Michigan State’s Miles Bridges says he was offered money during the recruiting process, but turned it down
Michigan State sophomore Miles Bridges, the Big Ten
Michigan State sophomore Miles Bridges, the Big Ten
By: MIKE McCURRY Very few people ever even
The Big Ten Conference unveiled the men’s basketball All-Conference teams and individual award winners on Monday night.
Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors from the conference’s coaches and a media panel, and was a unanimous selection by the coaches. Minnesota’s Richard Pitino claimed Coach of the Year laurels from both the media and his peers. Michigan State’s Miles Bridges picked up Freshman of the Year accolades in both ballots. Minnesota’s Reggie Lynch was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Iowa’s Nicholas Baer was voted the Sixth Man of the Year by the coaches.
Swanigan earns the Big Ten Player of the Year award after pacing the conference with 18.9 points and 12.6 rebounds per game in conference games. He became the first player to lead the Big Ten in scoring and rebounds in conference games since Ohio State’s Evan Turner in 2009-10. Swanigan becomes the fourth player in Purdue history to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors and the first since JaJaun Johnson in 2010-11.
Pitino led the Gophers to a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament with an 11-7 conference record, and a total of 23 wins, which ties the school record. Minnesota, which won eight of its last nine Big Ten games, is the NCAA’s most improved team from the 2015-16 campaign. Pitino becomes the second Minnesota mentor to earn Big Ten Coach of the Year honors and the first since Jim Dutcher in 1981-82.
In conference games only, Bridges ranked fifth in the Big Ten in scoring (16.6 ppg), sixth in rebounding (8.1 rpg) and fifth in blocks (1.7 bpg). He has posted seven double-doubles entering the Big Ten Tournament. Bridges, who was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week five times, becomes the Spartans’ second Freshman of the Year selection and first since Gary Harris in 2012-13.
Congrats to the 2016-17 #B1GMBBall first-team All-Big Ten honorees as selected by conference coaches. pic.twitter.com/d61he9zSdj
— Big Ten Men’s Hoops (@B1GMBBall) March 6, 2017
By MIKE McCURRY Michigan State was already beginning to
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo says stud freshman Miles Bridges will return on Wednesday against Rutgers, but won’t start.
Bridges has been out since injuring his left ankle on Dec. 1.
Tom Izzo says Miles Bridges expected to play on Wednesday vs Rutgers. Won’t start
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) January 2, 2017
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo says there’s no timetable on the return of stud freshman Miles Bridges, who injured his left ankle on Dec. 1.
“No, he’s kind of day-to-day, week-to-week,” Izzo said Monday on the Big Ten conference call. “We’re not going to do anything early, and I think they’re going to evaluate this week. He’s had the boot on but he’s starting to take it off to get little workouts in. Really the timetable has not been determined. This week will be an interesting week to see once finals are over then how they evaluate him. I see nothing in the real, real future yet I don’t see him being held out forever, either.”
Michigan State hosts Northwestern on Sunday and then Oakland on Dec. 21. Bridges could return by that second game.
Add Michigan State stud freshman Miles Bridges
