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Big Ten Basketball: Projecting individual awards and accolades for 2022-23 season

By Trevor Sinodhinos

Jan 11, 2019; Madison, WI, USA; The Big Ten logo on the floor at the Kohl Center before the game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Purdue Boilermakers. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2019; Madison, WI, USA; The Big Ten logo on the floor at the Kohl Center before the game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Purdue Boilermakers. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Lat Mayen  Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Lat Mayen  Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

Big Ten All-Defensive

Caleb McConnell – Guard – Rutgers

When the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year returns for another season, McConnell has to be the preseason favorite to be one of the top five defensive players. With Geo Baker no longer taking a spot in the backcourt, the 6’7 guard can spend more time alongside point guard Paul Mulcahy on the offensive end, while maintaining the versatility Head Coach Steve Pikiell needs on the defensive end with 6’6 Aundre Hyatt and 6’7 Mawot Mag.

After posting the conference’s best defensive plus/minus, and the highest steal percentage while landing in the top five in defensive rating and defensive win shares in 2021-22 the fifth-year senior will be matched up with the opposition’s best player who is not a center as every Rutgers’ starter – save Clifford Omoruyi – is either 6’6 or 6’7.

Chase Audige – Guard – Northwestern

The 6’4 guard was not named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team last season, but he was second only to Caleb McConnell in steals per game and was in the top ten in defensive rating in the conference. With little competition for backcourt minutes with the Wildcats, improved stats will be a by-product of the increase in minutes from the 26 he averaged in 2021-22.

The loss of Pete Nance in the frontcourt may mean the loss of just over one block per game, but Nance was the only player on the Wildcats who averaged at least one block per game. Audige managed to get a least one steal in every game last season except for one game versus Maryland.

Tyler Wahl – Forward – Wisconsin

The 6’9 forward led the Badgers in block shots and steals as he landed No. 7 in the conference in defensive rating – he was, however, behind Trevion Williams, Kofi Cockburn, Johnny Davis, and Keegan Murray, all of whom are no longer in the Big Ten. With Jahcobi Neath replacing Johnny Davis in the Badgers’ frontcourt, Head Coach Greg Gard will be dependent upon his fourth-year forward to improve upon his seventh-ranked defensive win shares from 2021-22.

Race Thompson – Forward – Indiana

In his fourth season as a Hoosier, the 6’8 starter was ranked No. 2 in the conference in Defensive Win Shares and No. 3 in Defensive Rating, better than four members of the 2021-22 Big Ten All-Defensive team. His Defensive Block Plus/Minus was topped by two members and his 21.7 defensive rebound percentage eclipsed every member. His game averages in blocks and defensive rebounds were fewer than the two forwards who were selected to the All-Defensive team, but E.J Liddell is no longer playing NCAA basketball.

Trayce Jackson-Davis – Forward – Indiana

The member of the All-Defensive Team who had the stats that surpassed Race Thompson was his Indiana Hoosiers’ teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis. The 6’9 senior will join Caleb McConnell as the only returning member of last season’s All-Defensive Team and will also be a contributing reason to their being three forwards and only two guards awarded a spot this season.

There is little reason to doubt Jackson-Davis will reach the level on the defensive end of the floor as he did in 2021-22. As a junior Jackson-Davis was ranked No. 3 in Defensive Box Plus/Minus, No. 2 in Defensive Rating and No. 1 in Defensive Win Shares. It could even be argued that he will improve upon those rankings as he surpasses six defensive rebounds per game.

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