(From Illinois Sports Information Office)

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis is Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. Jakucionis is co-recipient of the league's weekly honor, along with Rutgers' Dylan Harper.

• Jakucionis averaged 23.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists against a pair of top-20 teams
• Led the Illini to victory over #20 Wisconsin, scoring a career- and game-high 24 points
• Made a career-high eight field goals against the Badgers, while adding six rebounds and five assists
• Scored a team-high 22 points against #1 Tennessee, including a career-best 10 made free throws on career-high 14 attempts
• Extended his Illini freshman record for consecutive 20-point games to five in a row, while also finishing as the team's leading scorer for the straight contest

Jakucionis becomes the second Illini to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week this season, following Will Riley in week one.

Illinois returns to action on Sunday, facing Missouri in the annual McBride Homes Braggin' Rights game at Enterprise Center in St. Louis (12 p.m., ESPN).