2011–12 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season

Three teams were ranked in the preseason USA Today/ESPN poll: Ohio State (No. 3), Wisconsin (No. 14) and Michigan (No. 18), while Michigan State and Purdue were also receiving votes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/blog/2011/10/three-big-ten-teams-ranked-in-preseason-coaches-poll.html|title=Three Big Ten Teams Ranked in Preseason Coaches Poll|date=October 20, 2011|access-date=October 22, 2011|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023031707/http://www.bigten.org/blog/2011/10/three-big-ten-teams-ranked-in-preseason-coaches-poll.html|archive-date=October 23, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} The Big Ten Basketball Media Day for men's and women's basketball was October 27 in Chicago.{{cite web|url=http://indiana.sbnation.com/2011/10/12/2486046/big-ten-basketball-media-day-players-list-announced|title=Big Ten Basketball Media Day: Players List Announced|author=Miller, Travis|access-date=October 22, 2011|date=October 12, 2011|work =SB Nation}} The men's basketball media day was covered by ESPNU.{{cite web|url=http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2011/10/13/2011espnu-media-days/|title=College Basketball Media Days on ESPNU Tips Off with the ACC on October 19|access-date=October 22, 2011|date=October 13, 2011|publisher=ESPN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020125554/http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2011/10/13/2011espnu-media-days/|archive-date=October 20, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

Jared Sullinger was named preseason conference player of the year at the conference media day. Other preseason All-Big Ten first team selections were Draymond Green, Trevor Mbakwe, Robbie Hummel, and Jordan Taylor. Ohio State was chosen as the top team, followed by Wisconsin and Michigan State.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102711aaa.html|title=Sullinger, Ohio State Chosen as Preseason Big Ten Favorites|access-date=November 3, 2011|date=October 27, 2011|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101210523/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102711aaa.html|archive-date=November 1, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} Sullinger and Taylor were also both preseason Associated Press All-Americans. 5 of the 30 nominees for the men's basketball Lowe's Senior CLASS Award were from the Big Ten: Michigan's Zack Novak, Michigan State's Green, Ohio State's William Buford, Purdue's Hummel and Wisconsin's Taylor.

