Big Ten preseason awards: Braden Smith named POTY
The Big Ten conference released its preseason men’s basketball awards on Monday with Purdue point guard Braden Smith reclaiming his title as preseason POTY. The awards were voted on by a chosen media panel.
For the third straight year, a player from Purdue has taken preseason POTY honors. Smith has won it back-to-back now, and Zach Edey was given the title prior to the 2023-24 season. Smith also won postseason POTY last season after averaging 15.8 points and 8.7 assists per game.
The 10-man preseason All-Big Ten Team was announced as well, with Smith being the only unanimous selection:
- Braden Smith, Sr., G, Purdue (POTY)
- Bennett Stirtz, Sr., G, Iowa
- Yaxel Lendeborg, Grad., F, Michigan
- Nick Martinelli, Sr., F, Northwestern
- Bruce Thornton, Sr., G, Ohio State
- Nate Bittle, Sr., C, Oregon
- Jackson Shelstad, Jr., G, Oregon
- Trey Kaufman-Renn, Sr., F, Purdue
- Donovan Dent, Sr., G, UCLA
- John Blackwell, Jr., G, Wisconsin
Seven players from the preseason All-Big Ten Team received All-Big Ten honors a year ago, including Smith and Kaufman-Renn (First Team), Martinelli and Thornton (Second Team), Bittle and Shelstad (Third Team) and Blackwell (Honorable Mention).
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