Northwestern University Athletics
Shurna Honored as Big Ten Player of the Week
11/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 30, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern sophomore forward John Shurna (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week the conference office announced Monday. It is the first such honor for Shurna who shares this week's award with Ohio State's Evan Turner.
Shurna averaged 20.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in leading NU to victories over Liberty, Notre Dame and Iowa State. In Tuesday's win over Liberty, he scored 14 points while tying a career high with nine rebounds.
Shurna outplayed All-America candidates Luke Harangody of Notre Dame and Craig Brackins of Iowa State en route to being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Chicago Invitational Challenge over the weekend.
He scored a career-high 25 points to go along with eight rebounds and four assists in leading the Wildcats to a 72-58 win over No. 23 Notre Dame Friday night.
The following night against another undefeated squad, Iowa State, Shurna posted 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists. He scored 17 points in the first 12 minutes of the contest in helping Northwestern to the tournament title.
Shurna ranks second on the team with 16.0 points per game and is first with an average of 7.2 rebounds per contest.
Northwestern (5-1) returns to action at North Carolina State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Tuesday night.
