Dec. 6, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern juniors Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator) and Tim McGarigle (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) earned Big Ten Conference Player of the Week honors for the season's final two weeks of action.
Basanez, who shared the Offensive Player of the Week honor with Michigan State's Drew Stanton, totaled 379 yards of total offense against Hawaii -- the ninth-best single-game figure in school history. Earlier this year, Basanez set NU's single-game record for total offense with 548 yards against TCU.
Basanez, who completed 19-of-41 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown, ran for a career-best 60 yards and scored two rushing TD's. He finished the year with NU single-season marks for completions (247) and passing yardage (2,838). An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, Basanez ranked 15th nationally in pass completions per game (20.6) and 22nd nationally in total offense per game (258.0).
McGarigle earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after notching double-digit tackle figures for an eighth straight game against the Warriors. The Big Ten leader in tackles, he totaled 10 hits (eight solos) against Hawaii and also notched an interception. His play helped the Wildcats hold the Warriors to less than 100 yards rushing -- the fourth time this season NU kept an opponent under 100 yards on the ground.
McGarigle, named a first-team All-Big Ten selection this year by the league's media, ranks first nationally in solo tackles per game and third nationally in total tackles.
The Big Ten weekly kudos were the second of the season for both Basanez and McGarigle.