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Butler, Koufos earn All-Big Ten honors

For the second straight year, the media named an Ohio State point guard to their First-Team All-Big Ten squad.
After selecting freshman Mike Conley Jr. to the team a year ago, the media honored OSU senior Jamar Butler with a selection this season. Butler averaged 14.6 points and 6.0 assists per game this season, and was the only player in the conference to finish in the top five in both categories.
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That wasn't enough to warrant a selection from the coaches, who chose Michigan State point guard Drew Neitzel for their first-team instead, dropping Butler down to the second-team. Rounding out the first team this season is Wisconsin forward Brian Butch, Purdue's Robbie Hummel and the Indiana duo of D.J. White and Eric Gordon.
Butler connected on 84 three-point shots this season to become OSU's all-time leader in threes with 222. He also holds the school record for wins with 100 and career assists with 545, and at least one coach felt Butler was worthy of a first-team selection.
"Jamar deserved to make first team All-Big Ten," OSU coach Thad Matta said in a statement. "His hard work over his career and especially this season has paid off with all the Ohio State records he has set and now earning a spot on the All-Big Ten team. If you look at the guards over the years who have earned that honor, it shows what a difficult and remarkable accomplishment it is to earn all-league honors."
The coaches did like OSU freshman Kosta Koufos, as they named him to their all-freshman team, while both the media and coaches chose the seven-foot forward as a third-team All-Big Ten selection.
"Kosta improved throughout his freshman year," Matta said. "His best basketball is ahead. There are many talented freshmen in this league. Kosta earned a spot on the All-Big Ten third team and the all-freshman squad. We are certainly proud of his efforts this season."
Although his rookie campaign has been a bit rocky, Koufos averaged 13.7 points per game as a freshman and led the Buckeyes with 6.8 rebounds a night.
A year ago OSU had a seven-foot freshman named Greg Oden honored as the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year. Monday that honor went to Indiana's Gordon, while the Big Ten Player of the Year Award went to White. The Hoosiers' senior led the conference in rebounding at 10.7 per game and finished second in scoring at 17.8 points per game behind Gordon.
Purdue coach Matt Painter was selected as the Big Ten Coach of the Year, and the Defensive Player of the Year went to Boilermakers' guard Chris Kramer. Wisconsin's Jason Bohannon was named as the Big Ten's Sixth Man of the Year.
The conference also selected one player from each team to receive the Sportsmanship Award. For the Buckeyes that honor went to freshman Jon Diebler.
The complete list of the All-Big Ten teams and awards follows.
MEDIA SELECTIONS
First Team
Eric Gordon (Indiana)
D.J. White (Indiana)
Jamar Butler (Ohio State)
Robbie Hummel (Purdue)
Brian Butch (Wisconsin)
Second Team
Manny Harris (Michigan)
Raymar Morgan (Michigan State)
Drew Neitzel (Michigan State)
E'Twaun Moore (Purdue)
Michael Flowers (Wisconsin)
Third Team
Shaun Pruitt (Illinois)
Armon Bassett (Indiana)
Kosta Koufos (Ohio State)
Jamelle Cornley (Penn State)
Chris Kramer (Purdue)
Marcus Landry (Wisconsin)
Player of the Year – D.J. White (Indiana)
Freshman of the Year – Eric Gordon (Indiana)
Coach of the Year – Matt Painter (Purdue)
COACHES SELECTIONS
First Team
Eric Gordon (Indiana)
D.J. White (Indiana)
Drew Neitzel (Michigan State)
Robbie Hummel (Purdue)
Brian Butch (Wisconsin)
Second Team
Manny Harris (Michigan)
Raymar Morgan (Michigan State)
Jamar Butler (Ohio State)
E'Twaun Moore (Purdue)
Marcus Landry (Wisconsin)
Third Team
Armon Bassett (Indiana)
Tony Freeman (Iowa)
Kosta Koufos (Ohio State)
Lawrence McKenzie (Minnesota)
Michael Flowers (Wisconsin)
Player of the Year – D.J. White (Indiana)
Freshman of the Year – Eric Gordon (Indiana)
Coach of the Year – Matt Painter (Purdue)
Defensive Player of the Year – Chris Kramer (Purdue)
Sixth Man of the Year – Jason Bohannon (Wisconsin)
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