Big Ten Basketball: Predicting award winners for 2021-22 season
By Greg Waddell
Big Ten Basketball is always one of the most competitive conferences in the country, and it appears that will be the case in the 2021-2022 season. The conference boasts two teams consistently ranked near the top 5 of most “way too early” Top 25 lists in Michigan and Purdue.
There’s no shortage of other contenders, as Illinois, Ohio State, Maryland, Indiana, Michigan State, and Rutgers all project as likely NCAA Tournament teams. Even a few of the annual Big Ten bottom dwellers made splashes this offseason – Nebraska brings in one of the best incoming recruiting classes in the country and Penn State secured an incoming transfer from Siena star Jalen Pickett.
Competition throughout the conference will be fierce, and it’s likely the Big Ten will send 6-7 teams to the NCAA Tournament once again next season. The conference possesses some of the best frontcourt talent in all of college basketball, and the All-Big Ten First Team will likely be dominated by low post scorers.
The combination of returning stars plus freshmen sensations will make the Big Ten a very entertaining watch next year. Here are my picks for the full All-Conference, All-Freshman, and All-Defense teams for the 2021-2022 season.