Who’s in All-Big Ten contention?

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Dec. 27—The resumption of Big Ten play is right around the corner. Before the new year hits, Illini beat writer Scott Richey takes his first stab at a full All-Big Ten team with at least a dozen games in the books for most of the league:

Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois

Jakucionis has put together a six-game run (and counting) arguably better than any Illinois freshman before him. The 6-foot-6 Lithuanian guard has averaged 21.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the last month while showing an ability to take over close games down the stretch. The only knock? Jakucionis’ assist-to-turnover ration in that run is 1:1.

Dylan Harper, Rutgers

The Scarlet Knights freshman is the leading scorer in the Big Ten and the fourth-best scorer in the country, averaging 23.3 points on 52/35/75 shooting to go with 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. Duke’s Cooper Flagg is still the front-runner to be the No. 1 pick come June, but Harper is at least making teams at the top of the 2025 NBA draft think twice.

Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern

A lingering foot injury cost Barnhizer the first four games of the season for coach Chris Collins, but he’s more than made up for it after getting cleared to play. The 6-6 senior guard has stuffed the proverbial stat sheet since mid-November, doing it all for the Wildcats at 19.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 steals per game to go with a 44/37/82 shooting slash.

Brice Williams, Nebraska

Year five has become the full breakout season for Williams, who has scored at least 25 points in five games. That includes three of his last four and two straight to help the Cornhuskers win the Diamond Head Classic on Christmas in Hawaii. The 6-7 senior checks off the coveted 50/40/90 shooter box and is averaging 19.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Derik Queen, Maryland

Maybe all the best young talent doesn’t just flock to the SEC and ACC. Queen is another Big Ten freshman who has had little trouble adjusting to a step up in competition. The 6-10 center had…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/whos-big-ten-contention-154700819.html

Author : The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

Publish date : 2024-12-27 15:47:00

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