BYU’s Richie Saunders (player) and Texas Tech’s JT Toppin (newcomer) earned Big 12 men’s basketball weekly awards for games through February 23.
 
Saunders led the Cougars to consecutive AP Top 25 wins for the first time since 1988, while averaging 22.5 points off 73.9% shooting from the field and 58.3% on 3-pointers. The junior guard scored a team-high 22 points in the 91-57 win over then-No. 23 Kansas, marking the largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in BYU program history. The Riverton, Utah native had a 23-point performance at Arizona, adding three rebounds, two assists and two steals. The Cougars’ 96-95 win over then-No. 19 Arizona marked the program’s first over a ranked Wildcats team, as Saunders made the game-winning free throws in the final seconds of the game. Saunders earns his first Conference weekly award and becomes the first Big 12 Player of the Week from the BYU men’s basketball program.
 
Toppin was voted as the Conference’s top newcomer for the second consecutive week, continuing his hot streak with averages of 18.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in two games. The sophomore from Dallas had a double-double at TCU, posting 14 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 55.6% from the floor. The forward followed up by pouring in 22 points in the 73-51 win against West Virginia, adding eight rebounds in the game. It is his third newcomer award of the season.

Big 12 Player of the Week
Nov. 11: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas, C, Gr.
Nov. 18: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas, C, Gr.
Nov. 25: Norchad Omier, Baylor, F, 5th
Dec. 2: Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State, G, Sr. & Javon Small, West Virginia, G, Sr.
Dec. 9: Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State, G, Sr.
Dec. 16: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas, C, Gr.
Dec. 23: Darrion Williams, Texas Tech, F, Jr.
Jan. 6: Javon Small, West Virginia, G, Sr.
Jan. 13: Curtis Jones, Iowa State, G, Sr.
Jan. 20: Javon Small, West Virginia, G, Sr.
Jan. 27: Milos Uzan, Houston, G, Jr.
Feb. 3: Caleb Love, Arizona, G, Sr.
Feb. 10: David N'Guessan, Kansas State, F, Sr.
Feb. 17: JT Toppin, Texas Tech, F, So.
Feb. 24: Richie Saunders, BYU, G, Jr.
 
Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
Nov. 11: Egor Demin, BYU, G, Fr. & Zeke Mayo, Kansas, G, Sr.
Nov. 18: Egor Demin, BYU, G, Fr. & Joson Sanon, Arizona State, G, Fr.
Nov. 25: JT Toppin, Texas Tech, F, So.
Dec. 2: Tucker DeVries, West Virginia, G/F, Sr.
Dec. 9: Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State, F, Jr.
Dec. 16: Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State, F, Jr. & Zeke Mayo, Kansas, G, Sr.
Dec. 23: Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State, F, Fr.
Jan. 6: Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State, F, Jr. & Noah Reynolds, TCU, G, Sr.
Jan. 13: Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State, F, Jr.
Jan. 20: Keyshawn Hall, UCF, G, Jr.
Jan. 27: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor, G, Fr. & Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State, F, Jr.
Feb. 3: Robert Wright III, Baylor, G, Fr.
Feb. 10: Tobe Awaka, Arizona, F, Jr.
Feb. 17: JT Toppin, Texas Tech, F, So.
Feb. 24: JT Toppin, Texas Tech, F, So.