Player of the Week:
Payton Sandfort (Sr., Iowa)
Sandfort has had his rough patches this season but when the Hawkeyes needed him most, he turned up the heat and came up big. He won Co-Player of the Week after leading Iowa past both Indiana and Nebraska, including an impressive 30 point outing in an overtime win against the Cornhuskers. Sandfort has perfectly embodied what it means to be a stretch big after knocking down ten of his 19 three point attempts in his past two games. He is a tall shooter with a high release point who doesn’t need the ball in his hands to create space. His ability to maneuver off the ball gave both the Cornhuskers and Hoosiers a plethora of problems in their matches. Sandfort’s value on the offensive end extends deeper than just his ability to space the floor. He is a capable rebounder with a high motor and has better vision and playmaking skills than your average forward. The Hawkeye leads his team in points per game at just under 17 and is second in both rebounds and assists per game. Sandfort’s impact can be seen in a multitude of ways on the court and that should catch the eyes of multiple scouts at the pro level.
Who’s Hot:
Oregon Ducks
As the Ducks earned the second highest ranking of all Big Ten teams and have had their best record through 17 games since the 2016 season, it’s only right they make it here. Oregon has won three straight in conference matchups and have done it in must-see TV fashion. In games that come down to four points or less, the Ducks improve to 5-1 and have shown that when it comes to playing down the stretch, there aren’t many teams who can compete. Not to mention overcoming Ohio State, Penn State and Maryland in consecutive matches is a feat that isn’t achievable for any average program. With the resurgence of Jackson Shelstad and the rest of the team continuing its high level play, Oregon looks to be the team to beat in the Big Ten.
Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines are tied for the second longest active winning streak in the Big Ten and for good reason. Since barely losing to Wisconsin in a one-point thriller, Michigan has been revitalized and looks like an entirely new team. Led by this week’s Co-Player of the Week Vladislav Goldin, who posted a season high 36 points on the Bruins top ten defense in all of college basketball, this team is dangerous. For five straight games and ten total this season, Michigan has shot over 50% from the field as a team and looks like one of the most efficient offenses in college basketball. With five players averaging over double figures a night, there are numerous options to pick up the slack when Goldin or Danny Wolf have off nights. The most impressive factor about the Wolverines success is the fact that they rise in the face of top competition. They remain undefeated in Big Ten play and have a 3-1 record against ranked teams and will continue to dominate even the elite if they keep playing at this level.
Who’s Not:
UCLA Bruins
The Bruins have had one of the hardest fall offs of any ranked team this season. They dominated early in non-conference play and solidified themselves as a top five defense in all of college basketball but since facing off against other Big Ten teams have been unable to lock down the same way. UCLA is in the middle of a four-game losing streak where all opponents have scored more points than the average points the Bruins allow. They lost by 19 points to Michigan and 18 points to Maryland and show no signs of collecting themselves anytime soon. Things have deteriorated enough that head coach Mick Cronin blasted his team in post game media calling them “soft” and that it’s hard to coach players that are “delusional”. Cronin may be one of the most decorated coaches in college basketball today, but if he wants any hope of not missing the NCAA Tournament again this season, he needs to address whatever problems are occurring off the court.
Dylan Harper (Fr., Rutgers)
Harper was listed as questionable before the Wisconsin game due to an undisclosed illness but still suited up to play against the Badgers. It was revealed after the game that he was playing with the flu, which was very apparent as he only checked in for 15 mins and went scoreless. The Scarlet Knight continued the week looking under the weather after he played the majority of Rutgers next game against Purdue but shot just 2-9 from the field and wrapped up with only six points. It’s understandable that a team pushing to break into the upper half of the Big Ten standings would want their star player and leading scorer in the conference to play, but Harper out on the court at less than 100% can do more harm than good. Rutgers managed to break its losing streak by overcoming UCLA in a neck-and-neck battle but Harper still shot 38% from the field, a far cry from his 50% average on the season. With the team not playing again until the 16th, hopefully Harper is fully rested and able to perform at the same standard fans have gotten used to seeing from him.
Top 5 Small Forwards in the Big Ten
5. Roddy Gayle Jr. (Jr., Michigan)
Gayle Jr. has proven to be one of the best transfers in the Big Ten this season and has come up big time and time again for the Wolverines. He has been the definition of consistent for Michigan, scoring in double figures in all but three games this season while shooting over 50% on the season. Gayle is one of the best finishers at his position in the conference and will remain a vital piece for the Wolverines for the rest of the season.
4. Brooks Barnhizer (Sr., Northwestern)
Barnhizer is one of the most well rounded players at the small forward position and has taken a leap in every aspect of his game. He is seventh in the Big Ten in the points per game at 18 while being one of the top defenders in the conference as he leads the conference in steals with 2.4. His ability as a two way player makes him one of the most valuable pieces for the Wildcats.
3. Fletcher Loyer (Jr., Purdue)
This spot could go to Loyer or Kaufman-Renn who have both played time at small forward but Loyer gets it for being able to play more naturally at the three. The Boilermaker is one of the best pure shooters in the Big Ten and his ability to both create for himself and catch and shoot have allowed Purdue to remain a strong program without Zach Edey. He is able to take over any given game if needed but plays his role perfectly alongside other star players.
2. John Tonje (Sr., Wisconsin)
Tonje is one of the best senior prospects in the entire country and has played at an absurdly high level all season long for the Badgers. He is an ideal scoring wing that would make a seamless transition to the next level through his ability to get to his spots consistently and to score from all three levels. Tonje is sixth in the Big Ten in points per game at 18.3 points a game and is one of the few players to score over 30 points twice this season.
1. Brice Williams (Sr., Nebraska)
Williams and Tonje have been battling for the top spot all season long as polished senior forwards with superstar potential, but the Cornhusker gets the edge due to being a more efficient scorer with a bigger frame. Williams knocks down the three ball at nearly a 40% clip on about four attempts a game and can get to the rim effortlessly. He has a rare mixture of strength and speed that will allow him to make an immediate impact in the pros.