Brice Sensabaugh proved the lights at Madison Square Garden weren't too bright for a freshman from Orlando, Florida, as the first-year Buckeye shined in Ohio State's loss to North Carolina on Saturday.
On Monday, Sensabaugh was rewarded for his efforts with a Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor following his career-high 22-point performance in the Buckeyes' 89-84 overtime defeat to the Tar Heels. Sensabaugh shot 9-of-17 from the field and added eight rebounds with three assists.
@bricepsensa has been named Big Ten Freshman of the week!#Team124 #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/QLCDbq5ERa
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) December 19, 2022
With the accolade, Sensabaugh becomes the first Ohio State player to win Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Malaki Branham claimed the award on Feb. 28 during the 2021-22 season.
This year, Sensabaugh leads the Buckeyes in scoring with an average of 14.9 points per contest. He has also been efficient in his scoring opportunities, connecting on 49.5% of his field goals and 47.5% of his 3-pointers. Additionally, the four-star recruit has collected 3.7 rebounds per contest and is an 81.8% shooter from the free-throw line.
Should Sensabaugh finish the season as Ohio State's leading scorer, it would be the first time since 2014-15 that a freshman paced the Buckeyes in that category, as D'Angelo Russell was atop the team with an average of 19.3 points per game that season. Beyond Russell, Jared Sullinger (2010-11) and Greg Oden (2006-07) are the only freshmen to lead Ohio State in scoring for an entire season since 2000.
