Big Ten Basketball: 15 Most Important Players in the Conference

Many thought the Big Ten would be down this season with losing so many good players from last year's squads. That ended up being far from the truth.

The Big Ten is actually ranked No. 1 in the conference rankings, and has five teams in the top 20 in the country.

The combined record for the 12 teams in the conference is a staggering 135-40.

The unanimous top team in the conference was Ohio State, but with Indiana's big win over them on New Year's Eve, it looks to be a five team race for first between Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.

The race for sixth through 10th will be tight as well. Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Northwestern won't be easy outs.

This can be one of the best seasons of all time in the conference, and these top 15 players are leading the way so far.

Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

Jared Sullinger will most likely be the player of the year in the Big Ten conference. He’s a solid force down low, and is arguably the best big man in the college game right now.

He would be a first-team All-Big Ten selection if the season ended today with averaging a team high 16.2 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game.

If Sullinger can stay healthy, he will surely be a top-five pick in next year’s NBA Draft, and could very well be the reason Ohio State wins the national championship this season.

He’s so good on the offensive end, but is arguably better on the defensive front by his size and rebounding ability. He can alter anyone’s shots and make key plays to force turnovers down low.

Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin Badgers

Jordan Taylor is the best point guard in the Big Ten right now, and may be one of the best in the nation.

Taylor is the sole reason Wisconsin is this good and was a key member of the team the last few years.

What makes Taylor so good is he rarely turns the ball over. His assist to turnover ratio is one of the best in the nation every year, and that helps maximize Wisconsin’s possessions.

Taylor is such a good penetrator that he finds the open man with ease, and sets up other players.

Another aspect that makes Taylor so good is his ability to score. He’s by no means selfish, but can shoot lights out if given the chance to score. In a game at Indiana last year, he scored almost every time he touched the ball it seemed in the second half, and single-handedly led the Badgers to victory.

Taylor is averaging a team high 12.7 points per game and 4.9 assists per game.

Wisconsin will only go as far as Taylor leads them.

William Buford, Ohio State

William Buford is one of the most underrated guys in the nation. He’s overlooked on a very good Ohio State team due to Jared Sullinger getting all the attention.

If Sullinger weren’t on the team, Buford, a senior, would be a household name in almost every home across the nation.

Buford has a shot to become Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer this year and is well on his way. The senior averages 16.1 points per game, and does that very quietly.

If you give Buford any daylight, he will shoot lights out, but if you guard him close, he can burn you to the basket due to his quickness and size.

I’d have Buford on the All-Big Ten First Team right now.

Cody Zeller, Indiana Hoosiers

If we were to give an MVP for the most important player to a team, it would go to Cody Zeller of Indiana.

Prior to Zeller, Indiana finished in the basement in the Big Ten last season, and in the bottom three the two season’s under Tom Crean prior to Zeller’s arrival.

Now this year with only adding Zeller, Indiana is off to a 13-1 start and has beaten the No. 1 and 2 ranked teams in the same season for the first time in school history.

Zeller is such a presence inside that he draws so much attention. Most big men shy away from this, but not Zeller.

He’s so unselfish that he finds the open man and makes everyone around him better.

Zeller has averaged a team high 14.2 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game so far in this young season.

Right now I have Zeller as All-Big Ten First Team for his dominance, and the scary part is he’s only going to get better.

John Shurna, Northwestern Wildcats

John Shurna would be more popular if he weren’t playing for Northwestern. Nothing against the Wildcats, but they’re just not looked at as a college basketball powerhouse.

Shurna, though, is now making people pay attention to the Cats. He is one of the reasons why Northwestern may make their first ever NCAA Tournament berth this season.

He leads the team in points and rebounds, averaging 18.8 and 5.9 respectively. The 18.8 points per game is also a Big Ten high.

Shurna has an odd looking shot, but it’s one of the most effective in the conference. If you leave him open he will make you pay.

Shurna also has the athleticism to drive to the basket and finish among the big men.

I’d have Shurna as a sleeper for All-Big Ten First Team right now.

Aaron Craft, Ohio State

If it weren’t for Wisconsin’s Jordan Taylor, I’d say Aaron Craft would be the best point guard in the Big Ten. Although, Craft isn’t far behind Taylor and could very well be the best point guard in the nation next season.

Craft is leading Ohio State in assists with 5.3 per game. He has tremendous quickness to get to the rim, and is one of the best passing guys in the league.

Craft is also unselfish and looks to find the open man and play defense first rather than score.

He’s a tough guy to drive around, and tough to defend.

He’s an All-Big Ten Second Team point guard as a sophomore, but isn’t far behind for first team.

Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan Wolverines

Tim Hardaway Jr. is the son of NBA legend Tim Hardaway. He, like Cody Zeller, changed the culture at his school once he stepped foot on the campus.

Michigan hasn’t had much success since the Fab 5 days, but Hardaway has brought the school back to prominence.

Michigan made the tournament last season, and was a few points away from knocking off top seed Duke in the second round. Hardaway started every game on that team during the season, and has started every game this year.

He scored in double figures 27 times last year, and was an All-Big Ten honorable mention.

Hardaway is very athletic, and like his dad has a great cross over and first step. He’s a very deadly shooter if left open, and good enough to get his own shot.

Currently, this season Hardaway is averaging a team high 16.2 points per game, and has Michigan ranked in the top 20.

DeShaun Thomas, Ohio State Buckeyes

DeShaun Thomas can possibly be a First-Team All Big Ten as early as next year. Right now fellow teammate Jared Sullinger is over shadowing him. If Sullinger goes pro after this season, then this will be Thomas’ team.

