Player of the Week:
Braden Smith (Jr., Purdue)
After a two game losing streak, the Boilermakers were in desperate need of someone to take the reins of the team and get them back on track. Smith was the one to answer the call, showing to the world in Purdue’s last three games that he is more than just a playmaker. He was awarded his first Big Ten Player of the Week award after leading his team to three straight wins while averaging 25 points and over nine assists a game. Smith has started to look for his shot just as much as he creates for others, leading to him transforming into one of the most dynamic offensive centerpieces in the Big Ten. He is third in his conference in three point attempts a game with six and a half and makes them night in and night out at an extremely efficient rate at 42.9%. Smith’s ability to finish at the rim and overall interior game is still a work in progress, but his elite shooting ability rounds out his scoring game well enough to have a significant impact on that end . He has one of the highest IQ’s in all of college basketball and high level defensive capabilities that allow him to rack up 2.1 steals a game, a mark that ranks second in the Big Ten. If Smith can continue this level of play, a world where the Boilermakers return to the top of the conference is definitely within reach.
Who’s Hot:
John Blackwell (So., Wisconsin)
Blackwell has been one of the most consistent pieces for a strong Wisconsin team, but recently has shown flashes of true superstar potential. After a career-high 32 point performance that led to a blowout win over Iowa, he has been energized and has kept his foot on the gas going full throttle. Against Rutgers and two potential top three picks in the NBA Draft in Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, Blackwell showed out with a game-high 21 points and got the win for the Badgers. The 6’ 4 combo guard has one of the best change of paces in his class and is able to effortlessly get to the rim and finish high at the rim over defenders. The mixture of speed and footwork allow Blackwell to leave defenders lost, planted to the hardwood as he rises up for the bucket. His three point shot is around average for his position but his ability as a shot creator and finisher make him a prospect with tremendous upside that scouts should be on the lookout for.
Jackson Shelstad (So., Oregon)
Heading into the season, Shelstad was one of the most promising sophomores in college basketball after a phenomenal freshman campaign with Oregon. Things haven’t gone exactly as expected for him but it seems that he has finally ended his sophomore slump after willing the Ducks to a win over Maryland. Shelstad led all players in points with 23 while shooting an absurd 100% from downtown (5-5). Between his ability to stop on a dime and pull up from anywhere on the court and his lateral quickness that allows him to create space from a defender instantly, he has all the skills needed to be an elite shooter at the next level. Shelstad doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective and has the handles to be either a great primary or secondary ball handler based on the system he is placed in. Oregon is already one of the best teams in the Big Ten and if Shelstad has really revitalized his game, that’s just another reason the rest of college basketball will have to watch out for the Ducks.
Who’s Not:
Max Klesmit (Sr., Wisconsin)
For the first couple of weeks of the season, the Badgers went to Klesmit as one of their primary scoring options and he excelled in that role, posting numerous games tallying double digit points. However, between Klesmit going through a bit of a rough patch and other players stepping up, his role in the offense has been reduced by a significant margin. He’s attempted just five shots in three of his last four games and despite the limited shots, his efficiency has plummeted to a grim 23% from the field. Klesmit found success as a solid on ball defender who has active hands earlier in the season but even his impact on that end has fallen off. Wisconsin has looked like a better team with Blackwell as the solidified secondary scoring option and even fellow senior guard Kamari McGee has looked better in the time he’s played. If Klesmit continues to struggle, there could be a change to the rotation very soon.
Maryland Terrapins
After winning its first match of conference play against Ohio State, things have been on a downward trend for Maryland. After two consecutive losses to Oregon and Washington, the Terrapins fall to 1-3 in conference games and are slowly slipping from the top of the Big Ten. Derik Queen, who has emerged as one of the top centers in this year’s class, shot just 1-7 from the field against the Huskies. The team as a whole let up 45 second-half points against Washington to lose a game they led at half. The story is the same in their game against the Ducks where they once again led at the half and dropped the ball when it mattered most. Efficiency usually isn’t an issue for Maryland, which is above average in field goal percentage and three point percentage, but if they can’t make shots consistently against fellow Big Ten teams, conference play will prove that much harder for the Terrapins.
Top 5 Power Forwards in the Big Ten
5. Devin Royal (So., Ohio State)
After minimal playing time in his freshman year, Royal is making the most out of his opportunity as a starter for the Buckeyes. He’s top ten in the Big Ten in rebounds per game with 7.3 and is seventeenth in the conference in points per game with 14.6. Royal relies on his athleticism to attack the rim and has a soft touch. His interior game is among the best at his position and Ohio State will continue to look to him as a great two-way player who can get the job done.
4. Eric Dailey Jr. (So., UCLA)
After transferring from Oklahoma State, Dailey Jr. has leveled up and become one of the top forwards in a brand new conference. He leads the Bruins in field goal percentage at 54.5% and in three point percentage at 48.4%. Dailey Jr. has a pro level shot selection with the ability to knock them down from all three levels. His impact on the defensive end can’t be ignored either, as his efforts play a large part in UCLA being tied for the sixth best defense in college basketball. Dailey Jr. is a jack of all trades that will make for an ideal forward at the pro level.
3. Great Osobor (Sr., Washington)
Great Osobor made the list for top five defensive players in the conference, which is the same reason he earned this spot. Scoring isn’t the primary aspect of Osobor’s game, but it isn’t necessarily a weakness: He’s a strong player who gets to the rim and crashes the glass to extend plays for his team. Osobor has developed greatly as a passer as well, making him a valuable player maker out of the post. His best trait however, is his talent on the defensive end on both the perimeter and in the interior. As a four, he leads the Big Ten in steals per game with 2.3 and his versatility as a big make him a highly touted prospect.
2. Nick Martinelli (Jr., Northwestern)
Martinelli is one of the best offensive players in the country regardless of position and can do it all. The Wildcat shoots over 50% from the field and nearly 43% from deep. Martinelli is a stretch four who has the handle and skill set of a star guard and can score from anywhere on the court. He has a soft touch at the rim and elite footwork that can create openings in even the best post defenders. Martinelli is deceptively quick and can take anyone off the dribble, making him the total package on the offensive end of the ball. He is a good rebounder when he puts his mind to it and an above average defender but his impact when it comes to putting the ball in the basket is the difference between Northwestern being one of the best in the Big Ten or one of the worst.
1. Ace Bailey (Fr., Rutgers)
The best power forward in the Big Ten without a shadow of a doubt has been the freshman that’s been must-see T.V — Ace Bailey. Bailey is third in the Big Ten in points per game with just over 19 a game and is ninth in rebounds per game with 7.6. Most recently, the Scarlet Knight just scored the most points in a game by a freshman this season with an absurd 39 point performance against Indiana. Bailey rained down shots from every spot on the court and overwhelmed defenders with his unmatched athleticism and size. His potential on the defensive end are nothing to scoff at either and overall, Bailey has the most upside out of anyone in his class, more than even his own teammate Dylan Harper.