Trey Burke, Aaron Craft, Tim Frazier, Lewis Jackson and Jordan Taylor are five of the nearly 60 Bob Cousy Award candidates named in December.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122611aab.html|title=Big Ten Men's Basketball Weekly Release - Dec. 26, 2011: Conference play begins Tuesday night|date=December 26, 2011|website=BigTen.org|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=December 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104184326/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122611aab.html|archive-date=January 4, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} On January 4, Burke, Craft, and Taylor were included on the list of 20 finalists.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/blog/2012/01/three-big-ten-players-named-cousy-award-finalists.html|title=Three Big Ten Players Named Cousy Award Finalists|access-date=January 4, 2012|date=January 4, 2012|website=BigTen.org|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112044118/http://www.bigten.org/blog/2012/01/three-big-ten-players-named-cousy-award-finalists.html|archive-date=January 12, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} On February 2, the finalist list was shortened to 11, including Taylor and Craft.{{cite web|url=http://www.cousyaward.com/docs/cousy_award_final_11.pdf|title=Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Final 11 candidates for 2012 Bob Cousy Award|access-date=February 2, 2012|date=February 2, 2012|publisher=CousyAward.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315165545/http://www.cousyaward.com/docs/cousy_award_final_11.pdf|archive-date=March 15, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} William Buford, Draymond Green, Jared Sullinger, and Cody Zeller were included on the 25-man Wooden Midseason list on January 17.{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2012/01/25-wooden-award-finalists-announced/1|title=25 Wooden Award finalists announced|access-date=January 20, 2012|date=January 17, 2012|work=USA Today|author=Auerbach, Nicole}} Novak, Green, Buford and Hummel were among the 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award on January 25.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/blog/2012/01/four-named-finalists-for-lowes-senior-class-award.html|title=Big Ten Student-Athletes Named Finalists for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award|access-date=January 25, 2012|date=January 25, 2012|website=BigTen.org|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131145050/http://www.bigten.org/blog/2012/01/four-named-finalists-for-lowes-senior-class-award.html|archive-date=January 31, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} On February 6, Green, Sullinger and Zeller were included on the 20-player Oscar Robertson Trophy midseason watch list.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/news/2012/oscar120206.html|title=USBWA Announces Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List|access-date=February 7, 2012|date=February 6, 2012|publisher=United States Basketball Writers Association}} On February 15, Zeller was named one of five finalists for the USBWA National Freshman of the Year won the previous year by Sullinger.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/news/2012/tisdale120215.html|title=USBWA Names Finalists For 2012 Wayman Tisdale Award|access-date=February 16, 2012|date=February 15, 2012|publisher=United States Basketball Writers Association}} On March 1, Zeller, Green, Sullinger and Taylor were named to the 30-player midseason Naismith Award watchlist.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2012-02-29/naismith-midseason-30-list-released|title=Naismith 'Midseason 30' list released: Nearly a third of players on list are from mid-major conferences|access-date=March 5, 2012|date=March 1, 2012|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403155532/http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2012-02-29/naismith-midseason-30-list-released|archive-date=April 3, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} On March 6, Green and Sullinger were named to the 15-man Wooden Award finalist list.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/story/_/id/7651756/john-r-wooden-award-freshmen-big-men-lead-finalists|title=Wooden Award finalists named|access-date=March 6, 2012|date=March 6, 2012|publisher=ESPN}} On March 19, Green became one of four finalists for the Naismith Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031912aaa.html|title=Davis Named a Finalist for Naismith Player of the Year: UK freshman adds to growing list of honors following a prolific season|access-date=March 19, 2012|date=March 19, 2012|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=UKAthletics.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225075133/http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031912aaa.html|archive-date=December 25, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} Sullinger and Green were among the 10 finalists for the Wooden Award, a designation termed as Wooden All-American.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7738155/anthony-davis-jared-sullinger-thomas-robinson-lead-john-r-wooden-award-all-american-team|title=Wooden team includes Final Four trio|access-date=March 26, 2012|date=March 26, 2012|publisher=ESPN}}

For the full season, the Big Ten led the nation in attendance for the 36th consecutive season and posted its 20th consecutive year with two million attendanees. Average attendance of 12,868 was well ahead of other high major conferences: SEC (11,513), Big 12 (11,057), Big East (10,881) and ACC (9,876). The conference has six of the top 25 schools in terms of average attendance: Wisconsin (5th, 17,181), Ohio State (8th, 16,511), Indiana (9th, 16,462), Illinois (14th, 14,986), Michigan State (15th, 14,797) and Purdue (21st, 13,324). No other conference had more than 4 of the top 25.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/051112aaa.html|title=Big Ten Leads Nation in Attendance for 36th Straight Year|date=May 11, 2012|website=BigTen.org|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=May 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905141149/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/051112aaa.html|archive-date=September 5, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/resources/latest+news/2012/may/mens+basketball+attendance+still+strong|title=Men's basketball attendance still strong|author=Johnson, Gary|date=May 10, 2012|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association|access-date=May 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510200602/http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/resources/latest+news/2012/may/mens+basketball+attendance+still+strong|archive-date=May 10, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/attend/2012.pdf|title=2012 NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL ATTENDANCE (For All NCAA Men's Varsity Teams)|accessdate=April 28, 2024|date=May 10, 2012|publisher=NCAA}} Conference play officially began on Tuesday, December 27 when Illinois hosted Minnesota and Nebraska hosted its first conference game against 11th-ranked Wisconsin.

During the season Big Ten Conference led the nation in Rating percentage index among all conferences. The conference boasted 5 of the top 16 teams: Michigan State (number 3), Ohio State (number 6), Indiana (number 11), Michigan (number 15) and Wisconsin (number 16). All conference members were among the top 160 and the Big Ten was the only conference with exclusively top-180 members. The conference led the nation in both major elements of the index: combined winning percentage and strength of schedule index.

