IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Big Ten Conference announced on Monday that University of Iowa forwards Owen Freeman and Ben Krikke swept the league's weekly men's basketball honors. Freeman was named Freshman of the Week for the second straight week, while Krikke was named Player of the Week.
Freeman, a Moline High School graduate who led the Maroons to the Illinois High School Association's Class 4A State Championship along with current Iowa teammate Brock Harding, has averaged 12 minutes per game for the 3-1 Hawkeyes. Through four games, Freeman is averaging nine points, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal while shooting 61% from the field. Freeman is the first Hawkeye freshman to achieve this distinction in consecutive weeks.
Krikke, an off-season transfer addition from Valparaiso University averaged 24.5 points and seven rebounds while shooting 66 percent from the field (21-of-32) in a pair of games at No. 8 Creighton and Arkansas State.
Krikke opened the week by making 11-of-18 field goals en route to a game-high 24 points against the Bluejays in the Gavitt Tipoff Games in Omaha. He followed it up by scoring a season-high 25 points, making 10-of-14 field goals and grabbing a game-high nine rebounds in a home victory over Arkansas State. Krikke also had a career-high four steals and three blocks against the Red Wolves.
In four games, Krikke is leading the team in scoring, averaging 20 points, 6.5 rebounds and two steals per game, while shooting 61.8 percent from the field. He is second in the Big Ten in steals, third in field goal percentage and fourth in scoring.
In his first collegiate road game, Freeman had three blocked shots and scored eight points in just 14 minutes at No. 8 Creighton. He finished with seven points, three rebounds and two blocks in 10 minutes in the home win over Arkansas State.
Krikke’s Player of the Week honor is his first Big Ten recognition and third honor of his career. He was twice named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week during the 2022-23 season.
The Hawkeyes return to action Thursday when they'll face off with Oklahoma in the Rady Children’s Invitational in San Diego. The game will tip off at 2:02 p.m. (CT) and be televised on FS1.
Watch more news, weather and sports on News 8's YouTube channel