Hoopla's 2023-24 Big Ten Awards
Making my picks for all of the conference's award categories
It is March, the Big Ten’s regular season is over, and now the real fun can begin.
Ohio State locked up the top seed for the Big Ten Tournament before the weekend, Iowa got revenge on the Buckeyes on the final day, Michigan State stole the double bye from Nebraska and Northwestern took down Rutgers to avoid last place. It was a huge week for the conference, but unfortunately, key injuries on top teams also was among the top storylines.
Iowa’s Molly Davis and Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes both went down to knee injuries on the final day of the regular season. Davis came back on the court in a wheelchair, while Holmes returned to the sideline but not to game action.
For two top-15 teams, these losses would be monumental. Indiana was hurt doubly by backup forward Lilly Meister also going down in the same game. I won’t speculate on injury timelines, I’ll just hope the best for all three.
Last Week’s Hoopla:
The Big Ten Tournament starts Wednesday, but we will save thoughts about that for Wednesday. For now, we are focusing on looking back at the regular season with my picks for the Big Ten awards. I will follow the same format as the conference, which goes as follows:
Player of the Year, two 10-player All-Big Ten first and second teams
Freshman of the Year, five-player All-Freshman team
Defensive Player of the Year, five-player All-Defense team
Sixth Player of the Year
Coach of the Year
These lists, specially the All-Big Ten lists, are outrageously hard to narrow down (even with a 20-player format that I think should actually be three five-player teams instead, but I digress). Please reply to me in the comments, or on Twitter/X, with what you disagree with because there are certainly some fair arguments to be had.
Players are listed in alphabetical order, with Her Hoop Stats win shares and points/rebounds/assists per game listed.
First-Team All Big Ten
Julia Ayrault, Michigan State: 4.1 WS | 15.1 PPG | 7.3 RPG | 2.4 APG
POTY— Caitlin Clark, Iowa: 7.9 WS | 32.3 PPG | 7.3 RPG | 8.7 APG
Moira Joiner, Michigan State: 3.7 WS | 15.0 PPG | 4.9 RPG | 2.7 APG
Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana: 4.9 WS | 20.7 PPG | 7.1 RPG | 1.4 APG
Alexis Markowski, Nebraska: 3.4 WS | 15.8 PPG | 10.7 RPG | 1.0 APG
Laila Phelia, Michigan: 3.1 WS | 16.0 PPG | 3.6 RPG | 1.7 APG
Sara Scalia, Indiana: 4.0 WS | 16.3 PPG | 3.8 RPG | 2.5 APG
Shyanne Sellers, Maryland: 2.8 WS | 15.3 PPG | 5.9 RPG | 5.3 APG
Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State: 4.5 WS | 18.4 PPG | 3.4 RPG |. 3.8 APG
Serah Williams, Wisconsin: 2.9 WS | 18.1 PPG | 11.3 RPG | 0.9 APG
I likely don’t have to explain myself on the Player of the Year, as Caitlin Clark is three whole win shares above second place, the same gap as second and 40th place among Big Ten players.
A lot of these other selections should be obvious, especially Holmes, Sheldon, Markowski and Williams, the latter of which has made astronomical leaps in her sophomore season to help lead Wisconsin to a much improved record.
Shyanne Sellers should also not be much of a debate here, even if she hasn’t quite become the superstar I was hoping to see for Maryland. Her stats and ability to make an impact in a variety of ways gets her here.
Sara Scalia rounded into Minnesota form this season for the Hoosiers. She has been tremendous, both as a shooter and in making a larger impact on the game. She deserves this placement.
I have the Michigan State duo of Julia Ayrault and Moira Joiner both in the first-team. Ayrault shouldn’t be a question with the numbers she has, but I also think Joiner deserves it. She is a 43-percent three shooter, ranks seventh in the Big Ten in win shares and has been massive in the Spartans’ success.
Finally, Laila Phelia who like Sellers, didn’t quite erupt the way I was thinking she would, but still has been the clear No. 1 on a Michigan team that is currently projected to be dancing. She started the season slow but has upped her scoring and efficiency during Big Ten play.
