The Wisconsin basketball may have had a unanimous selection during the Big Ten Conference honors, but a snub is what many are worried about.
Transfer guard John Tonje claimed a unanimous first-team selection within the Big Ten Conference in the midst of a memorable and historic season. Wisconsin has boasted plenty of talent around Tonje as well this season, and one of the biggest names who has contributed to the success of the Badgers this season is guard John Blackwell.
However, Blackwell received an honorable mention rather than making one of the conference teams despite his efforts for the Wisconsin Badgers this season, which many fans and players have expressed displeasure towards.
Wisconsin Basketball Guard John Blackwell Named Big Ten All-Conference Honorable Mention
Shortly after the announcements were made by the Big Ten Conference, Wisconsin basketball fans questioned why John Blackwell was an honorable mention.
Blackwell has averaged 15.6 points per game this season along with 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 45.6% from the field. The guard has also shot 32.6% from three-point range, and commanded the offense at times this season when the Badgers have needed a jolt.
Despite this, Blackwell was not selected to a conference team and it was likely due to the struggles the guard has had down the stretch with ten assists and nine turnovers in the last five games. While Blackwell has struggled recently, the selections are intended to reflect the accomplishments a player has made all season, and guard Max Klesmit has voiced his issue with the selections made.
Wisconsin Badgers Veteran Max Klesmit Defends Blackwell, Questions Selection Process
Klesmit took to social media and stated “This is laughable” along with a graphic made for Blackwell being named an honorable mention. The post from Klesmit quickly spread and has since been shared around by many Wisconsin basketball fans who feel the same.
247sports insider Evan Flood took the liberty of comparing other notable selections that made it onto the teams over Blackwell for the fans who have been critical of the selections that have been made. Specific selections that Wisconsin basketball and Big Ten fans have been questioning are Jaden Akins and Jackson Shelsted, who both had solid seasons but not necessarily the same season that Blackwell has had.
Blackwell led Akins in points, rebounds, and assists per game while shooting nearly 6% better from the floor and leads Shelsted in points and rebounds per game. Shelsted is also a member of Oregon, who went 12-8 in Big Ten Conference play this season.
Regardless of who was selected, Blackwell has been a solid contributor for the Wisconsin basketball team and without a doubt a pivotal part of the success of the team this season.
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