Big Ten honors NU’s Shurna, Sobolewski

Northwestern senior John Shurna, a former Glenbard West basketball star, was named the Big Ten co-player of the week, and point guard Dave Sobolewski, who starred at Benet Academy, was selected Big Ten co-freshman of the week, conference officials announced Monday.

The duo helped lead the Wildcats to a pair of victories last week as NU defeat Nebraska 84-74 at home Thursday before posting a 74-70 win at Illinois on Sunday.

Shurna, a 6-foot-9 forward from Glen Ellyn, earns the award for the fifth time in his career and the first time this season. He averaged 26.0 points per game and shot 71.4 percent from the field in the two contests. Shurna shot 9-for-13 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free throw line in scoring 28 points in Thursday’s win over Nebraska.

At Illinois on Sunday, Shurna made 11-of-15 field goal attempts and scored 17 of his game-high 24 points in the second half in leading NU to its first win at Assembly Hall since 1999. He also surpassed Evan Eschmeyer in the contest to move into second place on Northwestern’s career scoring list.

Shurna shares this week’s conference honor with Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger.

Sobolewski, a Naperville native, averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in the Wildcats’ two wins. He scored 15 points, grabbed a team-high six rebounds and handed out five assists in the Nebraska victory. Sobolewski hit a trio of 3-pointers in the contest and made 6-of-7 attempts from the free throw line.

He followed it up with a stellar effort on Sunday, scoring 14 points while not committing a turnover in 40 minutes of action.

Sobolweski’s 3.36 season assist-to-turnover ratio leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the nation, best among all freshmen. Sobolewski shares the freshman of the week recognition with Iowa’s Aaron White.

Northwestern (14-8, 4-6 Big Ten) returns to action at 8 p.m. Thursday when it hosts Iowa at Welsh-Ryan Arena.