Second-Team All-Big Ten
Mara Braun, Minnesota: 3.1 WS | 17.8 PPG | 4.6 RPG | 3.2 APG
DeeDee Hagemann, Michigan State: 3.5 WS | 12.6 PPG | 2.5 RPG | 5.1 APG
Kate Martin, Iowa: 3.3 WS | 13.0 PPG | 6.4 RPG | 2.6 APG
Bri McDaniel, Maryland: 2.1 WS | 13.0 PPG | 3.9 RPG | 2.9 APG
Cotie McMahon, Ohio State: 2.7 WS | 14.4 PPG | 6.4 RPG | 2.3 APG
Chloe Moore-McNeil, Indiana: 3.0 WS | 10.1 PPG | 3.4 RPG | 4.9 APG
Jaz Shelley, Nebraska: 3.4 WS | 12.8 PPG | 4.2 RPG | 5.2 APG
Hannah Stuelke, Iowa: 3.0 WS | 14.4 PPG | 6.9 RPG | 1.4 APG
Celeste Taylor, Ohio State: 2.3 WS | 10.3 PPG | 4.3 RPG | 3.4 APG
Taylor Thierry, Ohio State: 4.0 WS | 11.4 PPG | 5.6 RPG | 1.6 APG
Just missed the cut: Kendall Bostic (ILL), Yarden Garzon (IU), Jakia Brown-Turner (MD), Destiny Adams (RUT), Makenna Marisa (PSU)
I’m expecting a lot of first-team ballots for Shelley and McMahon, as well as Martin and Stuelke. I get it, and this was so difficult to choose.
For as exciting as Cotie McMahon is, I do think Sheldon was the No. 1 for Ohio State more consistently, and I think McMahon’s impact was more comparable to that of Taylor and Thierry’s, who are also on this second-team. For Shelley, it was her down numbers in efficiency that had her right below the cutoff for first-team, in my opinion.
Both Martin and Stuelke have been critical to Iowa getting here, but Clark’s signifiant volume and gravity has to be taken into account, and I think second-team spots are fair for both of them.
DeeDee Hagemann and Chloe Moore-McNeil play their roles so, so well. Both are excellent facilitators without turning the ball over, and both are extremely efficient with their offensive opportunities. Their well-rounded games made for easy picks on this list.
Mara Braun was a first-team lock when she played, and even with the season-ending injury 20 games in, she finished 13th in the conference in win shares. There’s a reason Minnesota struggled so much down the stretch without her.
Finally, Bri McDaniel earns a spot here as much for what my eyes say than the stats. Leaving Bostic and Garzon off this list felt cruel, but McDaniel is such a spark plug for Maryland and has made a dramatic leap across the board as a sophomore. I think she’s earned this spot just barely over the rest of the competition.
I mentioned Bostic and Garzon already, but also wanted to shoutout Makenna Marisa and all of Penn State, who I’ve blanked. Since Ashley Owusu’s arrival, Owusu has been playing at an all-conference level, but she’s also only played 14 games. And since her arrival, the numbers of Marisa, Shay Ciezski and Leilani Kapinus have went down, and it was hard to find a spot for anyone from that team because of this.
All-Freshman Team
Gretchen Dolan, Illinois: 0.5 WS | 4.9 PPG | 1.6 RPG | 1.0 APG
Grace Grocholski, Minnesota: 2.3 WS | 11.4 PPG | 4.3 RPG | 1.9 APG
Logan Nissley, Nebraska: 1.3 WS | 6.4 PPG | 2.1 RPG | 1.1 APG
FOTY — Natalie Potts, Nebraska: 2.5 WS | 10.5 PPG | 5.4 RPG | 0.8 APG
Mary Ashley Stevenson, Purdue: 0.8 WS | 9.8 PPG | 4.8 RPG | 0.8 APG
While not quite living up to the monstrous freshman class last season, this year had a handful of first-year players that consistently made an impact for their teams. For awhile it felt like a two-player race, but I believe Potts outplayed Grocholski down the stretch of the season to earn this honor.