Last year Thomas was the Buckeyes sixth man, but this year he’s adapting great to the new starting role.

Thomas is averaging 15.1 rebounds per game and 4.1 rebounds per game.

He’s a good shooting lefty that uses his big body to dribble drive and post up on smaller defenders.

Thomas is also great on the defensive end, and can alter anyone’s shots due to his length.

I think Thomas will be an All-Big Ten Second Team selection this year with the way he’s playing.

The complement of the two big men can lead Ohio State to a conference title, and a deep tournament run.

Draymond Green, Michigan State

Draymond Green is a great all around player for Michigan State. He’s the glue that holds this team together and will be the reason Michigan State will have so much success this season.

Green is a veteran on a very inexperienced Spartan team. At one point in the season he led the team in every major statistic, but now just leads them in points (15.4 per game) and rebounds (9.5 per game).

Green has a very large frame and most people think he wouldn’t be athletic enough to have a perimeter game. Shockingly, he is a matchup problem due to his ability to hit threes and ability to drive to the lane.

Green uses his body to get separation on dribble drives to hit a pull-up shot, but also will shoot lights out if you leave him open.

I’d have Green on the All-Big Ten Second Team right now.

Drew Crawford, Northwestern Wildcats

Drew Crawford and John Shurna complement each other better than any other tandem in the conference.

Crawford’s 17.7 points per game rank second on the team to Shurna, and second only to Shurna in the conference as well. He also averages 5.1 rebounds per game too.

Crawford is a little different than Shurna in that he’s not as good as a long ranger shooter, but he can drive to the basket very well.

Crawford will hit mid-range shots all day, and has the athleticism to get open shots.

This one-two combo should be good enough to lead the Cats to the NCAA Tournament this season.

I’d have Crawford as an All-Big Ten Second Team selection right now.

Christian Watford, Indiana Hoosiers

Nobody is happier Cody Zeller is a Hoosier than Christian Watford. Zeller draws so much attention in the lane that it helps Watford move out to the perimeter where he’s more comfortable.

Prior to Zeller, Watford had to be a low post presence and didn’t get to capitalize on his strengths. Now, with Zeller Watford is more of a small forward playing power forward.

By Watford playing power forward it’s a huge matchup problem for defenders when they come out to guard him. “Big Shot” Watford is such a great shooter that he draws big men out on him.

Watford uses his quickness to penetrate around his defender and can get to the rim or pull up and make shots. He averages 12.9 points per game due to this, and has joined the 1,000 point club for points in his career at Indiana this season.

Watford became a national name when he hit the last second shot against Kentucky on December 10^th.  Due to all of these factors I’d have Watford as an All-Big Ten selection.

Trey Burke, Michigan Wolverines

Trey Burke can be a really good point guard in the Big Ten. He joins fellow freshman Cody Zeller as the only freshmen on this list.

Burke will be in the running for the top point guard in the league with Jordan Taylor from Wisconsin and Aaron Craft from Ohio State.

What makes Burke so good is his quickness and great ball handling skills. He’s comparable to Jordan Taylor where he’s great at finding the open man and can score. Where he’s different is that he looks to score more than Taylor and is much quicker.

Burke averages 13 points per game and a team high 5.2 assists per game. He scored 27 points against Minnesota last week and led the Wolverines to the victory.

I think Burke will be at least an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection this season. The only reason he won’t be higher will be due to the play of Taylor and Craft at his position.

Victor Oladipo, Indiana Hoosiers

Victor Oladipo is really starting to make a name for himself this year. Last year, Oladipo got some solid playing time, but could never stay on the court long due to making some dumb fouls and missing shots around the rim.

This summer he’s improved his ability to score and hit shots. Now, instead of missing some crucial layups and free throws, he’s hitting them.

Oladipo may be the most explosive player in the Big Ten as he’s so hard to stay in front of. He can rise up and dunk on just about anyone, and make crucial plays late in games or when the Hoosiers need one.

Oladipo has started every game this season and averages 12.2 points per game. He also averages 5.4 rebounds per game which shows he’s going for the ball in almost every scenario.

I think Oladipo can be a sleeper second team selection in the Big Ten, but right now I’d put him in the honorable mention category. Next year though, he can be even better.

This can all change depending on how well Indiana continues to play.

Robbie Hummel, Purdue Boilermakers

Robbie Hummel isn’t what he originally was before his two season ending knee injuries the past two seasons, but he will be the reason Purdue will make the NCAA Tournament this season.

Without Hummel, Purdue would be a 10th place Big Ten team at best.

Hummel is still a great shooter if left open. He’s not as good of a penetrater as he once was, but he’s still leading this team.

Hummel is averaging a team high 16.5 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Hummel will be at least an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection this year. Purdue will only go as far as Hummel can lead them.

Tim Frazier, Penn State Nittany Lions

Tim Frazier may be the best player that no one knows about. Not many people are paying attention to Penn State after they lost their best two players and coach from last year’s NCAA Tournament team. Many thought Penn State would be terrible this year.

Tim Frazier had other thoughts.

He leads Penn State is all three major categories, averaging 17.4 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game and 6.9 assists per game. The points per game rank third in the Big Ten and the assists rank first.

The Nittany Lions offense literally is run through Frazier, and he can lead this team back to a postseason berth in the new couple of years if he gets some help.

I think Frazier can be an All-Big Ten Second Team selection this season if he keeps up this play.