Player of the Week:
Kasparas Jakucionis (Fr., Illinois)
With the Fighting Illini having one of the best freshman classes in the Big Ten, many have seen what Jakucionis is capable of. One of the most well rounded players in his conference as a whole, he is able to score, defend and facilitate, all at high levels. This week however, the Fighting Illini showed that he is more than just a jack of all trades. Jakucinois had his first 20-point game of the season against Little Rock and immediately followed it up with a 23-point performance against No. 19 Arkansas. In terms of scoring the ball, Jakucionis is the most polished he’s ever been, whether it’s being able to knock down the deep ball at 57% clip the past two games or leaving defenders in a daze as he drives to the basket, he can do it all. His rapid scoring improvement paired with already being one of the best playmakers in the Big Ten makes him one of the best offensive players in his class. Defensively, he doesn’t jump off the page with absurd athleticism or lateral quickness, but he has great hands and knows how to use them. He lets the game come to him and lets his IQ do the rest. Overall, the stock for Jakucionis will only continue to rise with performances like these.
Who’s Hot:
Dylan Harper (Fr., Rutgers)
Dylan Harper this past week hasn’t just been on fire, he’s been on a historical tear. Against Notre Dame, Harper scored the most points by a Rutgers freshman ever with his insane 36-point performance. That level of production from a true freshman is something not seen very often and left fans questioning if he should go No. 1 in the NBA Draft. Then he followed it up with a 37-point game against No. 9 Alabama, becoming the first Big Ten freshman to score 35 points in back-to-back games in over 20 years. Harper plays with the poise of a seasoned veteran and the drive to match. He can get to the rim at will, attack off the dribble, create his own shot all while opening up the floor for his teammates and is able to find them with ease. To lead the Big Ten in points per game while simultaneously being top ten in assists per game should be all you have to see to understand the magnitude of his impact offensively. Harper may struggle with finding his outside shot at times, no one is perfect after all, but Harper as a freshman is as close to perfect as can be.
Oregon Ducks
The Ducks are one of six teams in all of NCAA basketball to still be undefeated and are one of two Big Ten teams without a loss. Even against ranked programs like No. 9 Alabama and No. 20 Texas A&M, Oregon still managed to come out on top. They don’t have one guy that is going to torch opposing teams every night, but what they have is arguably even better. A cohesive unit where everyone understands their roles and produces night in and night out. The Ducks have six players scoring nine-plus points a game where anyone can go off and take charge on any given night. Nate Bittle mans the helm as an experienced center who is a force down low on both ends, and leads the team in points, rebounds and blocks per game. They have one of the deepest guard rotations in the Big Ten with Jackson Shelstad, Keeshawn Barthelemy and TJ Bamba who make Oregon one of the most complete teams in college. Star power has gotten it done in the past, but teams like the Ducks are always the ones that make it far.
Who’s Not:
Myles Rice (So., Indiana)
The former Washington State guard was looked at as one of the best transfers coming into the Big Ten this season and for the first couple of games, he played exactly like what was said. Rice was shooting lights out from everywhere on the court and looked like one of the best two-guards in not just the Big Ten, but in college. However, the shooting slump that he’s going through right now is enough to raise some concerns on if he can maintain his early-season form. In the past three games, Rice is shooting an abysmal 18% from the field and has failed to knock down a shot from three point range the past two games. It’s no surprise that the Hoosiers also lost two of those three games, with one of them being No. 3 Gonzaga. There’s no doubt that Rice has the talent to succeed but if he folds in the face of real challengers, it’ll raise questions of if he’ll be able to survive at the next level.
USC Trojans
The Trojans are one of three teams in the Big Ten to have three losses on the season already and are one of two teams to be on a two-game or more losing streak. It would be one thing if USC failed to come out on top in early conference play to better Big Ten teams, but it lost by ten points to Mexico State, and then suffered an embarrassing 35 point loss to Saint Mary’s. The Trojans are 234th in the league in points per game but their biggest flaw is rebounding, in which they are ranked 352nd out of all teams. They struggle to generate second chance points and allow opposing teams to crash the glass for free and go back up with it. To put it plain and simply, USC is playing soft and will need to get in the gym if they want to survive in a star-studded Big Ten.
Top 5 Sophomores in the Big Ten
5. Jackson Shelstad (So., Oregon)
Despite going through an unfortunate sophomore slump, Shelstad’s impact can’t be denied and he manages to earn a spot on this list. Last year, Shelstad was a three-way scoring guard who could go shot for shot with the best of them but this year, his efficiency has plummeted by a large margin. However, he has still had some good performances and came up big for one of the best teams in the conference. Having faith that Shelstad will get back on track scoring-wise, he’s still one of the better facilitators in his conference and is a great perimeter defender.
4. Sebastian Mack (So., UCLA)
The Bruins guard showed flashes of his offensive prowess his freshman year but was overall inconsistent efficiency-wise. This year, Mack has been shooting nearly 50% from the field and even able to knock down the occasional triple for a good UCLA squad. His growth is noticeable, but overall is still relatively one-dimensional as a scorer and despite his frame and athleticism, is still only an above average defender at best. Still, Mack has the tools and if his progression continues, he could be higher by the end of the year.
3. John Blackwell (So., Wisconsin)
Blackwell has made the most out of his new opportunity as a starter for the Badgers and has done wonders for one of two undefeated teams in the conference. He has scored double digits in all but two games and even has a 30-point performance to his name. Blackwell is a crafty ball handler who excels at creating for himself and finishing both around the rim and 15 feet out. The mid range is a dying art for some but not for Blackwell and his capable shooting from beyond the arc as well has made him one of the best offensive sophomores in the Big Ten.
2. Owen Freeman (So., Iowa)
Freeman is leading the Hawkeyes in points per game with 17.5 while only playing over 30 mins in one game this season. He has been the definition of consistent for a quietly good Iowa team and hasn’t finished a game with less than 15 points. Freeman is a force to be reckoned down low who goes up strong through contact but is physical enough to fight up top for boards. He also leads the Hawkeyes in blocks per game, proving to be the focal point for this team despite the deep rotation Iowa plays with.
1. Mackenzie Mgbako (So., Indiana)
Mgbako has had not just the biggest jump of any sophomore in the Big Ten, he is just flat out the best player in his year in the conference. He has transformed in a matter of a year from a below average shooter to one of the best shooters in the Big Ten. Mgbako leads the Hoosiers in scoring with 17.3 points per game on an otherworldly 51% shooting from deep. The level of offensive volume and efficiency paired together make him one of the best offensive players in the nation with the potential to reach even higher heights.