Photo by: David Stluka
Badgers headline All-Big Ten preseason honors
October 11, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Hayes tabbed Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, Koenig and Happ also recognized
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin senior Nigel Hayes was named Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year by a vote of the league's media, the conference office announced Tuesday. The Big Ten also released its preseason All-Conference team which in addition to Hayes, included UW senior Bronson Koenig and sophomore Ethan Happ.
Hayes is the fourth Badger in the last 14 seasons to be named conference preseason player of the year. The 6-foot-8 forward from Toledo, Ohio, joins Frank Kaminsky (recognized prior to the 2014-15 season), Alando Tucker (tabbed prior to the 2006-07 season) and Devin Harris (honored prior to the 2003-04 season) as the only Badgers to earn the distinction.
Harris, Tucker and Kaminsky all went on to turn their preseason nominations into postseason Big Ten Player of the Year awards that season.
"While I appreciate the sign of respect this shows, preseason honors don't really mean much," Hayes said. "I'm much more concerned with postseason player of the year awards, because that would likely mean our team did something special this season. Seven of the last 12 postseason Big Ten Players of the Year have come from the conference champion and that's one of our goals.
"If we win championships, everything individually will fall into place. Really, I just want to be Frank Kaminsky."
Hayes was the only player to earn unanimous preseason all-conference team honors.
Hayes was a 2016 first-team All-Big Ten selection last season after leading the Badgers with 15.7 points per game and is one of just five players in Wisconsin history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 assists in his career. Koenig averaged 13.1 points per game last season earning 2016 second-team All-Big Ten honors. He enters his senior season needing just 71 points to reach the 1,000-point plateau. A third-team All-Big Ten honoree and the 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Happ became just the second Big Ten freshman in the last 20 years to average at least 11.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.0 steal and 0.5 blocks per game.
2016-17 PRESEASON BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin
2016-17 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Malcolm Hill, Illinois
James Blackmon Jr., Indiana
Thomas Bryant, Indiana
Peter Jok, Iowa
Melo Trimble, Maryland
Derrick Walton Jr., Michigan
Caleb Swanigan, Purdue
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin
NIGEL HAYES, Wisconsin
Bronson Koenig, Wisconsin
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
Hayes is the fourth Badger in the last 14 seasons to be named conference preseason player of the year. The 6-foot-8 forward from Toledo, Ohio, joins Frank Kaminsky (recognized prior to the 2014-15 season), Alando Tucker (tabbed prior to the 2006-07 season) and Devin Harris (honored prior to the 2003-04 season) as the only Badgers to earn the distinction.
Harris, Tucker and Kaminsky all went on to turn their preseason nominations into postseason Big Ten Player of the Year awards that season.
"While I appreciate the sign of respect this shows, preseason honors don't really mean much," Hayes said. "I'm much more concerned with postseason player of the year awards, because that would likely mean our team did something special this season. Seven of the last 12 postseason Big Ten Players of the Year have come from the conference champion and that's one of our goals.
"If we win championships, everything individually will fall into place. Really, I just want to be Frank Kaminsky."
Hayes was the only player to earn unanimous preseason all-conference team honors.
Hayes was a 2016 first-team All-Big Ten selection last season after leading the Badgers with 15.7 points per game and is one of just five players in Wisconsin history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 assists in his career. Koenig averaged 13.1 points per game last season earning 2016 second-team All-Big Ten honors. He enters his senior season needing just 71 points to reach the 1,000-point plateau. A third-team All-Big Ten honoree and the 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Happ became just the second Big Ten freshman in the last 20 years to average at least 11.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.0 steal and 0.5 blocks per game.
2016-17 PRESEASON BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin
2016-17 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Malcolm Hill, Illinois
James Blackmon Jr., Indiana
Thomas Bryant, Indiana
Peter Jok, Iowa
Melo Trimble, Maryland
Derrick Walton Jr., Michigan
Caleb Swanigan, Purdue
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin
NIGEL HAYES, Wisconsin
Bronson Koenig, Wisconsin
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballPostgame Media Conference || UW-Milwaukee
Tuesday, December 30
Highlights || UW-Milwaukee
Tuesday, December 30
Postgame Media Conference || Central Michigan
Tuesday, December 23
Highlights || Central Michigan
Monday, December 22
