Editor’s Note: The Big Ten announced its 2013 basketball postseason honors Monday as voted on by the media, including first-team all-Big Ten, Coach of the Year and Freshman of the Year. 

First-team all-Big Ten by media:

Aaron Craft

One of the peskiest defenders in the Big Ten, Craft was certainly a close second to Victor Oladipo for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He picked five Michigan State players’ pockets on Jan. 19, and finished the season averaging two steals per game. The knock on Craft at the beginning of the season was whether he could improve as an offensive threat. While at times still inconsistent scoring the ball, he averaged 9.7 points and 4.5 assists playing in every game this season.

Best game — 21 points, six assists in 68-60 win over then-No. 4 Michigan State.

Trey Burke

Burke was named Big Ten Player of the Year on Monday and was an unanimous selection to the first team. Most expected him to be one of the conference’s elite players this season, but he was remarkably consistent for Michigan. The sophomore guard never scored in single digits in any game and averaged 18.8 points per game against ranked opponents. He also led the nation in assists. 

Best game — dominated the final three minutes of the Wolverines’ crucial 58-57 win over then-No. 9 Michigan State on March 3. Burke finished with 21 points and eight assists, and also completed a game-winning steal and layup with 22 seconds remaining. 

Cody Zeller

The sophomore was named the nation’s preseason player of the year. While it appears Burke has him beat for the award, Zeller didn’t disappoint. He was voted First-Team All-Big Ten unanimously while finishing third in the conference in scoring (16.8 points per game), second in the conference in rebounding (8.1 per game) and second in the conference in field goal percentage (57 percent) behind teammate Oladipo.

Best game — Zeller scored 25 points and pulled down 10 boards in a thrilling 72-71 win over Michigan to capture the Big Ten crown on Sunday.

Victor Oladipo

The junior was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year on Monday while also picking up a unanimous nod for the first team All-Big Ten. He’ll go down in history for holding one of the most unforgettable images of the 2013 Big Ten season, when he lay face-first sobbing on the court in Ann Arbor, Mich., after capturing the conference championship in Indiana’s thrilling one-point victory over Michigan on Sunday. He finished the season averaging 13.7 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game and 2.2 steals per game. He’s still a legitimate contender for National Player of the Year.

Best game — Oladipo scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds in an 81-68 win over then-No.10 Ohio State on Feb. 10.

Deshaun Thomas

The junior finished the season as the Big Ten’s leading scorer at 19.7 points per game and also finished tops in the conference shooting 84 percent from the free throw line. Thomas also averaged 6.1 rebounds per game and paced Ohio State to a second-place finish in the Big Ten. He was a unanimous selection for First-Team All-Big Ten. 

Best game — Thomas’ best scoring efforts came in losses, but his 18 points and eight rebounds lead the Buckeyes to a 67-58 win over then-No. 2 Indiana on March 5.

Coach of the Year 

Bo Ryan was named Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading Wisconsin to a 21-10 overall record and a 12-6 conference record. No coach did as much with so little. Ryan has guided to Wisconsin to a top-four finish in the Big Ten for the 12th year in a row. 

Michigan State guard Gary Harris was named Big Ten Freshman of Year after averaging 13.2 points per game this season.

Illinois’ Brandon Paul was named to the Third-Team All-Big Ten and was one of 12 sportsmanship honorees. D.J. Richardson was a third-team honorable mention.

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