According to the Detroit Free Press, Michigan State's Nick Ward was named Big Ten player of the week on Monday afternoon.

The Michigan State Spartans climbed to No. 6 in the new Associated Press men's basketball rankings.

Nick Ward is an incredible basketball player who is averaging 16.7 points and 6.5 rebounds a game for the Spartans.

No. 6 MSU hosts the Boilermakers in a rare home game this month, the second of three.  The Spartans have four of their next five on the road.

How good is Nick Ward?  Ward averaged 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in MSU's wins over Northwestern and Ohio State last week.

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