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Michigan was the big winner of the 2025-26 season Big Ten men’s basketball season. The Wolverines won the league by four games and added to its dominance with Yaxel Lendeborg being named Big Ten Player of the Year by a panel of USA TODAY Network voters. It was a near unanimous selection with Lendeborg receiving 15 of 16 votes.
He was, however, the only unanimous first team All-Big Ten selection. Illinois’s Keaton Wagler appeared on the first team in 15 of the 16 ballots.
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Lendeborg also took home Big Ten Newcomer of the Year, ahead of Wagler, while Michigan’s Aday Mara was voted Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg edged Michigan’s Dusty May for Big Ten Coach of the Year.
The Big Ten Tournament begins Tuesday in Chicago.
Here are the All-Big Ten first and second teams and postseason awards as voted on by USA TODAY Network reporters who cover the conference.
2026 All-Big Ten basketball first, second teams
* denotes unanimous selection
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FIRST TEAM
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan*
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
SECOND TEAM
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
Also receiving votes: Hannes Steinbach (Washington), Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan), Tyler Bildeau (UCLA), David Mirkovic (Illinois), John Blackwell (Wisconsin), Fletcher Loyer (Purdue), Jaxon Kohler (Michigan State).
2026 Big Ten basketball Player of the Year
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg was a near unanimous pick for Big Ten Player of the Year. The UAB transfer didn’t post monster numbers (14.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.2 apg), but he’s the best player on the conference’s best team.
“If he’s not Big Ten Player of the Year, then I’ll be shocked,” Wolverines coach Dusty May said Monday.
Well Dusty, all is right in the world.
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Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz and Purdue’s Braden Smith received the other two votes.
