Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: Top 10 Player of the Year candidates for 2021-22 season

By Tristan Freeman

Feb 20, 2021; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Sasha Stefanovic (55) celebrates a three point basket with forward Trevion Williams (50) and guard Jaden Ivey (23) against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2021; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Sasha Stefanovic (55) celebrates a three point basket with forward Trevion Williams (50) and guard Jaden Ivey (23) against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Jonathan Davis Big Ten Basketball Robert Scheer/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports
Wisconsin Badgers guard Jonathan Davis Big Ten Basketball Robert Scheer/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports /

. . Johnny Davis. 4. player. 493.

2021-22 stats: 20.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.5 apg

With the exception of 5th-year senior guard Brad Davison, almost all of last season’s key players for Wisconsin moved on. It created opportunities for the underclassmen that stuck around, including the promising sophomore Johnny Davis, who was spotted as a potential breakout candidate this season.

But I’m not sure even the biggest believers knew Davis had this type of season in him. He currently leads the Badgers in all major categories to this point and had tripled his scoring numbers compared to his freshman year of 7.0 ppg.

It was the Maui Invitational that put the 6’6 guard in the national spotlight. Davis had 21 points in Wisconsin’s win over Texas A&M, 30 in the “upset” win over Houston at the time, and 20 points and seven rebounds to beat Saint Mary’s in the title game. It hasn’t mattered who the competition was, as the Badgers have beaten Georgia Tech, Marquette, and Indiana, with Davis currently on a run of four straight 20+ point games, having reached 15+ in all 10 games this season played.

Wisconsin has not looked good at all when Davis has been out, which only helps his case of being MVP of all of Big Ten Basketball. How the Badgers fair in league play will play a part in how Davis makes his own case but if he keeps scoring 15+, he’ll certainly have the stats to warrant strong consideration.

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