FanSided’s All-Big Ten Team

Despite many claiming that the Big East will get 11 teams into the NCAA Tournament, there is another conference in NCAA basketball that has had an even better season on the hardwood. Despite the buzz of the ACC and Big East, there is only one conference that has three teams sitting in the top 10 rankings. There is only one conference that had three teams finish undefeated on their home court. Some of the best competition this year has come from the Big Ten Conference.

Whether it was Ohio State beating Wisconsin, Wisconsin beating Purdue or the Boilermakers beating Ohio State, there have been some unforeseen competition at all levels of the conference this season. We saw the rise of a young squad in Ann Arbor take down their biggest foe down the road not just once, but twice. When Purdue took the court for the first time, the national media never thought that this team could overcome the loss of Robbie Hummel. Now they are looking at at a two or three seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Whether it was the dominating performance of JuJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore night in and night out, the best thirteen minutes in college basketball this season when Jordan Taylor took over at the Kohl Center and beat the Buckeyes single-handed, or the best three point performance in NCAA history, this conference has been nothing short of spectacular this season.

When the season came to an end on Sunday, The FanSided Big Ten writers voted for who they thought were the prime time players in the Big Ten Conference. Here’s a look at who was named on the FanSided 2010-11 All- Big Ten First and Second Teams.

First Team

F JuJuan Johnson, Purdue Boilermakers – When Matt Painter wondered how he would replace Robbie Hummel’s game inside, there wasn’t a person in the country that didn’t think JuJuan Johnson could play a bigger role in the Purdue system. The senior has averaged just over 20 points per game, 8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He is the leading scorer in Big Ten Play and has been dominant on the defensive side of the floor. What separates Johnson from most is his sheer consistency. The forward has the most twenty point games in the conference and is the active double double leader in the Big Ten. Despite playing extremely well for the Boilermakers at home, Johnson’s game extends outside of West Lafayette. Just ask the Michigan State Spartans. At the Breslin Center earlier this month, the big man grabbed 17 rebounds, scored 20 points and blocked 7 shots. He might be the Big Ten player of the year, and he definitely deserves to be a no doubt first team member.

F Jon Leuer, Wisconsin Badgers – The forward leads the Badgers in points per game as well as rebounds and has been one of the more consistent players in the country. There hasn’t been a game this season that the senior hasn’t scored in double figures. As his role with the Badgers have evolved, so has the play of Leuer. What makes him so valuable is his versatility. He is one of the most underrated big men in the country, can shoot from long range, and is a definite leader on the court.

C Jared Sullinger, Ohio State Buckeyes – The Big Ten Freshman of the week award has been renamed the Jared Sullinger award. The diaper dandy had some down points late in the season, but still managed to pull down 9.8 rebounds per game and score 17.8 points per contest. As a freshman, there have not been many players with his control and consistency on the court. Michigan head coach John Beilein compared him to Clippers star Blake Griffin earlier in the year and without him, The Buckeyes would not be anywhere close to where they are this season. The big man shot nearly 57 percent from the field in his first and possibly only season in college basketball.

G E’Twaun Moore, Purdue Boilermakers – Every single year this kid has gotten even better than the year before.  The senior is averaged 18 points per game this season, and has continued to improve across the board. His ability to take over games will make him a player at the next level and his 38 against Ohio State showed that he belongs with the big boys.

G Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin – What wins basketball games is simply protecting the basketball. There is nobody in the nation as good at doing so than Jordan Taylor. Factor in that he can score (18 ppg) and dish the ball how he sees fit, there isn’t a doubt that Taylor belongs with the elite of the Big Ten.  Just ask any Ohio State fan, they’ll be the first to admit it.

Second Team

G Talor Battle, Penn State Nittany Lions – If there were six spots on the first team, there would be no doubt about it. The truth is that Talor battle is first team material in one of the deepest guard conferences in the nation. Averaging 20 points per game and scoring in double figures in every single big ten game, Battle is a true talent. Another truth is that in NCAA history, only three players have scored 2,000 points, grabbed 600 rebounds and dished out 500 assists.

G Kalin Lucas, Michigan State Spartans – Despite not playing to the level that many projected him to, Kalin Lucas put together a solid run for the Spartans in his final year in the green and white. His 17 points and 3 assists per game don’t necessarily tell the story. On a team with no direction, Kalin Lucas has found a way to keep things floating. Even if the ship is about to sink.

G Darius Morris, Michigan Wolverines – The Big Ten assists leader has been the pulse in a surprise season in Ann Arbor. Averaging 15 points per game and four rebounds a contest also have helped put Michigan back on the map. Morris has nearly doubled every single major stat his sophomore season.

F Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota Gophers – Any player that averages a double double is someone worthy of awarding. The junior from St. Paul put together 11 double doubles in 18 Big Ten games and led the conference in rebounding this season.

F Christian Watford, Indiana – Watford has been the heartbeat of Indiana without any help around him, averaging 16 points and 5 rebounds a game.

(Later today, Scarlet and Game will unveil the FanSided Writers selections for Big Ten Player of the Year and Coach of the Year. Stay tuned.)