On Tuesday, the Big Ten announced a 10-man preseason all-conference team, with Wisconsin forward Nigel Hayes getting tabbed the league’s Preseason Player of the Year.
Other than the indefensible act of naming 10 players on an all-conference team, this list is decent. But it includes two notable - and highly questionable - omissions: O.G. Anunboy of Indiana and Miles Bridges of Michigan State.
RELATED: NBCSports’ Big Ten Preview | All Big Ten team | Big Ten podcast
Bridges is a freshman, so I understand how some people may be reticent to vote for him. My guess is Michigan’s Derrick Walton took his spot. And Anunoby is expected to be something of a breakout star this year while Blackmon averaged 15.7 points as a freshman before suffering a knee injury last season.
Those are the only two changes I would make on this team.
Anyway, here is the full list:
James Blackmon Jr., SG, Indiana
Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana
Ethan Happ, PF, Wisconsin
Nigel Hayes, PF, Wisconsin
Malcolm Hill, SG, Illinois
Peter Jok, SG, Iowa
Bronson Koenig, SG, Wisconsin
Melo Trimble, PG, Maryland
Derrick Walton Jr., PG, Michigan
Caleb Swanigan, PF, Purdue