Illini freshman forward David Mirković was named the inaugural Big Ten Freshman of the Week for this season on Monday afternoon. Mirković averaged 18 points and 12.5 rebounds across two runaway wins for Illinois last week: a 58-point domination of Jackson State and a 43-point victory over Florida Gulf Coast.
Mirković became only the second Illini freshman to ever debut with a double-double, joining Kofi Cockburn. He had 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds against Jackson State last Monday. He followed that performance with another double-double — 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds — on Friday against Florida Gulf Coast.
The Niksic, Montenegro, native has been a welcome surprise for the Illini to start the year. Mirković has quickly shown himself to be one of Illinois’ most versatile players just a few games into the year. His combination of physical size under the rim and perimeter guard skills has made him a tough player for defenders to stop.
Mirković has not only been one of the best freshmen in the conference, but one of the best players overall in a short stint. He leads all freshmen in boards and is second amongst all players in the Big Ten for rebounding.
On Tuesday, Mirković will face his first true test against a powerhouse when the No. 14 Illini take on the No. 11 Texas Tech Red Raiders in Champaign. It will give the young star a chance to prove that his strong play can translate from low-level opponents to one of the best in the country.
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