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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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EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – MARCH 08: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a second half three pointer with Xavier Tillman Sr. #23 (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – MARCH 08: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a second half three pointer with Xavier Tillman Sr. #23 (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The All-Big Ten Teams have a wealth of NBA talent

The All-Big Ten teams feature the conference’s experienced veterans and rising stars. The players on these lists gave Big Ten basketball fans a show with their play on the court and are more than deserving of these honors.

All-Big Ten First-Team

LUKA GARZA, IOWA (unanimous media and coaches selection)
Anthony Cowan Jr., Maryland (coaches selection)
Jalen Smith, Maryland (media and coaches selection)
CASSIUS WINSTON, MICHIGAN STATE (unanimous media and coaches selection)
Lamar Stevens, Penn State (media and coaches selection)

Cowan Jr. and Winston were the two best guards in Big Ten basketball without a doubt. Cowan Jr. coming back to cement his legacy at the University of Maryland was the best decision for both parties involved. Winston, on the other hand, playing this season after dealing with the loss of a dear loved one not only showed courage and strength on his part but the same goes for the Spartan basketball program in their effort to rally around him. Both players were among the top five in assists.

Garza being a unanimous selection by Big Ten coaches and media is no surprise. He was as dominant as they come. It will be interesting to see how teams play him in the conference tournament. Jalen Smith took a huge step forward this season with his play. He was on the receiving end of many alley-oops and is tied for third-best in the nation with 21 double-doubles.

He will be a big man to watch in the Big Ten Tournament for sure. Lamar Stevens has been an example of excellence for the Penn State Nittany Lions. His best game statistically was a 33 point, seven-rebound performance in the 83-77 victory over Minnesota. He helped Pat Chambers turn Penn State around and was rewarded for that.

All-Big Ten Second Team

Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois (coaches selection)
Zavier Simpson Michigan (coaches and media selection)
Xavier Tillman, Michigan State (coaches and media selection)
Daniel Oturu, Minnesota (coaches and media selection)
Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State (coaches and media selection)

Ayo Dosunmu is a young, highly skilled guard for the Illinois Fighting Illini who averaged 16.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 3.3 apg. He is a nice complement to Cockburn and a player who can take and make big shots. He improved his points and field goal percentage averages from a year ago. I’d watch out for him next season. Zavier Simpson like Cassius Winston has given the Michigan program all he had over his four-year career. His point per game, assists, field goal percentage and three-point percentage increased all four years. He finished the 2019-20 season with 12.9 ppg, 7.9 apg, shooting 36 percent from the perimeter and 47.6 percent from the field.

Daniel Oturu and Kaleb Wesson are interesting cases on these teams. They both played really well for their teams despite the teams underperforming to some degree. Oturu averaged a double-double (20 ppg, 11.4 rpg) this season and recorded double-doubles in four of the last five games of the season for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Kaleb Wesson was Mr. Do everything for Ohio State. He was a tough guy to stop on the low block because of his size. He averaged 14.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg and he increased his three-point percentage from 34.7 percent last season to 42.5 percent this season. I would argue that if Ohio State didn’t have that losing streak, Wesson would have been a First Team All-Big Ten selection. Ohio State was firing on all cylinders before that slump.

All-Big Ten Third-Team

Kofi Cockburn, Illinois (media selection)
Marcus Carr, Minnesota (media selection)
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (coaches and media selection)
Joe Wieskamp, Iowa (coaches selection)
Geo Baker, Rutgers (coaches and media selection)
Nate Reuvers, Wisconsin (coaches and media selection)
D’Mitrik Trice, Wisconsin (coaches selection)

The All-Big Ten Third Team selections are a group of guys that stepped up in big moments for their programs. Whether they were the first scoring option or not, they balled out when their teams needed them to.

Big Ten All-Freshman Team

KOFI COCKBURN, ILLINOIS (unanimous coaches selection)
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS, INDIANA (unanimous coaches selection)
CJ Fredrick, Iowa
Franz Wagner, Michigan
Rocket Watts, Michigan State

The Big Ten All-Freshman Team is headlined by Cockburn and Jackson-Davis who both averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game for their teams. These five are the future of the Big Ten conference. Rocket Watts will fill in nicely for Cassius Winston. Franz Wagner with more development could be an even better version of his brother Victor “Moe” Wagner. CJ Frederick is a guy I have to see more of to determine how good he will be.

Big Ten All-Defensive Team

Jalen Smith, Maryland
Xavier Tillman, Michigan State
Daniel Oturu, Minnesota
Jamari Wheeler, Penn State
Nojel Eastern, Purdue

These five were the best players on the floor for their teams. Oturu, Smith and Tillman were first, second and third best in rebounds per game and each of them were rim protectors as well averaging two blocks per game. Jamari Wheeler and Nojel Eastern made their mark by always being one step ahead of the guy they were guarding. Wheeler had two or more steals 13 times during the regular season and got four steals in a game three times. Eastern got two or more steals eight times and recorded three steals in a game three times.

This concludes the All-Big Ten teams. Every player on these teams performed above and beyond what was expected of them to earn these honors.

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