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No surprise here.
The Big Ten announced its All-Big Ten teams on Monday, at the conclusion of the regular season with the conference tournament on the horizon. And two Wolverines made the cut.
Not only did Michigan point guard Zavier Simpson average 12.9 points-per-game, but he led the nation in assists, averaging 7.9 assists-per-game, with a total of 236 in 2019-20. His season was good enough to see him earn All-Big Ten second-team honors, as voted by both the coaches and the media.
Not to be left out, Franz Wagner also earned a distinction from the conference. The true freshman averaged 11.6 points-per-game, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals — the latter being a team-leading stat. He’s particularly come on strong as of late, and the Big Ten recognized this, putting him All- Freshman team this season.
Junior forward Isaiah Livers earned an honorable mention.
Full release:
University of Michigan senior guard Zavier Simpson was named an All-Big Ten second team by both the coaches and the media, while freshman Franz Wagner was named to the All-Freshman squad and junior Isaiah Livers was named All-Big Ten honorable mention (media) following the release of the conference’s postseason men’s basketball awards today (Monday, March 9).
Simpson continues to climb the U-M record books in his final season in Ann Arbor. He became one of the all-time winningest Wolverines, along with classmate Jon Teske, with 108 wins to date while also setting the U-M mark for most games played in a career with 146.
Simpson leads the Big Ten in assists per game (7.9) as he has 236 total on the season — the most in the NCAA. He became the first Wolverine to produce a second season of 200+ assist and currently ranks second in school history with 667 helpers. He tied his own single-season school record with eight games of 10+ assists and set the career mark with 16, passing U-M legend Gary Grant (14).
In addition to his assists, Simpson has averaged a career-best 12.9 points per game and became the 55th Wolverine to reach 1,000 career points. Fittingly, Simpson scored his 1,000th point at Rutgers (Feb. 19) on a hook shot. He adds 4.5 rebounds a game and is just 24 rebounds away from becoming the first Wolverine to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in a career.
Wagner becomes the 10th Wolverine to earn a spot on the conference’s All-Freshman team. After missing the first four games of the season while recovering from a fractured wrist, Wagner has started all 27 games since and is tied for third on the team in scoring (11.6 points per game) and second in rebounding (5.6).
A three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree, Wagner has produced 17 double-figure scoring games with two 20+ including a career-high 22 at Purdue (Jan. 22). He recorded his first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds at Ohio State (March 1) and had a career-high 14 rebounds against the Buckeyes at Crisler Center (Feb. 4). He leads U-M with 34 steals and is second with 41 three-pointers.
Despite missing half of the Big Ten season due to injuries, Livers still leads the Maize and Blue in scoring with 12.9 points per game. This season he has 14 double-digit scoring games in his 21 contests with three 20+ including a career-high 24 points against Houston Baptist (Nov. 22). He adds 4.0 rebounds per game and has made 41 three-pointers.
Livers did not miss a free throw during the conference season, going 34-for-34. He has missed just two free throws the entire season, shooting a team-best 95.7 percent (44-for-46).
Michigan earned its 13th first-round bye and the No. 9 seed in the upcoming conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. U-M will open tournament play against No. 8 seed Rutgers in Thursday’s (March 12) opening game at noon on BTN. If the Wolverines advance, they will face No. 1 seed Wisconsin on Friday (March 13) at noon on BTN.
2019-20 All-Big Ten Men’s Basketball Awards
(Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS)COACHES SELECTIONS
FIRST TEAM
LUKA GARZA, IOWA
Anthony Cowan Jr., Maryland
Jalen Smith, Maryland
CASSIUS WINSTON, MICHIGAN STATE
Lamar Stevens, Penn StateSECOND TEAM
Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
Zavier Simpson, Michigan
Xavier Tillman, Michigan State
Daniel Oturu, Minnesota
Kaleb Wesson, Ohio StateTHIRD TEAM
Trayce Jackson-David, Indiana
Joe Wieskamp, Iowa
Geo Baker, Rutgers
Nate Reuvers, Wisconsin
D’Mitrik Trice, WisconsinHONORABLE MENTION
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Marcus Carr, Minnesota
Trevion Williams, Purdue
Ron Harper Jr., RutgersALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
KOFI COCKBURN, ILLINOIS
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS, INDIANA
CJ Fredrick, Iowa
Franz Wagner, Michigan
Rocket Watts, Michigan StateALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Jalen Smith, Maryland
Xavier Tillman, Michigan State
Daniel Oturu, Minnesota
Jamari Wheeler, Penn State
Nojel Eastern, PurduePLAYER OF THE YEAR: Luka Garza, Iowa
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Xavier Tillman, Michigan State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR: Aaron Wiggins, Maryland
COACH OF THE YEAR: Greg Gard, WisconsinBig Ten Sportsmanship Honorees
TBD, Illinois
Joey Brunk, Indiana
Connor McCaffery, Iowa
Aaron Wiggins, Maryland
Austin Davis, Michigan
Cassius Winston, Michigan State
Michael Hurt, Minnesota
Haanif Cheatham, Nebraska
A.J. Turner, Northwestern
Danny Hummer, Ohio State
John Harrar, Penn State
Tommy Luce, Purdue
Akwasi Yeboah, Rutgers
Michael Ballard, WisconsinMEDIA SELECTIONS
FIRST TEAM
Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
LUKA GARZA, IOWA
Jalen Smith, Maryland
Cassius Winston, Michigan State
Lamar Stevens, Penn StateSECOND TEAM
Anthony Cowan Jr., Maryland
Zavier Simpson, Michigan
Xavier Tillman, Michigan State
Daniel Oturu, Minnesota
Kaleb Wesson, Ohio StateTHIRD TEAM
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Trayce Jackson-David, Indiana
Joe Wieskamp, Iowa
Marcus Carr, Minnesota
Nate Reuvers, WisconsinHONORABLE MENTION
Darryl Morsell, Maryland
Isaiah Livers, Michigan
Cam Mack, Nebraska
Myreon Jones, Penn State
Trevion Williams, Purdue
Geo Baker, Rutgers
Ron Harper Jr., Rutgers
D’Mitrik Trice, WisconsinPLAYER OF THE YEAR: Luka Garza, Iowa
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
COACH OF THE YEAR: Greg Gard, Wisconsin