Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes named preseason Big Ten Player of the Year

The Big Ten announced its 2016-17 preseason all-conference honors on Tuesday and Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes came away with the biggest of them all, as the media named him the conference’s preseason player of the year.

Hayes, who averaged 15.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last year, returned to the Badgers for his senior season amid high expectations. He was the only unanimous player selected to the team by the Big Ten media.

Hayes was not the only Wisconsin player to get preseason notice. Redshirt sophomore forward Ethan Happ (12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds per game in 2015-16) and senior guard Bronson Koenig (13.1 points, 2.4 assists per game) join Hayes on the preseason All-Big Ten team. Both Koenig and Happ look to build on their strong NCAA play as the Badgers hope to make a deep run in 2016-17.