Indiana basketball: TJD named Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year

The Big Ten Conference revealed that Indiana basketball star, Trayce Jackson-Davis, was named the 2022-23 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year and was also a unanimous selection for the Preseason All-Big Ten First Team.

Jackson-Davis is the first Hoosier to be honored with this preseason award since 2012-13, when Cody Zeller was named the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, and, though he didn’t win the award, he did earn himself an All-Big Ten first team honor and was also a finalist for the Wooden Award. In that 2012-13 season, Zeller ranked top five in the Big Ten in the following statistical categories:

Total points: 594 (4th)
Total rebounds: 289 (2nd)
Total offensive rebounds: 101 (2nd)
Total defensive rebounds: 188 (2nd)
Field goal percentage: 56.4% (2nd)
Total field goals made: 199 (4th)
Total free throws made: 196 (1st)
Total free throws attempted: 259 (1st)
Player Efficiency Rating: 29.8 (1st)
Total Win Shares: 7.3 (2nd)

The reason I point out all of these numbers is because it would not be surprising if Jackson-Davis has a similar, if not better season this upcoming year. Last year, Jackson-Davis ranked top five in nine of the 10 listed categories above, yet was only honored on the All-Big Ten second team. I expect TJD to finish top three in all of the categories above, and even going beyond that and leading his Hoosiers to regular season and conference tournament title.

One other key note from the release by the Big Ten was that the Indiana basketball forward was one of three unanimous selections by the media for the preseason All-Big Ten first team, alongside Michigan center, Hunter Dickinson, and Purdue center, Zach Edey.

All of the hype and preseason accolades are impressive for Jackson-Davis, but as a true Indiana basketball fan myself, it won’t mean much unless he leads this team to the Elite Eight or better this season. The senior forward showed what he could do when the lights shined the brightest; now it’s time for him to prove his talent and leadership for this promising Hoosiers squad.