MSU's Winston Named Big Ten Player Of The Year, UM's Brazdeikis Freshman Of The Year

CHICAGO (97.1 The Ticket) -- Michigan State point guard Cassius Winston has been named Big Ten Player of the Year.

The conference made the announcement in Chicago, ahead of the Big Ten Tournament.

Cassius Winston of @MSU_Basketball selected as the 2018-19 #B1GMBBall Player of the Year by conference coaches and media. pic.twitter.com/iumXbxAd7t

Winston leads the Spartans (25-6, 16-4) into the tournament, having averaged 19 points and 7.6 assists per game. He had 23 points and seven assists in Saturday's win over rival Michigan that clinched a share of the regular season title with Purdue.

"I think I've grown in a lot of ways," Winston told Big Ten Network. "I'm just more confident, more aggressive, I'm a better leader for my team. All those types of things, I think I took a big step in."

Winston was also named First Team All-Big Ten by the media and conference coaches.

Earlier in the day Winston was named a First Team All-American by Sporting News.

Wisconsin's Ethan Happ, Purdue's Carsen Edwards and Maryland's Bruno Fernando were all selected by both panels, while coaches gave the final nod to Penn State's Lamar Stevens and the media voted for Jordan Murphy of Minnesota.

The 2018-19 #B1GMBBall All-Big Ten First Team as selected by conference coaches and media. pic.twitter.com/XqlPwCmpOG

Teammate Nick Ward was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team, despite having missed the last five games with a hairline fracture in his hand. Ward is expected to be back for the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans will open in the quarterfinals against either Indiana or Ohio State.

The 2018-19 #B1GMBBall All-Big Ten Third Team as selected by conference coaches and media. pic.twitter.com/jdLIKOVIo4

Michigan point guard Zavier Simpson and freshman forward Ignas Brazdeikis were named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.

Brazdeikis, averaging 15 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, took home Big Ten Freshman of the year honors.

Ignas Brazdeikis of @umichbball selected as the 2018-19 #B1GMBBall Freshman of the Year by conference coaches and media. pic.twitter.com/s9Kqlzny5J

The 2018-19 #B1GMBBall All-Big Ten Second Team as selected by conference coaches and media. pic.twitter.com/nTSfaoFGQa

Purdue's Matt Painter was named as the conference's Coach of the Year, after leading his Boilermakers (23-8, 16-4) to a share of the conference title after they lost four starters from last year's team.