The Big Ten announced All-Conference teams on Monday and when the rosters were revealed, Gophers center Daniel Oturu was not listed on the All-Big Ten First Team roster.
Oturu has had a monster season for the Gophers, averaging 20 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Although Oturu wound up on the All-Big Ten Second Team, his omission from the first team is confusing considering where the 14-16 Gophers, who were also 8-12 in the Big Ten, would be without him.
Instead, the nod was given to Iowa’s Luka Garza (23.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and Maryland’s Jalen Smith (15.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg) as the two forward/centers on the first team. Both are sensational, but Oturu was arguably as deserving if not more so.
Joining them as first team selections are Michigan State’s Cassius Winston, Maryland’s Anthony Cowan Jr. and Penn State’s Lamar Stevens. Both Garza and Winston were unanimous selections.
Oturu joined Ayo Dosunmu of Illinois, Zavier Simpson of Michigan, Xavier Tillman of Michigan State and Kaleb Wesson of Ohio State on the second team.
In addition to Oturu, Gophers guard Marcus Carr earned recognition as an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection.
Minnesota is the 12 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and will open play Wednesday against 13 seed Northwestern.