Michigan State's loss in the March 4 regular season finale at home to No. 10 Ohio State meant the Spartans shared the 2011–12 Big Ten regular season championship with Ohio State and Michigan, all of which finished the Big Ten season with a 13–5 conference record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/matchup/_/gameId/320640127|title=Ohio State vs. Michigan State|accessdate=May 12, 2024|date=March 4, 2012|website=ESPN.com}} Michigan needed a March 4 victory over Penn State to clinch its share of the Big Ten regular season championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/matchup/_/gameId/320640213|title=Trey Burke, Michigan top Penn State, earn share of Big Ten title|access-date=May 12, 2024|date=March 4, 2012|publisher=ESPN}} It was the 13th Big Ten Conference championships for Michigan and Michigan State, while it was the 20th for Ohio State.

{{See also|2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}

Big Ten teams emerged victorious in the following tournaments:

{{cite web|title=2011 College Basketball Early Season Tournaments And Events|url=http://www.bloggingthebracket.com/pages/2011-college-basketball-early-season-tournaments-and-events|publisher=SB*Nation|access-date=October 19, 2011}}{{cite web|title=Early Seasons Tourneys 2011|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/feature/index?page=ncbearlytourney2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111004105/http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/feature/index?page=ncbearlytourney2011|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2011|publisher=ESPN|access-date=November 27, 2011}}

*Although these tournaments include more teams, only the number listed play for the championship.

This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play. (x) indicates games remaining this season.

Throughout the conference regular season, the Big Ten offices named a player of the week each Monday.

On January 17, Brandon Paul was named national player of the week by the United States Basketball Writers Association.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/blog/2012/01/big-ten-sweeps-national-player-of-the-week-awards.html|title=Big Ten Sweeps National Player of the Week Awards|access-date=January 20, 2012|date=January 17, 2012|website=BigTen.org|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120052613/http://www.bigten.org/blog/2012/01/big-ten-sweeps-national-player-of-the-week-awards.html|archive-date=January 20, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/news/2012/oscar120117.html|title=Illinois' Paul Is Oscar Robertson National Player Of The Week|access-date=February 22, 2012|date=January 17, 2012|website=BigTen.org|publisher=CBS Interactive}}

On February 21 Draymond Green was named national player of the week by the USBWA.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/blog/2012/02/green-named-national-player-of-the-week.html|title=Green Named National Player of the Week|access-date=February 22, 2012|date=February 21, 2012|website=BigTen.org|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301102704/http://www.bigten.org/blog/2012/02/green-named-national-player-of-the-week.html|archive-date=March 1, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/news/2012/oscar120221.html|title=Michigan State's Green Is Oscar Robertson National PLayer Of The Week|access-date=February 22, 2012|date=February 21, 2012|website=BigTen.org|publisher=CBS Interactive}}

Four players (Novak, Craft, Drew Crawford and Jared Berggren) were named Academic All-District, meaning that they were among the 40 finalists to be named to the 15-man Academic All-America Team.{{cite web|url=http://cosida.com/media/documents/2012/2/Acad_All_District_M_Basketball_2011_12.pdf|title=Capital One Academic All-District Men's Basketball Teams Released|access-date=February 2, 2012|date=February 2, 2012|publisher=College Sports Information Directors of America}} Craft was named to the first team, Crawford to the second team and Novak to the third team, giving the Big Ten three Academic All-Americans, which was more than any other conference.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/blog/2012/02/four-big-ten-basketball-players-named-academic-all-america.html|title=Four Big Ten Basketball Players Named Academic All-America|access-date=February 23, 2012|date=February 23, 2012|publisher=CBS Interactive|website=BigTen.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227153231/http://www.bigten.org/blog/2012/02/four-big-ten-basketball-players-named-academic-all-america.html|archive-date=February 27, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cosida.com/news.aspx?id=3569|title=Tyler Zeller of UNC, Elena Delle Donne headline Capital One Academic All-America Division I Basketball Teams|access-date=February 23, 2012|date=February 23, 2012|publisher=College Sports Information Directors of America|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713070920/http://cosida.com/news.aspx?id=3569|archive-date=July 13, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

