Though he missed out on the Big Ten Player of the Year to Ohio State senior forward Terence Dials, Wisconsin junior forward Alando Tucker was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection by both the conferences' coaches and the media. Tucker's selection marks the fifth consecutive year in which the Badgers have had a consensus first-team selection.
Junior guard Kammron Taylor and freshman forward Joe Krabbenhoft were also honored Tuesday. Taylor was selected as a consenus honorable-mention for the all-conference teams, while Krabbenhoft was picked for the Big Ten all-freshman team.
Tucker was the only junior on the team that included Dials, Illinois' James Augustine and Dee Brown and Iowa's Greg Brunner.
Tucker averaged a league-leading 20 points per game in conference play, but cited the strong play of his teammates for his selection.
It's great to be named All-Big Ten, it's a wonderful honor,\ Tucker said. ""It's all thanks to my team because if it wasn't for my teammates, I wouldn't get any accolades.""
Tucker was the fourth different player to be named to the team in the last five years, after former Badgers Kirk Penney (2002-'03), Devin Harris (2004) and Mike Wilkinson (2005).
Taylor was the team's second-leading scorer, finishing with 14.4 points per game in conference play, placing him 11th in the Big Ten. The junior also led the team in minutes, assists, 3-pointers made and free-throw percentage.
""It feels good to see the improvement I've made since last year,"" Taylor said. ""The individual honor comes as a result of the team.""
Krabbenhoft joined Tucker (2003) as the only Badgers to make the Big Ten all-freshman team. The Sioux Falls, S.D. native averaged just over five rebounds in just under 19 minutes per game—second for Big Ten freshman.
Other Big Ten awards were given out Tuesday—OSU's Thad Matta claimed Coach of the Year, Penn State's Jamelle Cornely was named Freshman of the Year, Iowa senior Erek Hansen picked up Defensive Player of the Year and teammate senior Doug Thomas picked up the conference's Sixth Man of the Year award.
—uwbadgers.com
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