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Big Ten Basketball: Takeaways from 2019-20 all-conference selections

By Anthony Brown

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Big Ten logo on the floor before the Big Ten Men's Basketball Final against the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines at the Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Wolverines won 71-56. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Big Ten logo on the floor before the Big Ten Men's Basketball Final against the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines at the Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Wolverines won 71-56. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – FEBRUARY 12: The Big Ten logo (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

Big Ten basketball awards were announced Monday and here are the takeaways from the selections.

Big Ten basketball was highly competitive this year with no one team running away with it. Hence, a three-team share of the regular-season title. The Wisconsin Badgers, Michigan State Spartans and Maryland Terrapins were all very deserving of the Big Ten regular-season crown. The conference as a whole showed its strength to the rest of the college basketball world.

Big Ten venues were extremely tough to play in on the road. So much so, in fact, that road teams were a combined 53-105 in the regular season alone. Michigan State was upset by Maryland in the Breslin Center. They returned the favor by handing the Terps their first home loss of the year at the end of February. Wisconsin beat fifth-ranked Ohio State and 20th ranked Penn State back in January.

While Big Ten Player of the Year had a clear frontrunner, Coach of the Year was up for grabs. Arguments could have been made for Maryland’s Mark Turgeon, Rutgers’ Steve Pikiell, Illinois’ Brad Underwood, Iowa’s Fran McCaffery, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Penn State’s Pat Chambers. The award was given to Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard. This is a well-deserved win for a coach and program that has gone through major roster changes in recent years.

Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Rutgers, Illinois and Penn State had two or more honorees this year. That speaks to the talent that those teams possess and how well the coaches develop the players.

I will give takeaways on the individual awards, the All-Big Ten teams and the honorable mention athletes. The regular season was a major indication of what  Big Ten basketball is about and the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments will be fun to watch.

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