Player of the Week:
John Tonje (Sr., Wisconsin)
Wisconsin has been consistently good all year but have made a late season push to win the conference with Tonje at the helm making everything possible. The Badgers are currently ranked No. 11 in the country, the highest ranking of any Big Ten team and it came after Tonje dropped 32 points to stun Purdue. The fourth leading scorer in the conference decimated the Boilermakers all game long, shooting 66.7% from the field (10-15) and 44.9% from downtown (4-9). Tonje, all year long, has been one of the most dynamic scorers in all of college basketball. He’s capable of taking defenders off the dribble and finishing strong at the rim through traffic, while having a silky smooth jumper that forces defenders to jump out of their shoes to try and contest it. This has been Tonjes third 30 plus-point outing and at this rate, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if he managed to end the season with another dominant performance. He is a playmaker through and through, and when the ball is in his hands, the Badgers look like the best team in the Big Ten.
Who’s Hot:
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan officially dethroned Michigan State and have claimed the top spot in the Big Ten after defeating Purdue and Ohio State to extend its winning streak to six games. The Wolverines have been playing some of their best basketball all season long and have risen to the occasion to take down elite competition. Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf continue to showcase why they are one of the best frontcourt duos in the nation, especially after combining for 37 points and 21 rebounds against the Buckeyes. Despite those two being the focal point of the Wolverines, ignoring the depth they have at the guard position with talented scorers like Roddy Gayle Jr., Tre Donaldson and Nimari Burnett is a fast track to a loss. The most impressive part about Michigan is its ability to elevate down the stretch. In their last six games, the Wolverines have won every one by no more than four points. Moral of the story is if it’s a close game, bet on Michigan and trust that they’ll pull through, no matter who stands in its way.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Jr., Maryland)
After the Terrapins embarrassed Iowa and scored the most points in program history in a conference match with 101, head coach Kevin Willard made a bold statement. That Ja’Kobi Gillespie is the “best guard in the conference, by far”, and with the way he’s been playing it’s hard to argue with him. The junior guard caught fire for a 26 point performance with seven assists and three steals but he’s been doing this all season. Despite only standing at 6’ 1, Gillespie has been one of the most efficient volume scorers at the guard position in the Big Ten. He plays with an infectious energy and tenacity that time and time again has propelled his team to victory, making Maryland one of the best teams in the conference. Gillespie is one of the premier shooters in the Big Ten, knocking down 41% of his triples on nearly six attempts a game. The Terrapins still have the potential to shake up the top of the conference standings and if Gillespie keeps at it with standout performances like this one, the one way for them to go is up.
Who’s Not:
Dylan Harper/Ace Bailey (Fr., Rutgers)
Despite Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey becoming household names in under a full season of college basketball and locks for a top five spot in the draft, Rutgers remains one of the worst teams in the Big Ten. And as of recently, even their play hasn’t reflected the level of hype and status associated with their names. Against Oregon, the two freshmen combined for an abysmal 33% from the field (9-27) and 16% from three (2-12). It’s no surprise that the Scarlet Knights struggle when their two star players struggle to produce considering their next leading scorer is Lathan Sommerville at 7.4 points a game. But even when Harper or Bailey have outstanding performances that propelled them up big boards nationwide, a lot of them came from losses. Not all the blame can be placed on them as the rest of the roster is definitely lacking but at some point when do we question why two future superstars can’t lead their team to at least a .500 record?
Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue had the opportunity to remain as the best team in the Big Ten even without Zach Edey, but after two consecutive losses to both Michigan and Wisconsin, that idea is simply a pipe dream. The Boilermakers still have to face off against UCLA, Indiana and Illinois, all games that are no easy tasks, especially with the way they’ve been playing. Braden Smith may be in conversations for the National Player of the Year award, but his chances of winning are slim if he shoots 20% from the field (2-10) again in one of biggest games of the season for his team. One of the biggest concerns for Purdue is their lack of bench depth, as it recorded zero bench points against Michigan. The core of Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer is as good as it gets, but other players will need to elevate their games in order for Purdue to finish strong.
Top 5 Unexpected Stars in the Big Ten
5. Devin Royal (So., Ohio State)
The Buckeyes being able to retain Devin Royal in an era of players who are quick to enter the transfer portal if they feel like they can’t see immediate results was one of the team’s highlights in the off season. A player who averaged under five points a game his freshman year has catapulted to being one of the best forwards in the conference, averaging 14 points and seven rebounds. Royal showcased his ability on both ends of the floor against Michigan, finishing with 26 points and two steals, and has become a major success story with Ohio State.
4. John Mobley Jr. (Fr., Ohio State)
Ohio State having two of the most unexpected stars of this season should speak volumes about the future of the program. John Mobley Jr. was a four star recruit out of high school who some questioned if he would be able to handle the physicality of the Big Ten at only 6’ 1 and 175 lbs. Fast forward to today, Mobley Jr. is a major contributor on one of the better teams in the conference and is already one of the best three point shooters in the nation. All of the doubts and concerns about him can be put to rest as it’s evident he’s more than capable of hanging with some of the best players in the nation.
3. Danny Wolf (Jr., Michigan)
Now Danny Wolf was always a solid player, but the complete shift in playstyle and skillset have propelled him not into just college super stardom but into mid first round pick conversations. The former Bulldog is averaging just under 13 points, ten rebounds and 3.6 assists a game and has enticed numerous scouts with his ability to lead an offense at the center position. Wolf has even drawn comparisons to NBA players like Nikola Jokic, showing just how high some people believe his ceiling is.
2. Brice Williams (Sr., Nebraska)
To go from a slightly above average guard to being second in the Big Ten in points per game is a testament to Brice Williams development and shows that it’s never too late to take that next step. Williams is averaging nearly 20 points a game on one of seven teams in the conference who have above a .500 record in Big Ten play. Nebraska definitely has some impressive players, but it being as high as it is in the standings is without a doubt because of the leap that Williams has taken into stardom.
1. Nick Martinelli (Jr., Northwestern)
Out of all the players to elevate their games, no one has gone quite as far as Nick Martinelli has. The Wildcat is currently leading the Big Ten in points per game with 19.8 and last season, didn’t even crack nine points a game. Martinelli has transformed into one of the most versatile wing players in the country and has time and time again, won games for Northwestern single handedly. As a 6′ 7 forward with a great handle, elite scoring capabilities and can effectively crash the glass, how he is still projected to go undrafted is a mystery to me.