Trey Burke named to Big Ten Network’s All-Decade Team

Trey Burke was one of the best basketball players to ever go through the University of Michigan, and this week he received quite a prestigious honor from the Big Ten Network.

This week the Big Ten Network has unveiled their All-Decade Team for Big Ten basketball players from the 2010’s. A first, second, and third team were all listed with a lone Michigan Wolverine in the rankings: Trey Burke.

The 2013 Consensus National Player of the Year helped the team reach a National Championship game and became an incredibly decorated player in just two season under coach John Beilein.

A panel of 24 from the Big Ten Network agreed that Burke was a must-have on the All-Decade First Team citing the fact that the “supremely confident Burke dealt with the rigors of the Big Ten from the get-go, quickly emerging as the Wolverines best player. Burke led Michigan in scoring, assists, steals, and blocks. He was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and he earned mention on several All-American teams.”

After the first season was through, Burke could have left. He made enough a name for himself to likely be selected in the NBA Draft, but decided to stay put for one more season and give Michigan another shot at a National Championship. In year two, “Burke truly emerged as a superstar on a young, but talented Wolverines team,” explained the panelists. “(Michigan) started 16-0 before ending up as a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament... Burke led the Wolverines all the way to the National Championship Game. He was named Big Ten and National Player of the Year, before making himself eligible for the NBA Draft.”

Although he played just two seasons in Ann Arbor for the Wolverines, there is little doubt that he made his presence felt each and every game wearing the maize and blue. In his sophomore season he averaged 18.6 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per contest. He was selected with the No. 9 overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves and was later traded to the Utah Jazz. He is currently an NBA free agent.

Stunningly, however, Burke was the only Wolverines mention on all three of the All-Decade teams the panelists selected. With two National Championship appearances, it is slightly puzzling that it outweighs the number of players the panel deemed good enough to make their lists. Here is what they came up with:

Ohio State leads the way with four players selected: Aaron Craft and D’Angelo Russel on the third-team, Jared Sullinger on the second-team, and Evan Turner on the first-team.

Next come Michigan State and Purdue, each with three players present. The Spartans representatives include two first-teamers, Draymond Green and Denzel Valentine. Cassius Winston deservingly earned a spot on the second-team. Meanwhile, the Boilermakers find a few spots of their own with Carsen Edwards as a second-teamer, and two third-team players in Caleb Swanigan and Jajuan Johnson.

Two guards from Indiana also made the list with Victor Oladipo achieving second-team honors and Yogi Ferrell finding a place on the third-team.

Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin each were given one selection with Trey Burke, Jordan Murphy, and Frank Kaminsky, respectively.

Did the committee get it right? Sound off in the comments with what Michigan players you think deserved the honors!