Indiana basketball picked sixth in preseason Big Ten Media Poll; Mackenzie Mgbako picked as Freshman of the Year

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The ‘unofficial’ official Big Ten men’s basketball media poll was released on Monday morning. It has been run by The Athletic’s Brendan Quinn and Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch for the last seven years.

All 14 programs are represented by two writers covering each school.

The Indiana basketball program finished sixth in the voting, while freshman Mackenzie Mgbako was picked to win the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He received 19 first place votes. Indiana guard Jalen Hood-Schifino was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2022.

“Only time will tell. He’s capable of putting the basketball in the hole. He’s shown that this summer. We’ve got to help him as coaches and put him in the best position possible to be successful and help us,” Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson said at Indiana media day. “I’m expecting big things from him, but I’m not putting a lot of pressure on him. He’s a freshman.”

Indiana basketball sophomore transfer Kel’el Ware received two votes in the Transfer of the Year voting.

Watch: Full Ride Network video preview of Indiana basketball 2023-24 season 

Big Ten men’s basketball media day is on Tuesday, October 10.

Big Ten Conference prediction (first-place votes in parenthesis)

1. Purdue, 388 (24)
2. Michigan State, 368 (4)
3. Maryland, 304
4. Illinois, 301
5. Wisconsin, 276
6. Indiana, 244
7. Ohio State, 228
8. Northwestern, 195
9. Iowa, 164
10. Rutgers, 147
11. Michigan, 131
12. Nebraska, 90
13. Penn State, 71
14. Minnesota, 33

(392 possible votes)

Freshman of the Year: Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana (19)

Receiving votes: DeShawn Harris-Smith, Maryland (5); Xavier Booker, Michigan State (2); Myles Colvin, Purdue,  Scotty Middleton, Ohio State (1)

Transfer of the Year: Ace Baldwin Jr., Penn State (14)

Receiving votes: Olivier Nkamhoua, Michigan (6); Jamison Battle, Ohio State (4); Kel’el Ware, Indiana, AJ Storr, Wisconsin (2)

SEE ALSO: National analyst provides tidbits on Indiana basketball pro day

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