Bryce McGowens named AP Big Ten newcomer of the year; OSU’s Branham wins conference award | Men’s Basketball

Bryce McGowens earned one Big Ten award and missed out on another on Tuesday. 

The standout Nebraska freshman was named The Associated Press’ newcomer of the year, but lost the conference’s freshman of the year award to Ohio State’s Malaki Branham.

Averaging 17.2 points per game, McGowens is the national scoring leader among true freshmen, and is tied for eighth in the Big Ten.

The first five-star recruit to join the Huskers straight out of high school, McGowens has lived up to his lofty billing. He leads Nebraska in scoring, is second in rebounding, and is third on the team in assists and blocked shots.

“You just look at what Bryce has meant to our team, and the way he has grown over the course of the year. And you can’t argue with his numbers,” NU coach Fred Hoiberg said last week. “With what he’s done to continue to go out there and get better and better and better. And the adjustments that he has made. And you give Bryce all the credit in the world for the work that he has put into it to get to the point where he is right now.”

A projected first-round NBA Draft pick, McGowens has 11 20-point games this season, an NU freshman record. He is just the fifth Husker freshman or sophomore to score 500 points in a season.

McGowens also has won eight Big Ten freshman of the week awards, the second-most for any player since the Big Ten started the award in the 2010-11 season. He was named third-team all-conference by both the league’s coaches and media.

“He’s done it the whole season. There’s only been a couple games where I felt like he hasn’t performed to his best capability. But the stats speak for themselves,” said Bryce’s older brother Trey, a Nebraska junior. “Just seeing how he improved. More than just how to score, things like that. Bryce has been locked in on defense. He’s been vocal. That’s probably the biggest thing I’m proud of. Just how vocal he’s been. He’s starting to understand how to win.”

Bryce McGowens has been at his best late in the season, averaging 20.5 points per game over his last five games. After a strong start to the year, McGowens struggled with the physicality of the Big Ten before adjusting and seeing his numbers go up.

Branham made a late charge to challenge him for top billing among the league’s rookies, but McGowens responded. Over his last two games, McGowens was 16-for-28 (57%) from the field, 5-for-12 (42%) from three-point range and 14-for-15 at the free-throw line while scoring 25 points against Penn State and 26 against Ohio State.

The matchup with the Buckeyes saw McGowens outscore Branham 26-16 before Branham fouled out late in the game.

“You see the numbers. There’s not a lot of teams across the country that are putting the ball in the hands of a freshman late in games,” Hoiberg said. “But Bryce has certainly responded to that. He’s responded to the physicality of this league.”

First team: Kofi Cockburn, Illinois; Keegan Murray, Iowa; E.J. Liddell, Ohio State; Jaden Ivey, Purdue; Johnny Davis, Wisconsin.

Second team: Trent Frazier, Illinois; Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana; Hunter Dickinson, Michigan; Zach Edey, Purdue; Ron Harper Jr., Rutgers; Brad Davison, Wisconsin. 

Third team: Alfonso Plummer, Illinois; Gabe Brown, Michigan State; Bryce McGowens, Nebraska; Malaki Branham, Ohio State; Trevion Williams, Purdue; Geo Baker, Rutger.

Honorable mention: Jordan Bohannon, Iowa; Fatts Russell, Maryland; Malik Hall, Michigan State; Jamison Battle, Minnesota; Payton Willis, Minnesota; John Harrar, Penn State; Sasha Stefanovic, Purdue; Tyler Wahl, Wisconsin

All-freshman team: Moussa Diabate, Michigan; Max Christie, Michigan State; Malaki Branham, Ohio State; Bryce McGowens, Nebraska; Chucky Hepburn, Wisconsin.

Player of year: Johnny Davis, Wisconsin. 

Defensive player of year: Caleb McConnell, Rutgers. 

Freshman of year: Malaki Branham, Ohio State. 

Sixth man of the year: Trevion Williams, Purdue. 

Coach of the year: Greg Gard, Wisconsin.

First team: Kofi Cockburn, Illinois; Keegan Murray, Iowa; E.J. Liddell, Ohio State; Jaden Ivey, Purdue; Johnny Davis, Wisconsin. 

Second team: Trent Frazier, Illinois; Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana; Hunter Dickinson, Michigan; Zach Edey, Purdue; Ron Harper Jr., Rutgers; Brad Davison, Wisconsin. 

Third team: Alfonso Plummer, Illinois; Bryce McGowens, Nebraska; Malaki Branham, Ohio State; Trevion Williams, Purdue; Brad Davison, Wisconsin.

Honorable mention: Xavier Johnson, Indiana; Race Thompson, Indiana; Jordan Bohannon, Iowa; Fatts Russell, Maryland; Eric Ayala, Maryland; Eli Brooks, Michigan; Gabe Brown, Michigan State; Jamison Battle, Minnesota; Payton Willis, Minnesota; Pete Nance, Northwestern; John Harrar, Penn State; Sasha Stefanovic, Purdue; Geo Baker, Rutgers; Caleb McConnell, Rutgers; Paul Mulcahy, Rutgers; Clifford Omoruyi, Rutgers; Tyler Wahl, Wisconsin.

Player of year: Johnny Davis, Wisconsin. 

Freshman of year: Malaki Branham, Ohio State. 

Coach of the year: Greg Gard, Wisconsin.