As the calendar turns from January to February, the conference basketball season approaches the home stretch. There is a little over a month for teams to make their case for March Madness before heading into the conference tournament. But, players will also be solidifying their resumes to make all-conference teams. Here are my mid-season All-Big Ten first-team predictions.
Midseason All-Big Ten First-Team Predictions
Zach Edey
The first and most obvious candidate to make the All-Big Ten first-team is Purdue’s Zach Edey. Last season, Edey was the national player of the year and he may have even improved this year. He is averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds on a Purdue team that is arguably the best in the country. Edey will certainly be a unanimous selection for the All-Big Ten first-team.
Marcus Domask
Illinois is having an excellent season as they have found themselves in the top fifteen in the AP Poll for most of the season. A large part of the Illini’s success has been due to the transfer of Marcus Domask. Domask has elevated his game in conference play, averaging 18.8 points per game. Domask will make an All-Big Ten team, likely first-team.
Boo Buie
In his fifth season at Northwestern, Boo Buie has once again elevated his play to prove that he is a star in the Big Ten. Last season, Buie was a first-team selection to the all-conference team and is looking to make it again. He has improved this season scoring-wise, but that isn’t the most important change. He is now shooting much more efficiently from three at nearly 40% and 44% overall from the field. Northwestern will also likely make March Madness again this year, which will help Buie’s case.
Jahmir Young
Although Maryland has been disappointing this season, Jahmir Young has been anything but. He puts on the Superman cape every game as he tries to save the Terps’ season. He is averaging over 20 points per game and has multiple 30-point performances. Although he does not have the team success of other candidates, it is becoming hard to deny that Young should be on the all-Big Ten first team.
AJ Storr
After transferring in from St. John’s last season, AJ Storr has led the Badgers to the top of the Big Ten. He has elevated the play of the Badgers and has turned a team that is usually a defense-first team into the 7th most efficient offense in the country. Wisconsin can win the Big Ten this season and that will be thanks to the play of Storr.
Honorable Mentions
As of now, these are the five players who are likely to make the all-Big Ten first team. But, there is still over a month left in the season and there are a few other players who can make a push for the honor.
Tyson Walker at Michigan State has been playing well this season. He is very similar to Young and Buie. But he isn’t quite as good as the other two this season, which limits his chances of making the all-Big Ten first team. Braden Smith has been the do-it-all point guard for Purdue this year. While his scoring numbers are not elite, he is an efficient shooter and a great distributor, and every so often he can explode for a big game. He can make the all-Big Ten first team if he can improve his scoring down the stretch.
