Big Ten Basketball: Carsen Edwards, Ethan Happ lead early Player of the Year race

With non-conference play wrapping up, several Big Ten Basketball players have separated themselves from the rest for their spectacular play.

As many schools enter finals week to prepare for Christmas, and the remainder of their schedules before the conference portion begins, one conference has already started conference play. That conference in the Big Ten. Starting last year, the Big Ten is set to begin their conference slate at the beginning of December. Each school will play two early conference games, one at home and one on the road. The league also announced each team would play a 20-game conference schedule every year, beginning this season.

Throughout the early games on the schedule, not just the conference games the Big Ten is separating itself from the rest of college basketball as the best conference in the country this year. It is a very deep league and it would not be unreasonable to think the league could place 8 to 10 teams in the NCAA tournament. The makeup of the teams is not the only thing worth writing about within this conference. Since the conference is showing so well, there are many players worthy of the title of the Big Ten Player of the Year.

The Player of the Year in the Big Ten is going to be an interesting race to follow all season long. Each player who is in the running for this award brings something different to the game, and all of them are the lifeblood of their teams. They have earned their coaches trust and will always garner the attention of the opposing coaches.

The following five players should be considered the early season favorites to win this award. This title is going to be ever changing and players are either going to enter or leave this distinguished party as the weeks go on.