The Big Ten announced its weekly awards for Week 17 of the regular season, with the Penn State Nittany Lions and Michigan State Spartans splitting the honors. Penn State’s D’Marco Dunn was named Big Ten Player of the Week, while Michigan State’s Jase Richardson earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Dunn delivered a standout performance for Penn State, scoring 25 points in the team’s season finale on Saturday. The victory was a crucial road win against Wisconsin to close out the season. This marks Dunn’s first Big Ten Player of the Week award and the first time a Nittany Lion has won it since Camren Wynter in March 2023.

Richardson also had an impressive week for Michigan State, averaging 20 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. He played a key role in wins over Iowa and arch-rival Michigan, with his 22-point effort helping secure a critical road victory against the Hawkeyes to clinch an outright Big Ten title. He remains a key contributor in East Lansing.

This is the third time Richardson has received Freshman of the Week honors, with his last recognition coming just a week ago. As Michigan State prepares for upcoming matchups against Iowa and Michigan, all eyes will be on Richardson to see if he can maintain his strong play.

Both players deserve credit for their performances, and they may find themselves earning more accolades if they continue at this level. With March Madness approaching, Dunn and Richardson are proving their ability to step up in big moments. Will Richardson keep his momentum going?