As the calendars flip us all into 2019 and the month of January, football slowly drifts into the background and conference play rolls us basketball folk all the way into the beautiful month of March. The Big Ten conference has had a fantastic start as a whole to the 2018-19 season and now that they will begin to beat up on each other, let's outline the players who will shine. I will create my All-BigTen team based on traditional positioning (G, G, F, F, C) and highlight some honourable mentions as well. Knowing how these types of things often go, I will revisit this topic right before the Big Ten Conference Tournament tips off in March to compare this team to the actual honourees at season's end. For the "Sleeper" team, I've highlighted players in the conference that do not seem to get enough love, whether it be due to their team or simply because they are not well known enough. Let's start with the first team:
First Team
Guard - Carsen Edwards
Well this one seems relatively easy and should be a slam dunk nominee for March's edition of this team. Purdue's junior guard has everything you'd want in a point guard at any level of basketball. Not only does the 6'1 guard lead his fellow guards in scoring, but also the whole of the conference at 25.8 PPG. Edwards was an issue for opponents even as a freshman, so it is no surprise to see how well he has matured into a complete player and a threat in all situations.Guard - Cassius Winston
Michigan State's headband bandit is the engine that runs Spartan Basketball on many different levels. Winston leads the Big Ten in APG with 7.8 along with contributing 17.1 PPG. Winston is a guy who is asked to handle the ball for one of college hoops' biggest markets and has played along-side the likes of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges, both who had the majority of the focus on them while Winston quietly did his business. The though of a distributer like Cass figuratively playing next to a shooter like Edwards is frightening.
Forward - Ethan Happ
Ethan Happ is one of those college athletes that seems to be in their 10th season in school, never goes away but always dominates. The 6'10" senior has not missed a beat this season, continuing his dominance for the Badgers by leading them in just about every stat possible. Happ stacks up well against the rest of the conference too, averaging 19/10/5. It will not be a surprise to see him honoured at year's end.
Forward - Jordan Murphy
Murphy is not one of the flashiest players in the conference, however his game has great balance spanned across all parts of the court. The senior has seen a drop in points per game, but is up in assists, rebounds, and blocks. The forward position in the Big Ten is not as deep as other positions, which opens the door for a player like Murphy to be honoured as one of the conference's best. Regardless of this, an experienced senior that averages a double/double is someone that almost any coach would take on their team.
Center - Derek Pardon
My All-BigTen Center could also be the league's most improved player, as Derek Pardon is up in every stat known to man, along with being a force on the glass at both ends. Pardon is an undersized center at 6'8", but he still plays the position in a traditional way, rarely stepping beyond the arc and doing his work in the paint. Northwestern is trying to get back on the map in the Big Ten, and although the center position is a dying breed in basketball, Pardon is keeping both his team and position relevant.
Big Ten Sleeper Team
Guard - Amir Coffey
Guard - James Palmer
James Palmer is another pure scorer that does not get the love he deserves based on his team. The Nebraska Cornhuskers are an average team that took a big step forward this season, mainly on the back of Palmer, their scoring leader. Palmer chips in his share of assists and rebounds, but his money maker is getting to the line, something he does more than any other Big Ten guard. Palmer shoots a 31% clip from deep, but still averages 20.1 PPG, often leading his team in scoring.Forward - Vic Law
Forward - Lamar Stevens
It is not hard to find the reason why Lamar Stevens is underrated, despite winning the NIT last season, Penn State has been mightily inconsistent to start this campaign. Despite his team's struggles, Stevens is up in scoring and way up in rebounding, now averaging 18/8/2. Stevens was crowned the NIT title game's MVP, showing he can lead a team to big wins. He is continuing to grow as a player this year, getting more touches now that Tony Carr has moved on from the program. Pennsylvania born and raised, Stevens stayed home to play at PSU, but it could be argued his impact on the whole of college hoops could've been greater if he decided to go elsewhere.Center - Jon Teske
Teske will not be seen on the morning edition of SportsCenter, he certainly will not take over many games, but Michigan's big man is underrated in the most traditional of ways. Teske is not flashy and does not put up big numbers, but quietly stuffs the stat sheet and lights a fire under his teammates. Only averaging 7/6/1, Teske is the anchor to the undefeated Wolverines offence, setting high screens and dominating inside. Teske is no Moe Wagner, but in his earlier season had enough practice guarding the likes of Nick Ward, Ethan Happ and Isaac Haas. This experience has translated into a defender that has 2.1 blocks per game and forces teams to lean on their outside shooting.
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