

KAYSHIN15

February 27th, 2012 at 2:22 PM ^

He has to be a virtual lock for Freshman of the year and First team All Big Ten IMO. He played his worse game of the season against Purdue and still won the honor. Tells you everything you need to know about the writers opinions of Trey

Joined: 09/06/2010

MGoPoints: 4289

Space Coyote

February 27th, 2012 at 2:42 PM ^

I'd unlock that virtual lock for freshman of the year and first team all B1G.  While he is very close to Zeller (Zeller averages 15.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, has the best shooting percentage in the B1G), the general consensus is in Zeller's favor.  It is difficult to change people's minds in this regard and Zeller is a pretty good player himself.  With them being about equal overall, I think Zeller still holds the edge in terms of getting Freshman of the year.

As far as first team all B1G, I don't think that's a lock either.  Remember, it doesn't work as if there needs to be a PG, SG, SF, PF, and C.  It's more like we need at least 2 guards, maybe 3, and the rest forwards/centers.  Even not taking that into account you have Frazier and Jordan Taylor who would probably get votes ahead of Burke (Taylor scores a pretty good % of Wisc. points and is a senior, Frazier is the second leading scorer in the B1G behind Sherna and the leading assist man), along with possibly Paul and Craft (simply for the media's love affair with him, though I do think he is a great defender and an underrated and under-utilized offensive weapon).

I think Burke makes a team (second or third), but not first team.

Joined: 06/18/2009

MGoPoints: 38962

KAYSHIN15

February 27th, 2012 at 7:34 PM ^

the level of expectations UM had coming into this year after losing the butterfly, and the responsibility placed on Trey's shoulders on a nightly basis. Add that to the fact that he's outplayed every PG in the B1G at some point this season and twice on most, I think he's in pretty good position for both honors

Joined: 09/06/2010

MGoPoints: 4289

VermontMichiganFan

February 27th, 2012 at 2:39 PM ^

Zeller is one hell of a player- sometimes it gets frustrating with the Burke threads about how he's an easy pick for Freshman of the year etc.

Yes Burke is amazing- and it's stupid to say he's not in contention- but there's a reason the two of them each have 6- they are both crazy good.  It will be a two man race- and to say either has a huge edge is pretty silly right now.  It's especially islly because those on this blog likely watch most UM games and only Indiana games when they played UM or maybe MSU or OSU. 

Joined: 02/22/2012

MGoPoints: 128

CorkyCole

February 27th, 2012 at 4:01 PM ^

I was just giving you a hard time. 

I think Zeller will probably win B10 Freshman of the Year as well.  His pre-season hype probably doesn't help any either.  Awards tend to go to the big names over the previously uknown type guys.  Yes, Burke was Ohio player of the year, but that doesn't mean that he was expected to do much, let alone to this level. 

Zeller was the projected B10 FOTY coming into the season, and I think that may be the difference here.

Joined: 06/13/2011

MGoPoints: 4498

manchild56

February 27th, 2012 at 3:50 PM ^

number 7 this week than that would probably mean we go 2-0 and still have a slim chance at getting the Big Ten title share. I am just amazed on how well he has played this year, never thought he would be playing at this level. I remember D Morris and how he played his freshman year and was afraid Trey would struggle like Morris did. But boy was I wrong.

Joined: 10/20/2011

MGoPoints: 750