RICHMOND, Va. – William & Mary men's basketball freshman Connor Kochera was named the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week, the league announced on Monday.

"Connor was terrific," head coach Dane Fischer said following the game. "He has been one of our consistent players in practice during the preseason. Everyone will pick up the box score and see the numbers he put up, which were obviously very impressive, but his leadership on the floor was incredible. He is wise beyond his years in terms of his basketball IQ, feel and leadership. It was a great debut for him."
 
Kochera scored a team-high 19 points on 6-of-7 from 3-point range to go along with three rebounds, two assists, a steal and a blocked shot. His 19 points were the most for a Tribe rookie in a season opener since Edwin Ofori Attah scored 22 to start the 2004-05 season.
 
Kochera's six 3-pointers tied the program record for treys in a season opener, equaling Thornton Scott (2019) and Marcus Thornton (2012). He was a perfect 5-of-5 from long range in the second half. Kochera was one of three Tribe freshmen, along with Yuri Covington and Ben Wight, to start the program's opener at ODU. It marked the ninth time in the last 914 games (since the 1989-90) that W&M started a trio of rookies.
 
On Monday, W&M announced the program would pause for 14 days due to a positive test within the team's Tier 1 personnel. All game over the next two weeks will not be played as scheduled. Barring any additional setbacks, the program aims to return to activity on Monday, Dec. 14.