B1G Honors Caitlin Clark, Owen Freeman

Hawkeye Hoopers Win Weekly Awards from Conference

Iowa's Caitlin Clark (22) shoots a three-pointer during an NCAA Tournament game against Georgia on March 19, 2023 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com)

Iowa Basketball players Caitlin Clark and Owen Freeman were recognized by the Big Ten on Monday. Clark was named the women's player of the week and Freeman captured freshman of the week on the men's side. It represented a program-record fourth time Freeman picked up the honor. 

This marks Clark’s 22nd weekly award from the conference, which is second-most in conference history behind UI’s Megan Gustafson (23). Clark garnered weekly honors six times last season and for the fourth time this season.

Clark led the Hawkeyes to a neutral site win against Clevland State registering a game-high 38 points, five assists, five bounds and two steals. The All-American sunk nine threes, shooting 61.9% from the field, in front of her hometown crowd in Des Moines, Iowa.

Freeman earned the distinction after notching his first career double-double in Iowa’s 88-52 neutral site victory over Florida A&M. He finished the game with a game-high 14 points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds in 19 minutes, while making 6-of-9 field goals in the game.

Freeman is the first Hawkeye freshman to post a double-double since Joe Wieskamp (against Pittsburgh) in 2018.

Through his first 11 games, Freeman has a school-record four Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. He has matched Indiana’s Jalen Hood-Schifino and Ohio State’s Brice Sensabaugh, who were both recognized four times last season. Freeman is one of 16 players in conference history to earn at least four Big Ten weekly freshman honors in a single season.

Freeman is averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 11 games, while shooting a team-best 63.6 percent from the field. The forward also has 21 blocks and 12 steals, ranking first and second on the team, respectively.

The honor is Iowa’s fifth Big Ten weekly accolade this season. Freeman earned the honor on Nov. 13, Nov. 20 and Dec. 4, while graduate Ben Krikke was the Big Ten Player of the Week on Nov. 20.