ROSEMONT, Ill. - Washington's Hannes Steinbach is making waves again, earning his second Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor in as many weeks. This accolade, announced on Monday, marks the German native's fourth selection of the season, placing him second in the league for this recognition. Steinbach's impressive performances have also garnered him the USBWA National Freshman of the Week title twice this season.
Steinbach's numbers speak volumes: averaging 26.0 points and 18.5 rebounds while shooting a scorching 78.3 percent from the field over the week. He's on a remarkable streak, posting four consecutive games with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and a shooting percentage north of 65 percent-a feat unmatched in the Big Ten for the past 30 years.
In a memorable showdown against USC, Steinbach dazzled with 22 points and a whopping 24 rebounds, helping Washington to a 91-72 victory on Senior Day in Seattle. This performance made him just the third Husky since 1977 to achieve a 20-20 game, with his 24 rebounds ranking as the fourth-highest single-game total in program history and the best since 1972.
Even when faced with challenges, Steinbach shines. At Oregon, despite early foul trouble limiting him to just 10 minutes in the first half, he exploded with 26 points and 13 rebounds. His second-half performance alone-22 points and 12 rebounds-showcases his ability to dominate, marking a double-double in two of his last four halves of play.
With these stellar performances, Steinbach has accumulated 20 double-doubles this season, the most by a Big Ten freshman since at least the 1996-97 season. His 12 games with 20-point double-doubles tie him for the national lead, with 10 of those coming against Big Ten opponents.
As the No. 12 seed, Washington is set to kick off the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday, facing 13th-seeded USC at 11:30 a.m. PT at the United Center in Chicago. Fans can catch the action live on Peacock and NBCSN, with additional coverage available through GoHuskies.com.