For the week of Nov. 27-Dec. 3:
PTPer OF THE WEEK
Jason Williams, Duke: Williams is flat out the best guard in America.
Jimmy Boeheim was 100 percent correct when he told me this summer that Williams would be the premier guard in the land. Let's salute Jimmy B. for his sharp evaluation; he coached Williams on the 20-and-under team and said he was the best among the best.
Williams hasn't wasted any time proving that. He was scintillating against Temple, knocking down eight of 10 trifectas in scoring 30 points against the Owls. That was the same Temple team he helped beat in the finals of the Preseason NIT with an incredible performance down the stretch. The Dukies were on the ropes but Jason made it happen.
Earlier in the week, Williams was brilliant against Illinois and its point guard, Frankie Williams. Jason made every big play to lead Duke to the winner's circle.
Not only is he PTPer of the week, but in my opinion, at the end of the year, he will be first-team All-Rolls Royce, solid gold All-American.
DIAPER DANDY OF THE WEEK
Eddie Griffin, Seton Hall: The numbers don't lie, my friends. For the second week in a row, the Pirates' super, sensational frosh really shined big time.
How can you argue with these numbers? Check out a 26-point, 21-rebound, eight-block performance against St. Peter's. Griffin followed that up against LaSalle with 20 points, eight rebounds and seven blocks -- impressive because the Pirates were struggling big-time.
Griffin bailed them out and the 6-foot-9 transitional wiz is heading for greatness in a Pirates uniform.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Wisconsin Badgers: Picking up from last year, the Badgers scored two big-time Ws, yet this program has not received the respect it deserves after reaching the Final Four last year.
First came a victory over Gary Williams' talented Maryland squad in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. That turned out to be the last game on the sidelines for Dick Bennett as Badgers' coach. Bennett, a great teacher, a purist, will be missed in the coaching fraternity. Wisconsin found a way to win in overtime.
The Badgers then beat Xavier in the emotional debut for interim coach Brad Soderberg. The Musketeers are rated by many as the top team in the Atlantic 10. Wisconsin prevailed despite early foul trouble for standout defender Mike Kelley.
COACH OF THE WEEK
Paul Hewitt, Georgia Tech: Hewitt inherited limited personnel from last year's Ramblin' Wreck squad. He had them respond in big-time fashion on the road against UCLA.
Tony Akins and company put on a show in beating the Bruins. You would have thought UCLA would have been hungry after losing to Cal State-Northridge while also struggling against UC-Santa Barbara. Instead the Bruins came out flat and Tech took advantage.
Hewitt's kids responded to give him his first big W at Tech. Something tells me there will be many more in his career there, especially when he lands more big-time recruits. He has already landed a nice crop for next season.
SHOCK OF THE WEEK
Georgia Tech over UCLA: We stay with Georgia Tech over UCLA at The Pond. The Yellow Jackets were rated in the lower half of the ACC preseason ratings.
The win over the Bruins was shocking since UCLA was due for a stronger showing after recent struggles against Cal State-Northridge and UC-Santa Barbara. It wasn't meant to be for Steve Lavin's team and Tech got out of California with the shocker.
