Big Ten Awards Reflects Balance of the Regular Season Gauntlet

The 2024-2025 Big Ten Men’s season saw no clear-cut team run away with the conference and the additions of the 4 former Pac 12 schools rounded out some new logistical challenges that schools will improve on for next year. Now let’s take a look at the Big Ten awards and selections for “All” category teams.

Regular Season Championship:

-Michigan State (17-3, 3 Games): MSU rebounded from a pair of west coast loses and overcame a shaky loss at home to Indiana to rattle of a 7-game win streak, clinching the conference title by three games. 

Tournament Championship:

-Michigan (defeated WISC in title game): Michigan took down some of the best teams in 3 days: Controlled the game vs Purdue, a wild buzzer beater against Maryland and a defensive effort against Wisconsin to win the tournament title to bounce back after ending the regular season on a 3-game skid with two blowouts against Illinois and Michigan State.

Head Coach of the Year:

MSU’s Tom Izzo was announced for the honor and is a candidate for the National COY award too. The Spartans were picked between 5th and 9th given their roster turnover and transfers. They finished well above their WAB (Wins Above the Bubble) and on metrics, were right there with Maryland and Wisconsin across the various datasets we’ve been tracking. Jase Richardson has turned into a budding star who helped evolve into their go-to scorer. Coach Izzo brought in former Michigan and Western Michigan assistant, Saddi Washington with second go-around assistant/associate HC, Doug Wojcik, former player-turned-coach Austin Thornton, Thomas Kelly and Jon Borovich.

Assistant Coach of the Year:

Michigan State’s Associate HC Doug Wojcik who has helped develop the guards in his return to East Lansing and his hard work on-and-off the court has directly impacted their success and increased their ceiling throughout the season. The former Navy Midshipmen HC will be a name this spring for HC vacancies, including his alma matter, Navy. The offense and defense finished with some of the best metrics in Izzo’s 30 years at the helm.

Individual Awards:

Player of the Year: Braden Smith (PUR)

-Smith became the third consecutive Purdue player to win the award. His ability to impact games on both ends of the floor was unmatched. In a year where Fletcher Loyer regressed and the absence of big man Zach Eddy, Smith carried the Purdue offense as a do-all leader.

Freshman of the Year: Derik Queen (Maryland)

-Standout star Queen was chosen for his stellar debut season. Queen led Maryland in scoring and rebounding, showcasing his potential as a future star among a cohesive unit that was right there in the final minutes of many, of their close loses and aim to make a deep March run, buoyed by the star freshman.

Defensive Player of the Year: Ace Baldwin Jr. (PSU)

-The Nittany Lion guard earned this award for the second consecutive season, thanks to his elite on-ball defense and ability to generate steals. PSU did not finish as well as they had hoped, but they were certainly no easy game, fighting and scrapping in many close defeats.

Sixth Man of the Year: Will Riley (ILL)

-Riley was the large favorite to take this award home. He provided a spark off the bench, consistently contributing to scoring and rebounding. Will became a pseudo starter based on his production and reliability. They will go as far as he can take them in the Big Dance, as long as they can improve their defense.

ALL TEAM SELECTIONS:

First Team All-Big Ten:

Braden Smith, Purdue
John Tonje, Wisconsin
Brice Williams, Nebraska
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
Derik Queen, Maryland (coaches)
Vlad Goldin, Michigan (media)

Second Team All-Big Ten

Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
Dawson Garcia, Minnesota
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
Danny Wolf, Michigan
Derik Queen, Maryland (media)
Vlad Goldin, Michigan (coaches)

Third Team All-Big Ten

Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois
Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Maryland
Jase Richardson Michigan State
Jaden Akins, Michigan State
Nate Bittle, Oregon
Jackson Shelstad, Oregon
Ace Bailey, Rutgers
Dylan Harper, Rutgers
Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA

Big Ten All-Defensive Team

Jaden Akins, Michigan State
TJ Bamba, Oregon
Nate Bittle, Oregon
Ace Baldwin Jr., Penn State
Kobe Johnson, UCLA

Big Ten All-Freshmen Team

Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois
Derik Queen, Maryland
Jase Richardson, Michigan State
Ace Bailey, Rutgers
Dylan Harper, Rutgers

DANCING IN MARCH (1st round opponents):

Michigan State (2 seed- South) vs 12 Bryant

Wisconsin (5 seed- South) vs 14 Montana

Maryland (4 seed-West) vs 13 Grand Canyon

Purdue (4 seed-Midwest) vs 13 High Point

Illinois (6 seed-Midwest) vs play-in winner of TEX/XAV

Oregon (5 seed-East) vs 12 Liberty

UCLA (7 seed-Midwest) vs 10 Utah State