PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dylan Windler, G/F • 6-7, 195, Jr. • Indianapolis, Ind. • Belmont
Windler averaged 15.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.5
assists/game while hitting 61.3 percent (19-of-31) from the field, 50 percent
(5-of-10) from 3-point range and 79.2 percent (19-of-24) from the free throw
line as Belmont topped 2017 NCAA Tournament teams Vanderbilt and Middle
Tennessee and finished play in the 2K Classic by defeating Houston Baptist and
Seattle to win the Nashville Subregional. He began the week by scoring a
career-high 24 points and adding 11 rebounds and two steals as Belmont beat
Vanderbilt 69-60; in that game he held Vandy’s top player, Matthew Fisher-Davis,
without a field goal. Three days later he had 11 points and 10 rebounds as
Belmont won at defending Conference USA champion Middle Tennessee, a team that
had only 14 total home games since 2011-12. In that game he held CUSA Preseason
Player of the Year to just two field goals. He notched 23 points and tied a
career-high with 14 rebounds while also adding five assists in a win over
Houston Baptist. He capped the week by once again grabbing 14 rebounds, scoring
three points, dishing out three assists and blocking three shots in a win over
Seattle. Windler leads the OVC and ranks among national leaders in rebounding
(12.0/game).
Others Nominated: Terrell Lewis, Eastern Illinois; Nick Mayo, Eastern Kentucky;
Malcolm Drumwright, Jacksonville State; A.J. Hicks, Morehead State; Terrell
Miller, Murray State; Jalen Henry, SIUE; Delano Spencer, Tennessee State; Curtis
Phillips, Jr., Tennessee Tech; Fatodd Lewis, UT Martin.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Daniel Kinchen, G • 6-3, 155, Jr. • Atlanta, Ga. • SIUE
Kinchen, the transfer from Alabama Southern Community
College, averaged 22.0 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds/game while hitting
50 percent (8-of-16) from 3-point range and 85.7 percent (12-of-14) from the
free throw line in a pair of games last week. He opened the week with 21 points,
three rebounds, three assists and a block in 32 minutes against Valparaiso. In
that game he hit 9-of-10 free throw attempts. Three days later he notched a
season-high 23 points on 6-of-9 3-point shooting while also dishing out a
game-high five assists.
Others Nominated: Jajuan Starks, Eastern Illinois; Jackson Davis, Eastern
Kentucky; A.J. Hicks, Morehead State; Shaq Buchanan, Murray State; Shaq Calhoun,
Tennessee Tech.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Terry Taylor, F • 6-5, 217, Fr. • Bowling Green, Ky. • Austin Peay
Taylor averaged 15.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3
blocks/game while hitting 61.5 percent (16-of-26) from the field in three games.
Taylor became the first Austin Peay player since Chris Horten to net
back-to-back double-doubles, as he had 13 points and 13 rebounds in a win over
Oakland City and followed it with 29 points and 10 rebounds in an overtime loss
to UNC Asheville. The 29 points, which included a layup with 5.7 seconds to go
to force overtime, were the most scored by an OVC player this season. Taylor had
two blocks against each Oakland City and UNCA.
Others Nominated: Dedric Boyd, Eastern Kentucky; Malek Green, Morehead State; Ja
Morant, Murray State; Ledarrius Brewer, Southeast Missouri; Parrish Hewitt, UT
Martin.