Wilkerson, Ciezki Share Big Ten Player of the Week Honors After Week of Breakout Performances

On Monday (ET) Indiana’s Lamar Wilkerson and Shay Ciezki were named co-Players of the Week for the conference after standout performances that bolstered the Hoosiers’ momentum. Both players produced eye-catching numbers in separate stretches that underscored their importance to their teams and ripple through the big ten basketball standings.

Wilkerson’s big road night and clutch finish

Lamar Wilkerson opened the week with a statement: 33 points in a road game at USC, adding four rebounds and three steals. That 33-point night marked the most by a Hoosier in a road contest since a 35-point outing at Purdue in February 2023. Wilkerson followed that with a 25-point showing in a 78-77 overtime win versus Wisconsin, including two free throws with 16 seconds left to force extra time and all six of Indiana’s points in the overtime period — capped by the game-winning free throws with under two seconds on the clock.

For the week Wilkerson averaged 29. 0 points, 4. 0 rebounds, 2. 5 assists and 2. 0 steals. His production comes amid a historic season in conference play: he’s averaging 23. 2 points per game in Big Ten matchups through 13 games, the highest mark by an Indiana player in conference play since George McGinnis averaged 29. 9 in 1970-71. This is Wilkerson’s second Player of the Week honor this season, reinforcing his status as the offense’s primary engine.

Ciezki’s efficiency and two-way impact

Shay Ciezki grabbed the spotlight on the women’s side, earning her third Player of the Week nod after posting dominant numbers in a pair of wins at Wisconsin and over Purdue. Over those games she averaged 30. 0 points and 10. 5 rebounds while shooting 57. 9 percent from the floor, 46. 2 percent from three and 83. 3 percent at the free-throw line. She logged 40 minutes in both contests, showcasing durability and a full-game influence on both ends of the floor.

Ciezki’s scoring consistency — she leads all conference scorers at 24. 1 points per game in all contests — gives her team a reliable go-to option late in games and elevates the Hoosiers in tight matchups during conference play.

Short-term boost to team outlooks

Both honors arrive at a meaningful juncture. For the men’s team, Wilkerson’s scoring surge has been central to close wins and competitive showings on the road. His late-game heroics and multiple 30-point games shift defensive game plans for upcoming opponents and can directly influence seeding calculations late in the season. On the women’s side, Ciezki’s efficiency and rebounding give her squad a dependable foundation while navigating a crowded conference race.

Coaches around the league will have to account for these two players more often in scouting and rotation decisions. That attention could open perimeter or interior opportunities for teammates, altering matchups and the flow of several upcoming conference games.

Implications for big ten basketball standings

Individual weekly honors matter most when they translate to team wins. Wilkerson’s performances helped secure an overtime victory and keep Indiana competitive in a tight league; Ciezki’s two-way dominance produced a pair of wins that shore up the Hoosiers’ positioning. As teams jockey for position, the contributions of go-to scorers like these can be the difference between a top-tier seed and a middle-of-the-pack finish in the conference table.

What to watch next

Expect opponents to game-plan aggressively to limit both players. For Wilkerson, look for more double-teams and switching defenses aimed at cutting off his drives and late-clock opportunities. For Ciezki, teams will test perimeter discipline and crash the boards to blunt her inside effectiveness. How well Indiana’s supporting casts respond to that pressure will be a key storyline in the weeks ahead.

With multiple Player of the Week accolades between them and high per-game averages in conference play, Wilkerson and Ciezki have become central figures in the current narrative of the conference season — and important variables in the evolving big ten basketball standings.