Villanova's Hart, St. John's Ponds Earn MBB Weekly Honors

– Villanova’s Josh Hart and St. John’s Shamorie Ponds, who both earned individual conference honors in the preseason, have garnered weekly awards. Hart, the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year, has been named BIG EAST Player of the Week. Ponds, the BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year, has been selected BIG EAST Freshman of the Week.Hart averaged 29.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in a 2-0 week that included a 37-point effort to help the No. 1 ranked Wildcats beat Notre Dame 74-66. The senior also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and dealt four assists against the Irish. He was 14-of-14 from the foul line. Earlier in the week, Hart scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in an 89-79 win against La Salle. For the two games, Hart shot 56.3 percent from the floor and 62.5 percent from 3-point range.Ponds averaged 23.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in a 2-1 week. He shot 53.2 percent from the floor and 53.8 percent from beyond the arc. In a 90-62 win over Fordham, Ponds posted 26 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals. He is averaging 17.4 points for the season.Averaged 17.5 points and 9.5 assists in a 2-0 week that included 25 points and eight assists in a 77-62 victory at Nebraska.In the Hoyas’ lone game of the week, had 24 points, four rebounds and three assists in a 93-78 win against La Salle.Had 26 points and 10 rebounds in a 75-69 win over UMass. Averaged 21.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in a 2-0 week.Averaged 16.0 points and 13.0 rebounds in a 2-0 week that included a 60-57 win against California. Shot 68.4 percent from the field for the two games.Averaged 22.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in a 1-1 week. Had 27 points in a 68-66 loss at Colorado and 18 points in a 77-69 win against Utah.