Bruce Thornton (2) reached over 2000 points in the game Feb. 17, against Wisconsin. Credit: Cassandra D’Angelo | Lantern Photographer.
Ohio State’s starting backcourt has earned Big Ten honors before postseason play begins.
Senior guard Bruce Thornton was named second-team All-Big Ten by both coaches and media, and sophomore guard John Mobley Jr. received honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media.
Thornton earned All-Big Ten honors in his previous two seasons, second team as a junior and third team as a sophomore. Thornton becomes the first Buckeye since Aaron Craft in 2011, 2013 and 2014 to earn All-Big Ten honors three times.
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., Purdue’s Braden Smith, Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz and Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort were named to the first team All-Big Ten.
Thornton, who passed Dennis Hopson as Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer in the Buckeyes’ 91-78 win over Indiana Saturday, led the Buckeyes this season in points, assists and steals per game. Thornton’s 20.1 points per game ranks fifth in the Big Ten, and his 55.8% field goal percentage is first in the conference among guards.
The senior guard was named Big Ten Player of the Week three times this season, including last week when he averaged 21.5 points on 82.4% shooting from the field, seven assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in wins over Penn State and Indiana.
Along with forward Amare Bynum, Thornton is one of two Buckeyes to have played in every game this season.
Mobley Jr. led the Big Ten in 3-point percentage, making 42.4% of his attempts from beyond the arc. Mobley Jr. has made five or more 3-pointers in nine games this season.
The sophomore guard is Ohio State’s second-leading scorer behind Thornton, averaging 15.9 points per game. Mobley Jr. ranks 15th in the Big Ten in scoring.
Mobley Jr. missed three games this season due to a finger injury but has made 89 3-pointers, which is tied for the seventh-most in a single season in Ohio State program history.
The Buckeyes received the No. 8 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and will play either No. 9 Iowa, No. 16 Oregon or No. 17 Maryland on Thursday at 12 p.m.
Here is a list of the Big Ten honorees:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aday Mara, Michigan
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
Braden Frager, Nebraska
COACH OF THE YEAR
Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska
HOWARD MOORE ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sharif Chambliss, Wisconsin
FIRST TEAM
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
Braden Smith, Purdue
SECOND TEAM
Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
Nick Boyd, Wisconsin
THIRD TEAM
Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan
Aday Mara, Michigan
Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA
Hannes Steinbach, Washington
John Blackwell, Wisconsin
HONORABLE MENTION
David Mirkovic, Illinois
Jaxon Kohler, Michigan State
Cade Tyson, Minnesota
Sam Hoiberg, Nebraska
Rienk Mast, Nebraska
