Men's Basketball | 1/7/2026 2:45:00 PM

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Franciscan University junior guard Sawyer Butler (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) and Washington & Jefferson College junior forward Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) were selected for the D3hoops.com Men's Basketball Team of the Week, as announced by the organization covering games from Dec. 15, 20225 through January 4, 2026.

Butler averaged 32.7 points during the holiday break to lead the Barons to three wins. First, the Barons won the Doc Greene Tournament at Juniata, their second in-season tournament title of the season, with wins over Stevenson and Juniata. Butler scored 20 points in just 24 minutes against Stevenson while going a perfect 12-12 from the free-throw line. Against Juniata, he scored a program record 49 points, including another program record of eight made three-point field goals, while adding five boards and three steals.

Butler followed that up with 29 points in a non-conference home win over Capital. In the three victories, he shot 54.5 percent (24-44) from the floor, 45.4 percent (10-22) from beyond the arc, and 85.1 percent (40-47) from the free throw line. His 27.4 points per game lead all of NCAA Division III in scoring through Sunday's contests.

He is the first Baron to have earned this honor, which started in 1998. 

Plotner shot 74 percent from the field (25-for-34) while averaging 26 points, six rebounds, five steals, and five blocks per game as the Presidents secured a pair of victories. He recorded 18 points, seven rebounds, six blocks, and six steals in a victory at Capital on Dec. 16. Against La Roche on Dec. 19, Plotner posted a career-high 33 points on 16-for-21 shooting with four rebounds, four steals, and three blocks.

Plotner is the first W&J men's basketball player to earn a spot on the weekly national team since current senior Alex Acosta (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb) in the 2023-24 season and the third President ever to earn the recognition.

Contributed by Franciscan and W&J Sports Information