Mr. Wilson's B1G 11-12 Men's Basketball Individual Awards

Yesterday, I gave you my All Big Ten conference picks. Check them out here: http://mrwilson42.blogspot.com/2012/03/mr-wilsons-all-b1g-team.html. Now here are my individual awards for the conference season.

Freshman of the Year: Trey Burke(Michigan)- This was one of the toughest picks. Burke and Cody Zeller have been 1A and 1B all season in this race. However, I’m going with Burke based on his play in Michigan’s biggest games, and the steady, consistent way he ran the team. He is a special point guard, and Michigan fans better enjoy this kid while they can.

Most Improved: Derrick Nix(Michigan St.)- After the MSU-Duke game, I posted on Facebook “Derrick Nix just played the worst game of a player getting significant time in Michigan State history”.  Anyone who watched that game borderline felt sorry for him. However since then, he has provided the Spartans with a consistent presence down low coming off the bench. He has shown incredible footwork, touch around the rim, and is even making his free throws now. He is an easy pick for this category in my opinion.

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Craft(Ohio St.)- Craft is one of the peskiest guards to come along in a while. He has shut down many of the best perimeter players in the B1G. The ones he didn’t shut down completely, he made it very difficult for them to get off the way they were used to. That is what you ask from your players, and Craft delivers it every time he steps on the floor.

Comeback Player of the Year: Robbie Hummel(Purdue)- Coming into last season, Purdue had high hopes of Hummel, E’Twaun Moore, and JaJuan Johnson leading them to the national championship. Those hopes faded when Hummel tore his ACL during the first practice. After receiving an injury redshirt from the NCAA, Hummel returned for what seems like his 20^th Big Ten season. He has played like a player who has never suffered any major injury. With averages of 16.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, and 1.2 blocks per game, he has carried Purdue, and has them looking good for a tourney bid.  Great comeback for the young man.

Best Player Many Don’t Know: Tim Frazier(Penn St.) This is a special category, because Tim Frazier doesn’t  receive the acclaim he deserves due to playing at Penn St. I got to see him play at Michigan State, and while the Spartans destroyed Penn State, Frazier did his best to keep it a little entertaining. He’s a player that can score a variety of ways, and it’s a shame that his talent is being hidden in State College, PA.

Player of the Year: Draymond Green(Michigan St.)- Easily the most important player on a team that went from unranked in the preseason to winning a piece of the B1G regular-season championship. Green has been a leader on the floor, and a strong force in the locker room.  He has had one of the most impressive individual seasons in recent memory, including the first triple-double by a Spartan since Charlie Bell and made sure that he will go down as one of the best Spartan players ever.

There are my picks. Do you agree, disagree, think I should have put someone else? Feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.