Ohio State's senior guard Bruce Thornton is turning heads in the Big Ten, earning Player of the Week honors after a stellar performance over the last two games. The 6-2 dynamo from Fairburn, Georgia, showcased his skills, averaging 29.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists while shooting over 52% from the field. The Buckeyes split their matchups against ranked opponents, but Thornton's impact was undeniable.
In a commanding 86-69 victory over Wisconsin, Thornton delivered a near triple-double with 27 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. He didn't stop there. Against Michigan State, he poured in a game-high 32 points, added four rebounds, two assists, and two steals, all while avoiding turnovers in a full 40 minutes of play, though the Buckeyes fell 66-60.
Thornton's performance against Wisconsin was particularly memorable as he eclipsed the 2,000-point milestone in his career, becoming only the third player in Ohio State history and the 36th in Big Ten lore to do so. With 2,037 points, he's now second on Ohio State's all-time scoring list, surpassing Herb Williams and setting his sights on Dennis Hopson's record of 2,096 points.
On social media, Thornton's feat was highlighted as he joined Stephon Curry as the only Division I players in the last 30 years to face three consecutive top-25 teams, average 25 points, and commit no more than two turnovers per game. That's elite company.
Thornton is also closing in on another milestone, needing just 21 rebounds to become the second Big Ten player to amass 2,000 points, 500 assists, and 500 rebounds-a club currently occupied only by Talor Battle, who coached Thornton last year and now serves as an assistant at Penn State.
This marks Thornton's third career Player of the Week accolade and his second this season, with the first coming in early November.
As the Buckeyes sit at 17-10 overall and 9-7 in conference play, they're eyeing an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Their remaining schedule includes:
- Wednesday at Iowa, 9 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
- Sunday vs. Purdue, 1 p.m.
(CBS)
- Wednesday, March 4 at Penn State, 7:30 p.m.
(Peacock)
- Saturday, March 7 vs.
Indiana, 5:30 p.m. (FOX)
The showdown with Indiana will serve as senior day for Thornton and center Christoph Tilly, with Ohio State planning a special promotion to honor Thornton's last home game. The Buckeyes are certainly hoping to ride Thornton's wave of excellence into a strong finish to the season.