Editor’s note: Big 10 of the Big Ten is a collection of tidbits from around the conference. This weekly feature provides a recap from the previous slate of games and also serves as a preview to the upcoming basketball week.

National player of the year candidates

Forget how crowded the Big Ten Player of Year race will be at the conclusion of conference play. Those same Big Ten candidates all have a legitimate shot at national player of the year honors as well. Indiana forward Cody Zeller is averaging 15.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for the No. 1-ranked Hoosiers. Michigan point guard Trey Burke is averaging 17.1 points and 6.9 assists per game, while Ohio State forward Deshaun Thomas leads the Big Ten in scoring at 20.6 points per game. Illinois’ own Brandon Paul, Big Ten’s second leading scorer at 19.0 points per game, garnered player of the year consideration after his Gonzaga performance Saturday. 

Rookies making some noise

Though not the most-touted bunch, Big Ten freshmen have made an impact on top conference teams so far. Michigan’s guard Nik Stauskas leads all freshmen scorers with 13.5 points per game, and Michigan State guard Gary Harris Jr. is right behind at 13. Indiana point guard Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell has been setting up the many Hoosier offensive weapons and is second only to Burke in the Big Ten in assists per game at 4.9.

New coaches making mark

Illinois head coach John Groce has made the big headlines with his 11-0 start in his first year with the Illini. Nebraska’s new head coach, Tim Miles, also has enjoyed a good start to season with a 6-2 record this year.

Three undefeated teams left in Big Ten

The Big Ten is the only conference in the nation to still have three undefeated teams. No. 1 Indiana, No. 3 Michigan and No. 10 Illinois remain as three of the 14 remaining undefeated teams heading into this weekend’s batch of games. At 10-0, Michigan is off to its best start in the last 24 years, and Indiana is off to its second straight 9-0 start to a season but only for the second time since the 1989-90 season.

Big Ten has conference depth

The Big Ten leads the nation with six teams in the AP and the USA Today polls, and all of those teams are ranked within the top 19. Four teams are ranked in the top 10.

Not all teams are enjoying stellar seasons

Purdue, who lost Robbie Hummel to graduation last year, is struggling mightily this season, amassing a 4-5 record with losses to Oregon State and Bucknell. Penn State, without preseason first-team All-Big Ten guard Tim Frazier, who tore his ACL early this season, has sustained losses to Akron and La Salle on the way to a 5-4 record.

Show-stopping dunk

Minnesota’s Rodney Williams threw down a stunner Tuesday that’d make Dr. J’s jaw drop. After poking away a North Dakota State pass, Williams had a clear path to the basket on a fast break. As one of the nation’s top dunkers, it was clear Williams wasn’t going to merely lay the ball up. Instead, he went twirling in a 360-degree pattern from the middle of the key and threw down a two-handed dunk before crumpling to the ground from the momentum.

Honors keep flowing

Paul was named Big Ten Player of the Week after scoring a season-high 35 points and pulling off possibly the best all-around effort of his career at Gonzaga. The senior was 10-of-16 from the field — nine for his last 11 — and 10-of-11 from the charity stripe. He added four rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks to cap off a performance that earned Paul his second such honor of his career, the last coming on Jan. 10 after he scored 43 points at home against Ohio State.

Michigan State awaits Parker’s decision

Sonny Parker, father of Simeon Career Academy’s Jabari Parker, announced Wednesday that his son will make his college decision Dec. 20 at Simeon. Jabari is the No. 2 recruit in the class of 2013. Michigan State is among a group of five programs Parker will choose from, along with Duke, Florida, Stanford and BYU.

Game of the weekend

Indiana will face a Butler team that’s already beaten North Carolina and Northwestern but lost to Illinois and Xavier. Senior Rotnei Clarke’s 17 points per game have been enough to keep Butler at 7-2, but the No. 1 Hoosiers are a tough matchup. Regardless, Butler and Indiana compete for in-state recruits and are located less than three hours from each other.

Ethan can be reached at [email protected] and @asofthesky. Thomas can be reached at [email protected] and @ThomasBruch.