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Reporters pick their midseason Big Ten award winners

Halfway though the Big Ten season, basketball reporters Jeremy Warnemuende and Pat Evans make their midseason award selections.

Offense

Jeremy: Tim Frazier, G, Penn State
The casual Big Ten fan likely doesn’t know much about Tim Frazier. Once Talor Battle’s sidekick, Frazier now is one of the best scorers in the Big Ten — albeit for the worst team in the conference, Penn State. But just because the Nittany Lions are so dreadful this season doesn’t mean Frazier should be overlooked. Second in the Big Ten in scoring during conference play (19.2 points per game) and first in assists (5.3 per game), it certainly isn’t Frazier’s fault Penn State is so bad.

Pat: Brandon Paul, G, Illinois
I realize the stats are inflated because of his Big Ten offensive game of the year in the 43 point outburst against Ohio State. But the dude can score; he dropped 18 against MSU, 20 against Penn State, 21 and 28 against Minnesota. He’s averaging 19.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3 assists in Big Ten play, those are pretty solid numbers. He can shoot from distance, not the greatest percentage, but he hoists up a ton and can go to the hole, as evidenced by his nasty dunk against the Spartans. And unlike Fraziers’ Lions, Paul’s Illini are two games out of the Big Ten race.

Defense

Pat: Draymond Green, F, Michigan State
I feel bad going with an MSU player, but I have to go with Day-Day. Some players have better stats in each category, but Green ranks in the most individual stats. He grabs 9.1 defensive rebounds, blocks almost a shot a game and nabs 1.6 steals a game. And he racks up all those stats able to guard multiple positions, inside and out. He’s also the leader of the Spartans, and for good reason — he understands the responsibilities of everyone on both ends of the court and vocalizes it.

Jeremy: Aaron Craft, G, Ohio State
I know. Cop out, right? Everybody says Craft is such a relentless defender, so I went with the easy choice. But really, I couldn’t think of anyone else I’ve watched this season that made me say, “I would hate to play offense against that guy.” Granted, every guard in the Big Ten would shut me down (only because I’m 5-foot-10, slow and unathletic), but Craft really disrupts everything when he’s in the opposing point guard’s grill. I understand picking Green for the award because he does so much, and there’s other players who could make a push toward the end of the year. But right now, I can’t give it to anyone other than Craft.

Most improved

Jeremy: Derrick Nix, C, Michigan State
Most improved is usually a tough pick for me to make because there are so many different reasons a player could put up better numbers from one season to the next. But where I think Nix sets himself apart is how far he’s truly grown as a player and person. Last season, Nix fell off the wagon, so to speak, and gained all the weight back he had lost during the summer. Then, he missed out on going to Maui, and many wondered if he was going to play another game for the Spartans. Not only is he playing again, but he is a force inside, averaging almost eight points and 4.1 rebounds per game, compared to 2.7 and two last season. Also in consideration was Illinois big man Meyers Leonard.

Pat: Nix
Just as Jeremy said, Nix is putting up better numbers, while being an increased presence and voice in the locker room. We cover the Spartans, so we can’t really say with much authority of other locker rooms, but he’s playing much better on both the offensive and defensive end. Plus he’s hilarious. And, he shut down Jeremy’s second choice Meyers Leonard when MSU ventured to Champaign.

Freshman

Pat: Trey Burke, G, Michigan
Hands down. There were more heralded recruits, but Burke has helped lead Michigan to a 7-3 record in the Big Ten and helped replace a stud at the point for the Wolverines. And he’s doing so while racking up great statistics. He’s averaging 16 points a game and dishing out 4.7 assists, impressive numbers for anyone, let alone a freshman in Big Ten play. He’s also as confident as they get, which I’m not the biggest fan of as a first-year player, but I’ll give him credit.

That being said, Branden Dawson has come on strong for the Spartans. Dawson is an athletic freak and has the ability to be something special. Talking to him and hearing Tom Izzo talk about how he needs to go harder, and then seeing the last few games, sometimes I feel like Dawson was holding back. If he continues at this pace of the season, his scoring, shooting and offensive rebounding will be hard to stop.

Jeremy: Burke
Pat hit on the statistical points, so I won’t get into more of that. What impresses me about Burke is that he’s made most Michigan fans forget about Darius Morris, who bolted for the NBA after last season. The Wolverines thought they had their point guard of the future in Morris. After he left, Michigan looked like it might possibly be in for a struggle this season. However, Burke stepped in almost seamlessly, took control of the Wolverines as a freshman and now they’re one of a few teams with a legitimate shot at beating out Ohio State for the conference title.

Player of the Year

Jeremy: Jared Sullinger, C, Ohio State
He’s the best player on the best team in the Big Ten. That doesn’t automatically make him the best player in the conference, but in this case it’s true. Averaging 18.1 points 8.9 rebounds per game in Big Ten play, Sullinger controls the paint nearly every time he steps on the floor. He’s also one of the most efficient players in the league, connecting on 58.9 percent of his field goals during conference games. It’s a two-horse race, with MSU’s Draymond Green having a legit shot at making his case in the second half of the season, but he hasn’t dominated the way Sullinger has in the first half.

Pat: Green
Green is the best player on one of the second best teams. He’s also the only player in the conference averaging a double-double. Can’t argue that point. He does so much on both ends of the court and can play inside and out. He’s just so gosh darn versatile. But he’s also one of the greatest leaders in the MSU history.

Coach

Jeremy: Bo Ryan, Wisconsin
OK, hear my out. I know Bo Ryan is not the most popular guy in East Lansing. In fact, I’m willing to venture nobody in the Big Ten outside of Madison really cares for the Wisconsin head coach. But after the beginning of conference play was an utter disaster for the Badgers, losing three games in a row after beating Nebraska in the Big Ten opener, Wisconsin is right back in the conference title hunt. Wisconsin has won six in a row since that losing streak, and now are just one game behind Big Ten leader Ohio State. All this with Jordan Taylor, who many expected to be a player of the year candidate, having a not very Jordan Taylor-like season. He’s not my favorite coach in the conference either, but there’s no ignoring the turnaround the Badgers have had since December.

Pat: John Beilein, Michigan
Again with a Wolverine. He doesn’t have the most athletic team in Ann Arbor. And personally, I’m not a fan of the way the team plays. And I’m surprised every time they win a game. But he’s 7-3 in the Big Ten, tied with Wisconsin and MSU for second place. He’s leading the team to a winning record, and that’s what matters.

Champion

Pat: Ohio State
There’s no arguing they’ve been the best team in the Big Ten thus far. And I don’t see that changing. A couple of teams might threaten, but I don’t see them falling many more times.

Jeremy: Ohio State
The Buckeyes will probably lose a game — maybe even two — the rest of the way, but so will everyone else. Ohio State has the most talent, and it’s hard to pick against a team with Jared Sullinger and William Buford.

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