As the 2024-25 NCAA men’s college basketball season winds down, all-conference teams and individual award winners were announced for the Big Ten Conference on Tuesday. Here are the following selections for the All-Conference teams, along with breakdowns of individual award winners.
2024–25 Big Ten All-Conference Teams and Individual Awards
First Team
- Braden Smith – Purdue
- John Tonje – Winsconsin
- Brice Williams – Nebraska
- Trey Kaufman-Renn – Purdue
- Derik Queen – Maryland (coach)
- Vlad Goldin – Michigan (media)
Second Team
- Bruce Thornton – Ohio State
- Dawson Garcia – Minnesota
- Nick Martinelli – Northwestern
- Danny Wolf – Michigan
- Derik Queen – Maryland (media)
- Vlad Goldin – Michigan (coach)
Third Team
- Kasparas Jakucionis – Illinois
- Ja’Kobi Gillespie – Maryland
- Jase Richardson – Michigan State
- Jaden Akins – Michigan State
- Nate Bittle – Oregon
- Jackson Shelstad – Oregon
- Ace Bailey – Rutgers
- Dylan Harper – Rutgers
- Tyler Bilodeau – UCLA
All-Defensive Team
- Jaden Akins – Michigan State
- TJ Bamba – Oregon
- Nate Bittle – Oregon
- Ace Baldwin Jr. – Penn State
- Kobe Johnson – UCLA
All-Freshmen Team
- Kasparas Jakucionis – Illinois
- Derik Queen – Maryland
- Jase Richardson – Michigan State
- Ace Bailey – Rutgers
- Dylan Harper – Rutgers
Individual Award Winners
- Big Ten Player of the Year: Braden Smith – Purdue
Braden Smith wins Purdue its third straight Big Ten Player of the Year award (Zach Edey has won back-to-back the past two seasons).
He and Trey Kaufman-Renn helped propel the Boilermakers to a 21-10 record (13-7 CONF Rcd.), with the #6 seed in the conference punching their way into the second round of the Big Ten tournament.
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year: Derik Queen – Maryland
Standing at 6’10”, the Center Freshman outperformed this season, making the First Team as a player and the Second Team for media. As a player, he placed third in the conference in rebounds per game (9.2) and led his team in scoring with 15.7 PPG. With the #2 seed in the tournament, Maryland wouldn’t be where it is without this star.
- Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: Ace Baldwin Jr. – Penn State
Penn State placed second in the conference in turnovers with 12.4 per game, and Ace Baldwin Jr. was a huge reason for that, averaging 3.5 per game. Putting pressure on opponents and contesting many shots are things that stats can’t show, and he definitely passes the eye test.
- Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year: Will Riley – Illinois
The Illinois Fighting Illini do not fall short when it comes to scoring depth. Guard Kasparas Jakucionis was the headline of this team as he made the Third Team along with the Big-Ten All-Freshmen Team. However, Riley was another freshman who shined on this team, providing support off the bench that can help Illinois go into the conference tournament.
- Big Ten Coach of the Year: Tom Izzo – Michigan State
Izzo is a legend in terms of NCAA Men’s Basketball coaching. He is now going on his 30th season coaching for the team and has won his 4th Big Ten Coach of the Year award. This award just adds more to his accolades as he led the team to a 26-5 Overall record (17-3 CONF). The team holds the #1 seed for the Big Ten tournament, and Izzo is looking to win his 7th Conference Championship with the team.
- Big Ten Assistant Coach of the Year: Doug Wojcik – Michigan State
Doug Wojcik has worked alongside Tom Izzo for the past four seasons for the Spartans and even together in the mid-2000s. Together, they have a 134-65 regular-season record (.673 PCT) through six seasons, with all of those seasons making their way to the NCAA tournament.
KEEP READING: Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule
Big Ten Tournament
The conference tournament starts with three games in the first round on Wednesday, the 12th, and will continue through Sunday, the 16th, for the Championship game.
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