Big Ten basketball: 2018 Conference Tournament preview

Top Players You Probably don’t know about:

Jordan Murphy F, Minnesota

17.1 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 1 BLKPG

The work Jordan Murphy did for the Minnesota Golden Gophers is getting overlooked by the fact that the team stunk. He ran away with the rebounding title in the Big Ten. Murphy averaged 11.4 per game. He was a top-ten scorer with just over 17 points per game and at least one block per game.

Juwan Morgan, F, Indiana

16.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.4 BLKPG

Indiana certainly wasn’t expecting a player who averaged just over five points per game in the previous two seasons to breakout and be the star this season. Robert Johnson was supposed to be the guy. He still performed pretty well, but not as good what Morgan did this season. Morgan finished the season recording double-digit points in every game since Jan. 22 including two double-doubles during that time.

Tyler Cook, F, Iowa

15.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.6 APG

As bad as it has been for Iowa, their offense still showed production. The sophomore Hawkeye stayed in double-figures from a year ago and led the team in scoring. What made this Iowa team not as good as the one from last season is that their leading scorer isn’t a three-point threat. That’s basically all Cook was lacking as he shot 56% from the field.

Leron Black, F, Illinois

15.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG

Illinois certainly has been putting together a really disappointing season. They are very young, but junior Leron Black is really doing all he can to keep the Illini competitive. Black is a top-10 scorer in the Big Ten and has had some pretty good games this year.  Most recently he scored 28 against Nebraska for a feel-good victory.

Anthony Cowan, G, Maryland

15.7 PPG, 5.1 APG, 1.6 SPG

Who leads the Big Ten in minutes played? Anthony Cowan. Who’s third in assists and trying to stay in the top-10 in scoring? Cowan again. With Justin Jackson down for most of the season, Maryland has been trying to look for a replacement. Cowan has done everything he can to be that guy.