In this article, I will highlight the top freshman in the Big Ten Conference after the first month of play. Each of the players included in this are true freshman, meaning they have played in their first eight collegiate games or so by this point. Many of the highly touted and ranked freshmen did not make this list, while some surprise players made in instead. These players have contributed individually as well as to their team’s success, or failure for that matter. Nonetheless, look for these players to continue to contribute this season, as these could be the future stars of the Big Ten over the next several years. Here is my All-Freshman Team as of today:
Cody Zeller, forward, Indiana Hoosiers
Zeller heads the list of all freshmen in the conference, which is no surprise. Through eight games, Zeller has not only been the most efficient freshman but also one of the top overall players in the conference. He is currently averaging 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists. On the other end of the court, Zeller is contributing 2.6 steals and 1.6 blocks as well. As if all of that weren’t enough, Zeller is shooting 67.7% from the floor and 75% from the foul line, where he attempts six shots per contest. He is the lone freshman that is his team’s best player and has played a big part in the improvement of Indiana. With Zeller, the Hoosiers now have a low post game, something that has been missing since Tom Crean’s arrival three years ago. We all know that Zeller comes from a long line of basketball players in his family. His oldest brother Luke played at Notre Dame, while his other brother Tyler is the starting center at North Carolina. Cody has the potential to be better than both of them and could be remembered years from now as the player who got Indiana Basketball back on the map in college hoops.
Branden Dawson, forward, Michigan State Spartans
This 6-foot-6 freshman from Gary, Indiana was also highly thought of coming out of high school. Dawson has been a solid, yet far from outstanding player in his first eight games. He is averaging 7.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists during his 22.4 minutes. Dawson’s career started with a ten-point, seven-rebound game against North Carolina on an aircraft carrier, a game in which he appeared to have injured himself but turned out to be okay. Dawson’s contributions will increase next year, after Draymond Green graduates. The two players are somewhat similar, although Green is a better passer and Dawson is more athletic. Like Zeller, Dawson has also shot well on the big stage. Dawson is shooting 54.3% from the field on nearly six attempts per game. The two negatives in Dawson’s game so far have been free throw shooting and turning the ball over. His averages currently stand at 50% from the line, while committing 2.1 turnovers. If he can improve upon these figures, Dawson could see even more playing time and also make Coach Tom Izzo very happy.
Trey Burke, guard, Michigan Wolverines
Burke, the former Mr. Basketball in Ohio, has gotten off to quite a splash in Ann Arbor. Michigan’s biggest concern coming into the season was who would step up with the departure of Darius Morris to the NBA. Burke has taken on the starting point guard role from day one, averaging 11.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. Those numbers are good for second in scoring and first in assists for the Wolverine team. As the floor general, Burke is playing nearly 32 minutes per game. His shooting has been up-and-down so far, shooting 42% from the field, 29.7% from three-point range, and 64.7% from the foul line. He is also committing 2.6 turnovers, although he does have the ball in his hands more than anyone else on the team. The future of Michigan Basketball looks promising and this year’s team has started off well. Burke helped lead the Wolverines to third-place in the Maui Invitational, with wins over Memphis and UCLA and a loss to Duke. If Michigan wants to make the leap from the middle of the Big Ten to the upper echelon, Burke could certainly be that deciding factor.
David Sobolewski, guard, Northwestern Wildcats
Like Michigan, the point guard position was up for grabs for Northwestern prior to the season. The Wildcats lost four-year starter Michael Thompson to graduation and Sobolewski has seized the role for himself, looking to become another four-year starter for Bill Carmody. Sobolewski is averaging 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and a team-high 4.0 assists so far. He is also playing big-time minutes, at nearly 32 per contest. Also like Burke, Sobolewski has been shaky shooting the ball. Right now, his shooting percentages are 38.6 from the field, 29 from three-point land, and 75 from the free throw line. The freshman showed poise by hitting a three-pointer to put Northwestern ahead by four in the final minute of the team’s win over LSU at the Charleston Classic. The most impressive thing I have seen from him though is his ability to learn the Princeton Offense so easily. If Northwestern wants to get over the hump and make their first ever NCAA Tournament, Sobolewski will need to step up and take the pressure off the likes of John Shurna and Drew Crawford.
Elliott Eliason, center, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Eliason will probably come as the biggest surprise on this list, since his statistics ARE NOT as impressive as the others. Eliason’s statistical line currently is 3.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in just under 14 minutes. So why is Eliason on my All-Freshman Team? With the loss of Trevor Mbakwe for the season, as well as Ralph Sampson III’s lingering injury that has kept him out, an opportunity has been given to Eliason. He has now started the last two games, increasing both his playing time and production. Eliason has helped a Minnesota team that was left for dead after Mbakwe went down, win its last two games over Virginia Tech and USC. Elisason went for eight points and seven rebounds, while playing a career-high 32 minutes in a narrow win against Virginia Tech. Three days later, he grabbed nine rebounds, helping the Golden Gophers remain with only one loss. Once Sampson III comes back, Eliason might not be playing 30-plus minutes anymore. But he has established himself as a force in the paint, that will certainly help this team in whatever he is called upon to do.
The following players did not make my All-Freshman Team list, but could end up on the list with solid play once the Big Ten season rolls around:
Aaron White, forward, Iowa Hawkeyes
7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.2 assists
Andre Hollins, guard, Minnesota Golden Gophers
7.8 points, 1.0 rebound, 1.6 assists
Trey Lewis, guard, Penn State Nittany Lions
6.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Travis Trice, guard, Michigan State Spartans
5.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Josh Oglesby, guard, Iowa Hawkeyes
7.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists