(BIG TEN) – Michigan State junior guard Jeremy Fears Jr. has been named 2026-27 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, as chosen by a select media panel, the conference announced on Monday.
Last season, Fears was the only player in the country to average 15.0 points and 9.0 assists, posting a team-high 15.2 points while leading the nation with 9.4 assists. The Joliet, Ill. native also ranked second in the country with 328 total assists, setting a new Michigan State record for assists in a season. Fears also broke the Spartans’ NCAA Tournament single game assist mark with 16 dimes in a 77-69 second round win over Louisville, breaking the single-game record of 14 set by Earvin Johnson on March 16, 1978 against Western Kentucky.
Fears collected five All-America honors after scoring in double figures 28 of 35 games, leading the team in scoring 13 times, and tallying nine games with at least 20 points and one with at least 30 points. Fears led the Spartans in assists in all 35 games, while handing out at least 10 assists 15 times and posting 11 double-doubles in points and assists.
T Wisconsin men’s basketball forward Nolan Winter has earned his first accolade of the 2026-27 campaign as the senior was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team, the league announced Monday.
Winter is the 13th Badger to receive the honor from the conference since the 2008-09 season.
A native of Lakeville, Minnesota, Winter averaged 13.1 points per game and 8.5 rebounds, which ranked fourth in the Big Ten last year. His 12 double-doubles ranked second in the league last year and were the third-most in a single-season school since 2000. Winter shot 69.6% from 2-point range during the 2025-26 campaign, which ranked 10th nationally.
The 2026-27 Preseason All-Big Ten Team can be found below.
2026-27 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
2026-27 Preseason All-Big Ten Team*
David Mirkovic, Illinois
Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
Pharrell Payne, Maryland
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan
Trey McKenney, Michigan
JEREMY FEARS Jr., Michigan State
PRYCE SANDFORT, Nebraska
John Mobley Jr., Ohio State
Trent Perry, UCLA
Rodney Rice, USC
Nolan Winter, Wisconsin
Unanimous selection listed in ALL CAPS
*Extra player due to a tie in voting
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