Those two both played well in large roles, as did Mary Ashley Stevenson for Purdue. Logan Nissley caught fire offensively late in the season and has become quite a weapon for Nebraska, so her inclusion here should be a no-brainer.
The fifth spot feels up for grabs, but I went with Dolan for her important bench role on the Illini, especially with how much her role has expanded in Big Ten play.
All-Defense Team
**Players are listed with Defensive Win Shares, Blocks Per Game, Steals Per Game and Defensive Rating**
Julia Ayrault, Michigan State: 1.2 WS | 2.1 BPG | 1.3 SPG | 81.6 RTG
Leilani Kapinus, Penn State: 1.1 WS | 1.1 BPG | 2.1 SPG | 83.4 RTG
Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State: 1.1 WS | 0.1 BPG | 2.0 SPG | 87.3 RTG
DPOY — Celeste Taylor, Ohio State: 1.3 WS | 0.9 BPG | 2.2 SPG | 81.8 RTG
Serah Williams, Wisconsin: 1.0 WS | 2.8 BPG | 0.7 SPG | 86.1 RTG
There are a lot of great defenders in the Big Ten, and I thought there were two more Ohio State players (Thierry, McMahon), two Indiana players (Holmes, Moore-McNeil) and plenty of others worthy of consideration.
Celeste Taylor should win this award though. She has been everything that was promised coming over as the reigning ACC DPOY and led the Big Ten in defensive win shares.
Not far behind, though, is Ayrault, who has been magnificent inside for Michigan State. Her and Williams have been elite interior defenders, and they get the nod over even Holmes, the reigning conference DPOY. Taylor and Sheldon have led Ohio State’s relentless defense the most, and both have to be here in my opinion, even though it kills me to keep Thierry off for her incredible versatility.
Leilani Kapinus continues to put up unbelievable defensive stats and should be recognized for her efforts. A true rock on defense for a Penn State team that improved significantly on defense this season.
Sixth Player of the Year
Theryn Hallock, Michigan State: 2.3 WS | 11.2 PPG | 2.2 RPG | 2.7 APG
Unlike some years in recent memory, there were some major-impact players off the bench, and two of them were on the same team. Hallock and Tory Ozment were my top two options for this award, and I think either has a case.
Hallock has shined through more overall in conference play than Ozment and has been an impressive high-volume shooter in her role, so I ended up giving her the nod just barely.
Iowa’s Sydney Affolter also deserves recognition. Her 7.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 2.0 APG in a little over 22 minutes a night for Iowa have been critical for a team so centered on Clark. She’s an unsung hero for the Hawkeyes who may garner a significant role if Davis is out for the tournament run.
Coach of the Year
Robyn Fralick, Michigan State: 22-7 Overall, 12-6 Big Ten
If Ohio State finished the season sweep of Iowa yesterday, Kevin McGuff would have been a little harder to deny. But, I do think based on the season’s expectations and on which coach had the largest impact on its roster, it was always going to be hard to argue against what Fralick has accomplished in East Lansing.
Yes, Michigan State was serviceable last season, but anyone who has watched games from last year’s team compared to this year’s has seen the type of leaps this roster has made, and with many of the same pieces.
Fralick has truly gotten the best out of her players this year and has completely ignited this roster top to bottom. This offense is as dynamic and unstoppable as about anyone’s in the country, and it has seven real threats to score 15 on you at any given moment.
If the Big Ten had an official Most Improved Player honor, the finalists could be made up of most of Michigan State’s roster. This team went from middle of the pack to a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament, and all of this with one season under Fralick’s belt. She should be the choice here.
I’ll be back here Wednesday to discuss Big Ten Tournament predictions. See you then, and thanks as always for reading.
Photo Credits: Iowa Athletics; @IndianaWBB, Twitter/X; Nebraska Athletics; @OhioStateWBB, Twitter/X; @MSU_WBasketball, Twitter/X (Link 1) (Link 2)
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