Brazdeikis Top Big Ten Freshman, Joins Simpson on All-B1G Second Team
3/11/2019 6:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's basketball freshman Ignas Brazdeikis was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year by both the coaches and the media in addition to his selection to the All-Big Ten second team with teammate Zavier Simpson in postseason awards released by the conference today (Monday, March 11).
Brazdeikis becomes the seventh Wolverine to earn the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year honor and the first since Trey Burke in 2012. U-M's leading scorer at 15.0 points per game, Brazdeikis helped the Wolverines win their first 17 games and finish the regular season with a 26-5 overall record. In addition to the being named Freshman of the Year, Brazdeikis was also named to the All-Big Ten Freshman squad -- Michigan's first recipient since Derrick Walton Jr. in 2014.
"It is an absolute honor to earn the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year award," said Brazdeikis. "I cannot thank Coach (John) Beilein, the staff and my teammates enough for helping me throughout this first year and to get into a position to be considered for this award. We have had a lot of success but we aren't done just yet."
Brazdeikis, along with Simpson, highlighted five Wolverines earning recognition as both were selected to the second team by the coaches and media. Jordan Poole and Jon Teske were honorable mention selections by both groups, while Charles Matthews earned honorable mention from the media.
U-M's five Big Ten honorees are its most since the 1984-85 season.
In addition to his All-Big Ten honors, Simpson became just the third Wolverines to earn a spot on the All-Defensive team, while Isaiah Livers was U-M's Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree.
The two-time defending Big Ten Tournament champions earned their first double-bye and the No. 3 seed in the upcoming conference tournament at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. U-M will open the defense of its title in the quarterfinals, playing the winner of the game between No. 6 seed Iowa and No. 11 seed Illinois/No. 14 seed Northwestern on Friday (March 15) at approximately 8:30 p.m. CDT on BTN.
2018-19 All-Big Ten Men's Basketball Awards
(Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS)
COACHES SELECTIONS
FIRST TEAM
Bruno Fernando, Maryland
CASSIUS WINSTON, Michigan State
Lamar Stevens, Penn State
CARSEN EDWARDS, Purdue
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin
SECOND TEAM
Romeo Langford, Indiana
Anthony Cowan Jr., Maryland
Ignas Brazdeikis, Michigan
Zavier Simpson, Michigan
Jordan Murphy, Minnesota
THIRD TEAM
Jordan Bohannon, Iowa
Tyler Cook, Iowa
Nick Ward, Michigan State
Amir Coffey, Minnesota
James Palmer Jr., Nebraska
HONORABLE MENTION
Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
Juwan Morgan, Indiana
Jordan Poole, Michigan
Jon Teske, Michigan
Kenny Goins, Michigan State
Matt McQuaid, Michigan State
Dereek Pardon, Northwestern
Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State
Ryan Cline, Purdue
Geo Baker, Rutgers
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
Romeo Langford, Indiana
Joe Wieskamp, Iowa
Jalen Smith, Maryland
Ignas Brazdeikis, Michigan
ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Bruno Fernando, Maryland
Zavier Simpson, Michigan
Matt McQuaid, Michigan State
Josh Reaves, Penn State
Nojel Eastern, Purdue
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cassius Winston, Michigan State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Josh Reaves, Penn State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Ignas Brazdeikis, Michigan
SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Xavier Tillman, Michigan State
COACH OF THE YEAR: Matt Painter, Purdue
Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Aaron Jordan, Illinois
Zach McRoberts, Indiana
Nicholas Bear, Iowa
Bruno Fernando, Maryland
Isaiah Livers, Michigan
Cassius Winston, Michigan State
Jordan Murphy, Minnesota
Isaiah Roby, Nebraska
Dererk Pardon, Northwestern
Joey Lane, Ohio State
Deivis Zemgulis, Penn State
Grady Eifert, Purdue
Shaquille Doorson, Rutgers
Khalil Iverson, Wisconsin
MEDIA SELECTIONS
FIRST TEAM
Bruno Fernando, Maryland
CASSIUS WINSTON, Michigan State
Jordan Murphy, Minnesota
CARSEN EDWARDS, Purdue
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin
SECOND TEAM
Tyler Cook, Iowa
Anthony Cowan Jr., Maryland
Ignas Brazdeikis, Michigan
Zavier Simpson, Michigan
Lamar Stevens, Penn State
THIRD TEAM
Romeo Langford, Indiana
Juwan Morgan, Indiana
Nick Ward, Michigan State
Amir Coffey, Minnesota
James Palmer Jr., Nebraska
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cassius Winston, Michigan State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Ignas Brazdeikis, Michigan
COACH OF THE YEAR: Matt Painter, Purdue
HONORABLE MENTION
Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
Trent Frazier, Illinois
Jordan Bohannon, Iowa
Luka Garza, Iowa
Charles Matthews, Michigan
Jordan Poole, Michigan
Jon Teske, Michigan
Kenny Goins, Michigan State
Matt McQuaid, Michigan State
Vic Law, Northwestern
Dererk Pardon, Northwestern
Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State
Josh Reaves, Penn State
Ryan Cline, Purdue
Matt Haarms, Purdue
Geo Baker, Rutgers
Eugene Omoruyi, Rutgers
D'Mitrik Trice, Wisconsin
