Couch: Is Jase Richardson the Big Ten’s freshman of the year? 3 more quick takes from MSU’s win at Maryland

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1. Jase Richardson should be in the discussion for Big Ten freshman of the year

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Jase Richardson might not be the Big Ten’s most acclaimed freshman in a loaded class, but, after his last three weeks, he absolutely belongs in the conversation for Big Ten freshman of the year. If only to talk it out. He’s earned that much.

Richardson is the best player on what’s looking more and more like the best team in the Big Ten. Michigan State wouldn’t be close to closing in on a Big Ten championship without him. That’s worth something. In the Spartans’ 58-55 win at Maryland, Richardson was the best freshman on the floor. That, too, is worth something, considering Terrapins freshman big man Derik Queen is most likely to win the award. And is deserving. If you couple team success with most consistently being an individual force over two-plus months of Big Ten play, Queen is the guy.

Richardson is making a late run at it.

You’ll find 2025 NBA mock drafts with four Big Ten freshmen projected in the top 10 — Rutgers’ Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis and Maryland’s Queen. But this isn’t an award based on NBA projection (though Richardson is climbing there, too). Nor should it be an award that doesn’t factor in a player’s impact on winning. Do I think Harper and Bailey would win a Big Ten title if they were playing at MSU? I surely do. They’d fit nicely with “strength in numbers.” Would Jakucionis, with less on his plate, be more efficient at MSU? Very likely. But winning and producing in high-pressure situations is part of the equation for most individual awards.

Harper and Bailey are leading a 14-14 Rutgers team that’s got 10 Big Ten losses. Jakucionis has been as inconsistent and inefficient as he has been brilliant, and the Illini’s results have reflected it. It’s too bad that Illinois and Rutgers didn’t put more seasoned talent and leadership around these guys. But they didn’t.

It’s not that a great…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/couch-jase-richardson-big-tens-140232842.html

Author : Lansing State Journal

Publish date : 2025-02-27 14:02:00

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