The Big Ten Conference started awarding a Player of the Year for basketball back in 1984-85. Since then, a litany of Spartans have received the honor, which has led to Michigan State having the most winners of the award in conference history.
The first Spartan to win the award was Scott Skiles in 1986 and the latest was Cassius Winston in 2019.
Here is the full awards breakdown by team:
- Michigan State – 9
- Ohio State – 7
- Indiana – 6
- Michigan – 5
- Purdue – 4
- Illinois – 3
- Wisconsin – 3
- Iowa – 1
This list excludes Clem Haskins, who won the award with Minnesota back in 1997 but was forced to vacate the honor. In 1999 and 2000 a Spartan shared the award both years, first with Mateen Cleaves and then with Morris Peterson. Cleaves shared it with Scoonie Penn of Ohio State and Peterson with A.J. Guyton of Indiana.
Mateen Cleaves is one of only two players to have won the award twice.
