Big Ten: Announcing the midseason winners

So far, the Big Ten has offered plenty of excitement and a wide-open field of conference title contenders. But the best is yet to come, including tonight’s highly-anticipated matchup between Wisconsin and Indiana.

With one month of conference play in the rearview mirror and roughly one month still ahead, I felt it appropriate to hand out a few mid-season awards.

Best newcomer: Tubby Smith

Indiana’s freshman sensation Eric Gordon also deserves consideration, but Smith’s arrival has done wonders in Gopher country. Last week, in fact, hundreds of U of M students waited in line to greet Smith and get an autograph (ok, they were also there to grab a free Chipotle burrito). True, Minnesota has struggled some in recent weeks, but they played Indiana tight in a home loss, and this is a club still learning how to play together.

Most unheralded player: Marcus Landry

Most preseason publications predicted Landry would step into the role vacated by Alando Tucker as Wisconsin’s go-to guy. Instead it’s been Trevon Hughes and Brian Butch who have paced the Badgers in point production. Still, Landry does the little things, and there is no question how important he has been to the success of one of the country’s biggest surprise teams.

Best freshman (not named Gordon): Kosta Koufos

Koufos is one of three freshmen to rank among the conference’s top 10 in scoring (Gordon and Michigan’s Manny Harris are the others). And Ohio State’s 7-foot center is the only freshman to rank among the top 10 in rebounding.

Not to be let off the hook: Michigan

The Wolverines were supposed to be bad – but not this bad! First-year coach John Beilein was said to be the program’s savior but so far progress has been slow. Michigan ranks dead last in the Big Ten in field goal percentage and scoring defense. The most telling number, though, is five – as in five wins (Northwestern’s awful club sits at 7-11).

Time for respect: Purdue

Let’s take it from the top: a three-point road loss to Clemson followed up by a win over Louisville. And since then the Boilermakers have compiled a 7-1 conference mark, including two wins over Iowa, and home wins over Ohio State and Wisconsin. The only Big Ten loss? A 78-75 heart-breaker in East Lansing. All this and still no love from pollsters!? Heck, we couldn’t even find room for a single Purdue player on our all-Big Ten team (below). But the lack of respect shown to Matt Painter’s club doesn’t figure to last for long. And, oh yeah, the Spartans are due in West Lafayette on Feb. 12.

All-Big Ten

G Eric Gordon, Indiana – imagine how much different the Illini’s season would be right now had the Big Ten’s leading scorer stayed true to his word.

G Jamar Butler, Ohio State – the senior stud leads the Big Ten in assists and free throw percentage, ranks second in minutes played and three-point shots made, and sixth in points scored. ’Nuff said.

F Raymar Morgan, Michigan State – if you read this column last week, you know we believe Drew Neitzel will have a big finish to the season. So far, though, Morgan has been the glue keeping the Spartans together.

F D.J. White, Indiana – not even his team’s top point producer, White is the favorite to win Big Ten player of the year. He’s been superb.

F/C Brian Butch, Wisconsin – might be guilty of cheating for sliding Butch into the big-man’s slot; the 6-foot-11 senior is often perched outside the paint more than he can be found standing underneath the basket. He does rank fourth in Big Ten rebounding, though, and he leads Wisconsin with 13.2 points per game (11th in the conference). And he’s remained healthy – so far.

Rising team: Purdue

Two close home wins over Wisconsin and Iowa have elevated Purdue into the land of the Big Ten’s elite. The Iowa win was especially important as it forced the Boilermakers to win a tight game (Keaton Grant nailed the winning free throw with a single tick left on the clock). Danger lurks – the next six games provide road trips to Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and a home date against Michigan State – but the Boilermakers proved this past week that they are not to be taken lightly.

Falling team: Iowa

After handing Michigan State its lone conference loss, the Hawkeyes have dropped three of their last five. What was once a promising season has now all but evaporated. This next week could offer redemption (home against Ohio State and Wisconsin) but a few more stumbles and it’ll be all over in Iowa City.

Player of the week: Jamar Butler, G, Ohio State

In helping his Buckeyes past Minnesota and Penn State last week, Butler contributed a combined 47 points and 15 assists in the two contests. Butler’s experience and his floor time (he missed just two minutes in those two games) will help the Buckeyes during the final weeks of this season.

Freshman of the week: Robbie Hummel, G/F, Purdue

Statistically, it wasn’t Hummel’s best week. Still, he had a very efficient performance in Purdue’s important upset win over Wisconsin. He made two-of-four field goals, and knocked down five-of-six free throws. He also contributed seven boards and five assists in the 60-56 victory. Most important – two of those free throws and two rebounds came in the final few seconds to close the door on the Badgers.

Stats of the week

97: The number of steals registered by Iowa so far this season, by far the fewest in the Big Ten.

12: The number of steals collected by Minnesota’s Damian Johnson in the last three games. Johnson’s teammate, Al Nolen, leads the Big Ten with an average of 2.35 steals per game.

.378: Michigan State’s three-point success rate. The Spartans rank second in the conference in this category, but rank dead last in the number of three-point shots attempted.

They said it

“We were fortunate that it was a seven-point game with seven minutes to go.” – Minnesota coach Tubby Smith, whose team battled back from an embarrassing first half showing, only to falter in the closing minutes of its contest against Ohio State. The Buckeyes won 76-60.

Key upcoming games

Thursday, Jan. 31
Indiana at Wisconsin, 8 p.m. CST
The Kohl Center has not been kind to visitors the last few years, especially in big games like this one. The Hooisers have a chance to make a strong statement.

Saturday, Feb. 2
Ohio State at Iowa, 5 p.m. CST
Only a few weeks ago the Buckeyes slaughtered Iowa in Columbus. The Hawkeyes will have revenge on their minds when Ohio State ventures into the Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Wednesday, Feb. 6
Wisconsin at Iowa, 8:05 p.m. CST
It’ll be a demanding week for Wisconsin. After hosting Indiana, the Badgers head to Minnesota before drifting down to Iowa. This three-game stint could make or break Bo Ryan’s club as it begins its final month of action before the tournament.

Wisconsin-based writer Mike Beacom covers the Big Ten for Athlon

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