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Published Mar 18, 2025
2024-25 Rivals All-Big Ten Conference Basketball Teams
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Richie O'Leary  •  TheKnightReport
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With the 2024-25 men's basketball regular season complete, it is time for some postseason awards.

For the third straight season our network got together, as all our Big Ten affiliated sites on the Rivals Network have teamed up as each of have collectively voted on our own All-Big Ten Conference teams.

With that being said, here are the results of the balloting.

RIVALS ALL-BIG TEN FIRST TEAM
REGARDLESS OF POSITION
POSITIONPLAYERSCHOOL

Guard

Braden Smith

Purdue Boilermakers

Guard

John Tonje

Wisconsin Badgers

Guard

Brice Williams

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Forward

Trey Kaufman-Renn

Purdue Boilermakers

Center

Derik Queen

Maryland Terrapins

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Smith and Tone were the only unanimous All-First Team selections this year, while Kaufman-Renn was All-First Team pick on all, but one ballots. Williams and Queen were able to grab the last two spots.

Each player got three points for a First-Team vote, two for Second-Team, and one for Third-Team.

RIVALS ALL-BIG TEN SECOND TEAM
REGARDLESS OF POSITION
POSITIONPLAYERSCHOOL

Forward

Nick Martinelli

Northwestern Wildcats

Center

Vladislav Goldin

Michigan Wolverines

Center

Danny Wolf

Michigan Wolverines

Guard

Bruce Thornton

Ohio State Buckeyes

Forward

Dawson Garcia

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Martinelli was just one point shy of making the first team in this one, so he's the first slotted above. Goldin and Wolf got their share of first team votes, but several others had them lower ranging from second team to even some ballots not featuring one or the other. Garcia received two first team votes, but the rest were a bit scattered.

RIVALS ALL-BIG TEN THIRD TEAM
REGARDLESS OF POSITION
POSITIONPLAYERSCHOOL

Guard

Jase Richardson

Michigan State Spartans

Guard

Kasparas Jakucionis

Illinois Fighting Illini

Guard

Ja’Kobi Gillespie

Maryland Terrapins

Guard

Dylan Harper

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Center

Nate Bittle

Oregon Ducks

None of these guys were close to making the second team in total points, but there was a solid gap between these five and the other 11 players who received at least one or more votes.

Honorable Mention (Player Received at least one vote): Ace Baldwin Jr., Ace Bailey, Jaden Akins, Julian Reese, John Blackwell, Peyton Sandfort, Desmond Claude, Josh Dix, Jackson Shlestad, Brooks Barnhizer, and Eric Dailey Jr.

RIVALS ALL-BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

A nearly unanimous decision here, Purdue guard Braden Smith walked away with the Big Ten Player of the Year honor after averaging averaging 16.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game, while also shooting 43.5% from the field, 38.4% from three and 85.2% from the free throw line.

Smith's teammate, Trey Kaufman-Renn received the only other lone vote for the honor.

RIVALS ALL-BIG TEN COACH OF THE YEAR: TOM IZZO

The long time Big Ten veteran, Izzo was able to muster up quite the season finishing 27-6 (17-3) on the year and earned his program a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Other coaches who received votes were Michigan's Dusty May and Maryland's Kevin WIllard.

RIVALS ALL-BIG TEN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

This was a tight race here, as five different players received votes for the honor, but Baldwin was able to walk away with the award this season. The senior guard averaged a conference high 2.4 steals per game and was able to stop about any guard that dared to test him this season.

Others who received votes were Jaden Akins, Julian Reese, Kobe Johnson, and Nate Bittle.

RIVALS ALL-BIG TEN SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR

Another nearly unanimous decision here, as Illinois Will Riley ran away with the honor this season after averaging 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, while shooting 42.9% off the bench.

The lone vote that held him from being unanimous was given to Jase Richardson.

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