Brad Sturdy, Uber Illini Insider and Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio

March 11, 2024

It’s that time of year again, the All-Big Ten Awards come out on Monday, so we are ready to give the ‘Sturdy’ Awards to our All Big Ten players and coaches for the 2024 season. 

Big Ten Player of the Year

Zach Edey, Purdue

• This is by far the easiest selection on this list. Edey is the most dominant player in college basketball and if it was MVP the selection would be the same. 

Big Ten Coach of the Year

Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska

• Painter had the best team, and Brad Underwood deserves the 5-year award for winning consistently, but Hoiberg took a team picked to finish near the bottom to 3rd place and an NCAA bid. 

Big Ten Freshman of the Year

Owen Freeman, Iowa

• 9-time Frosh of the week is a tremendous young big. Beats out Christie. 

Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year

Ace Baldwin, Penn State

• Ace just stole another ball while stealing this award. 

Big Ten Newcomer of the Year

Marcus Domask, Illinois

• Nobody expected the MVC star to star in the Big Ten, but he is almost unguardable 1-on-1 and passes well enough to make it hard to double. 

Big Ten 6th Man of the Year

Mason Gillis, Purdue

Howard Moore Assistant Coach of the Year

Jake Diebler, Ohio State

• 2nd easiest selection on this list.

All Big Ten 1st Team

Zach Edey, SR, Purdue

Terrence Shannon, SR, Illinois

Boo Buie, SR, Northwestern

Braden Smith, SO, Purdue

Marcus Domask, SR, Illinois

• For me, winning matters, and Purdue and Illinois won a lot. Buie won numerous games by himself it seemed like and willed the Cats to a double bye and tourney bid.

All Big Ten 2nd Team

Jahmir Young, SR, Maryland

Tyson Walker, SR, Mich St.

Kel’el Ware, SO, Indiana

Dawson Garcia, JR, Minnesota

Payton Sandfort, JR, Iowa

• It is conceivable that a guy like Walker could be higher, and Young put-up numbers, and the dominance of Ware late was important for IU, but these guys are just a notch below. 

All Big Ten 3rd Team

Rienk Mast, SR, Nebraska

AJ Storr, SO, Wisconsin

Bruce Thornton, SO, Ohio St. 

Ace Baldwin, JR, Penn State

Coleman Hawkins, SR, Illinois

• The separation between the 2nd and 3rd teams as well as honorable mention, is really not there. So, it’s what did you see when you watched them and who deserves it more. 

Honorable Mention

Tyler Wahl, Wisconsin

Julian Reese, Maryland

Tony Perkins, Iowa

Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern

Elijah Hawkins, Minnesota

Keisei Tominaga, Nebraska

Malik Hall, Michigan State

All Big Ten Defensive Team

Coleman Hawkins, Illinois

Cliff Omoruyi, Rutgers

Ace Baldwin, Penn State

Zach Edey, Purdue

Juwan Gary, Nebraska

Big Ten All Freshman Team

Owen Freeman, Iowa

Cam Christie, Minnesota

Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana

John Blackwell, Wisconsin

Deshaun Harris-Smith, Maryland

• Finding a 5th guy was hard. Shoot, finding a 4th guy was hard. It is difficult for Freshmen to earn playing time with all of the 5th years and making an impact is even harder.