Big Ten 1st Team: Who's #5?

I thought the same about Hammons, but the kid just seems lazy and sometimes clueless. His future might end up being in fast food.

As much as I would love to say AJ Hammons, and I think he just may have the best future of ANY player in the Big Ten, once he matures, I can't add him to this list now.

There are several players on the list that were (and still are) very much longshots, but I went deep enough so that hopefully no fan would jump in and complain that I didn't include a player so-and-so.

Is Hammons the kind of kid that will relish the college experience while he develops his game for a couple more years, or is he planning to take the BJ Mullens route and get paid to ride the NBA pine for a couple years? Which isn't to say that one choice is necessarily better or worse. It really depends on the circumstances.

AJ Hammons to me is a hard guy to read.  You can't tell if he's enjoying himself or if he's bored or if he cares.  I have no guess as to what he's thinking.

I think Hammons is very similar to Jajaun Johnson. 

Very, very similar.
Started off as a gentle giant, a kid that played because he was tall and others expected him to play.
He grew into the Big Ten  player of the year award as a senior.

Hammons could do the same much sooner but only time will tell.

According to Painter, he is improving in those areas of "motivation" and working hard but he still has a long way to go.

 

Tim, I think Matt Painter's coaching ability is proven at this point but I think he challenge for the next couple of years is his patience. 
He has never had such immature talent since he has been at Purdue.

This freshmen class has more potential than the Baby Boilers in my opinion but they are not even close in the maturity category.
 

I have to give the edge to Hardaway followed by Aaron Craft, then Mbakwe. That said, regardless of their loss today its amazing with Izzo has done with a mostly young team with only two guys really in consideration for all conference honors.

Craft

Craft hasn't impressed me this year. Yeah he's a good defender, But when I watch him I don't see an all Big 10 guard. Don't get me wrong, good player, but not that good.

Craft's shooting just isn't where it needs to be. A hair under 30% from beyond the arc? Ouch.

The more I think about the last slot on the 1st team, the more I realize how impossible it will be to find a consensus for the 2nd team. You could probably make 2 or 3 full line ups and pass them off as legit 2nd team.

On the Big Ten Network post game show last night they talked about this question and gave some surprising answers. Shon Morris picked Berggren and Steve Smith picked Appling.

Get Watford off this list.

Jason King at ESPN.com came out with his Conference Awards today. He chose Hardaway for the final slot on the first team.

2nd Team:
Craft
Appling
Paul
Mbakawe
Berggren

POY: Oladipo
COY: Ryan
Freshman: Harris
Defense: Craft
6th Man: Ross
Underrated: Marble
Improved: Payne

The only pick I have strong disagreement with is sixth man. I don't see how it is anyone other than Sheehey or Dekker.

The Big Ten top 5 sure beats the ACC this year. Next year will be adifferent story Come tourney time though I have a strange feeling the ACC will do just as well as the Big ten

6th Man: Ross

LaQuinton Ross?  Really?  That's nuts.  Shannon Scott means a hell of a lot more for OSU than Q does.  I'd argue that Evan Ravenel means more to OSU than Ross does too.  Ross is like the 8th man in an 8 man rotation for Ohio State.  King has lost all credibility with just this one pick

King has lost all credibility with just this one pick

I was pretty shocked when I saw it myself. Maybe he was just having a bad day at the office.

Hey, Ross is probably the most talented player on OSU's team, but it just has not translated to any consistent performance.  He was really hurt by his academic situation last year and is still playing his way into form.

Shannon Scott would have been a far, far better choice for 6th man if King had wanted to pick someone from Ohio State.  He was a disruptive force against Indiana on Tuesday, and he's played that way lately.  There's no doubt that Scott has done far more for OSU than Ross, especially in OSU's late surge.

And yeah, there are far better choices in the B1G for 6th man that what King chose.  I just don't get it.

My picks. Player of the year in bold.

1st Team: Burke (MICH), Hardaway (MICH), Oladipo (IND), Thomas (OSU), Zeller (IND)

2nd Team: Craft (OSU), Paul (ILL), Harris (MSU), Mbakawe (MINN), Berggren (WISC)

3rd Team: Appling (MSU), Hollins (MINN), Richardson (ILL), Marble (IOWA), Payne (MSU)

Freshman: Harris (MSU), Stauskas (MICH), Dekker (WISC), Robinsion (MICH), Hammons (PUR)

Defense: Craft (OSU), Oladipo (IND), Harris (MSU), Berggren (WISC), Mbakawe (MINN)

Coach of the Year: Groce (ILL) - I can't give it to Ryan because of the dog terds they laid in the final week. Groce was able to salvage a season on the brink of disaster. Every other coach pretty much played to expectations.

6th Man: Dekker (WISC)

Watford is the best player on IU. Iv'e seen  every game this year and Watford doesn't get any credit. Zeller is the most overrated player but still best in the country at his position. Actually I think the whole starting five should be on the first team big ten team. GO Hoosiers!!

Well Mike....you haven't been right all year....why start now.