PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Seton Hall guard Jeremy Hazell and Louisville forward Samardo Samuels are the winners of the first BIG EAST men's basketball weekly honors of the 2008-09 season.

Hazell was chosen as BIG EAST Player of the Week after he averaged 22.8 points in a 4-1 start for the Pirates that included a third-place finish in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off.  In a 63-61 victory in the first round over No. 19/20 USC, Hazell scored 15 points, including a critical 3-pointer with just over a minute to play.  He poured in 32 points in an 84-70 loss to No. 13/12 Memphis.  In a 77-73 victory over Virginia Tech in the third-place game, Hazell posted 23 points.  He was named to the all-tournament team.

Samuels was tabbed as BIG EAST Rookie of the Week after he led the Cardinals in scoring in both of Louisville’s first two wins of the season.  He was 9-of-10 from the floor en route to a game-high 24 points in an 81-54 win over South Alabama.  In a 79-41 win over Morehead State, Samuels scored 18 points, while hitting 8-of-12 from the floor.  He is the BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year.

BIG EAST Honor Roll
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, C, Jr.
Averaged 15.0 pts., 11.5 rebs., 4.3 blocks in a 4-0 start. Shot 67.7 percent from the floor. 

Wesley Matthews, Marquette, G, Sr.
Averaged 26.0 pts., 7.0 rebs., 5.0 assts., 3.5 steals in 3-0 start.

Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, F, Jr.
Averaged 28.5 pts., 15.5 rebs., shot 53.3 percent in a pair of wins.

DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh, C, So.
Averaged 17.5 pts., 13.3 rebs., shot 70.5 percent from the field in a 4-0 start.

Dante Cunningham, Villanova, F, Sr.
Averaged 18.3 pts., 6.7 rebs., 69.0 FG percent in 3-0 start.