Indiana Basketball: 2019-20 end of season awards
By Alec Lasley
Most Valuable Player: Trayce Jackson-Davis
I think almost everyone in their right mind could figure this one out. Despite being just a freshman, Trayce Jackson-Davis was the go-to player for the Hoosiers from game one.
Finishing second in the Big Ten Freshman of the Year voting, Jackson-Davis was arguably the better and meant more to his team than Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn who won the award. Either way, Jackson-Davis’s 13.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game led the team despite a 21.5 usage rate. For comparison, Devonte Green led the roster with a 28.5 rate, while six others were cramped between 18 and Jackson-Davis’s 21.5.
Related Story. 5 Takeaways From 2019-20 Season. light
On the season, Jackson-Davis finished with 11 double-doubles and scored in double-digits in 22-of-32 games. He was not only the most productive Indiana player, he also led the entire Big Ten with a 124.3 offensive rating.
The highlights of Jackson-Davis’s season was a 27-point and 16-rebound game against Minnesota which arguably clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament field. Other notable performances were 25 points and 15 rebounds against Nebraska and 19 points and 14 rebounds against South Dakota State.
One of the better rebounders that Indiana basketball has had but especially as a freshman, he set the program’s freshman record with 270 rebounds. It was previously help by Noah Vonleh who finished the 2013-14 season with 269 boards.
Jackson-Davis is expected to be back for his sophomore season, a year in which could be a very memorable one for the Center Grove native.