Preseason Accolades Roll in For Big Ten Conference Hoops

The Big Ten Conference recently released the preseason All-Big Ten team, as voted on by a panel of media members.

Iowa star Luka Garza was named the preseason Player of the Year in the Big Ten Conference, and he is the reigning conference player of the year.

Garza was a unanimous choice, as was Ayo Dosunmu of Illinois. Both Garza and Dosunmu declared for the NBA Draft after the 2019-20 season but decided to return to school for another run at a National Championship.

The Hawkeyes star finished the 2019-20 campaign averaging 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game and was also an All American as a junior. Dosunmu averaged 16.6 points per game but was the most clutch performer in the league a season ago.

Garza was joined by teammate Joe Wieskamp on the 10-member All-Big Ten preseason team. Illinois sophomore center Kofi Cockburn joined Dosunmu on the team as well.

Non-Unanimous Selections

The other six players named to the preseason team represented six different Big Ten schools. Indiana sophomore Trayce Jackson-Davis was next on the list as he looks to get Indiana back to the NCAA Tournament this season.

Jackson-Davis averaged 13.5 points per game as a freshman and was named to the All-Big Ten third team after his freshman season. Purdue forward Trevion Williams was also selected by the media members after averaging 11.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore.

Below is a complete list of the preseason All-Big Ten team (players in all caps were unanimous selections):

• Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
• AYO DOSUNMU, ILLINOIS
• Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
• LUKA GARZA, IOWA
• Joe Wieskamp, Iowa
• Aaron Henry, Michigan State
• Marcus Carr, Minnesota
• Trevion Williams, Purdue
• Geo Baker, Rutgers
• Nate Reuvers, Wisconsin

Top 25 Filled With Indiana, Purdue Opponents

The first Associated Press Top 25 poll has been released, and several Big Ten teams were included. There were seven Big Ten opponents in the preseason rankings, which will make life difficult for the Hoosiers in 2020-21.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are the highest-ranked Big Ten team to show up in the preseason Top 25, checking in at the number five spot. The Wisconsin Badgers (7) and the Illinois Fighting Illini (8) join the Hawkeyes in the Top 10.

Michigan State checks in at No. 13 in the preseason poll, and it’s not often that you will find three Big Ten teams ranked ahead of the Spartans. Ohio State (23), Rutgers (24), and Michigan (25) round out the preseason rankings, and the Big Ten Conference is leading the way with the most representatives. The Indiana Hoosiers sit just outside of the preseason rankings, as they garnered 48 points from the voters.

The Big Ten Conference was expected to get between 10-12 teams in the NCAA Tournament a season ago, and it looks to be another strong year for the league. Indiana and Purdue might not finish in the top half of the Big Ten standings this year, but could very well have an NCAA Tournament résumé at season’s end.

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