Two sets of conference award winners were recognized by the Big Ten - one selected by league coaches and one selected by the media.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030512aad.html|title=Big Ten Announces 2012 Men's Basketball Postseason Honors: Michigan State's Green named Big Ten Player of the Year|access-date=March 7, 2012|date=March 5, 2012|publisher=CBS Interactive|website=BigTen.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827085708/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030512aad.html|archive-date=August 27, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/B1GMBB12Awards.pdf|title=2011-12 All-Big Ten Men's Basketball Team|access-date=March 7, 2012|date=March 5, 2012|publisher=CBS Interactive|website=BigTen.org|archive-date=March 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324003753/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/B1GMBB12Awards.pdf|url-status=dead}}

The leading scorer for the year was John Shurna with an average of 20.0 and the leading rebounder was Draymond Green with an average of 10.6.

The National Association of Basketball Coaches announced their Division I All-District teams on March 14, recognizing the nation's best men's collegiate basketball student-athletes. Selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC, 240 student-athletes, from 24 districts were chosen. The selection on this list were then eligible for the State Farm Coaches' Division I All-America teams. The following list represented the Big Ten players chosen to the list.{{cite web| url=http://www.nabc.com/NABC_Releases/releases/2011-12_NABC_Releases/2012_NABC_Division_I_All-District_teams.pdf| publisher=National Association of Basketball Coaches| title=National Association of Basketball Coaches Announces 2012 Division I All-District Teams| access-date=March 14, 2012| date=March 14, 2012| archive-date=March 4, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304171925/http://nabc.com/nabc_releases/releases/2011-12_nabc_releases/2012_nabc_division_i_all-district_teams.pdf| url-status=dead}} Since the Big Ten Conference was its own district, this is equivalent to being named All-Big Ten by the NABC.{{cite web|url=http://www.nabc.org/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/nabc/sports/c-baskbl/auto_pdf/2008-09NABCDistrictRealignm |title=2008–09 NABC Division I Men's Basketball: District Realignment |access-date=March 10, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Basketball Coaches/CBS Interactive }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-1-of-2}}

First Team

• Draymond Green Michigan State
• Jared Sullinger Ohio State
• Jordan Taylor Wisconsin
• William Buford Ohio State
• John Shurna Northwestern

{{Col-2-of-2}}Second Team

• Cody Zeller Indiana
• Robbie Hummel Purdue
• Tim Frazier Penn State
• Trey Burke Michigan
• Brandon Paul Illinois

{{Col-end}}

On March 6, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association released its 2011–12 Men's All-District Teams, based upon voting from its national membership. There were nine regions from coast to coast, and a player and coach of the year were selected in each. The following lists all the Big Ten representatives selected within their respective regions.{{cite web

| url=http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/news/2012/alldistrict120306.html

| publisher=U.S. Basketball Writers Association

| title=USBWA Names 2011-12 Men's All-District Teams

| access-date=March 6, 2012

|date=March 6, 2012

}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-1-of-3}}District II (NY, NJ, DE, DC, PA, WV)

None Selected

{{Col-2-of-3}}District V (OH, IN, IL, MI, MN, WI)

Player of the Year

• Draymond Green, Michigan State

Coach of the Year

• Tom Izzo, Michigan State

All-District Team

• William Buford, Ohio State
• Trey Burke, Michigan
• Draymond Green, Michigan State
• Robbie Hummel, Purdue
• John Shurna, Northwestern
• Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
• Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin
• Cody Zeller, Indiana

{{Col-3-of-3}}District VI (IA, MO, KS, OK, NE, ND, SD)

None Selected

{{Col-end}}

Sullinger and Green were first team 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans by The Sporting News, while Zeller was a member of their All-Freshman team.{{cite web|url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2012-03-05/all-american-teams-anthony-davis-draymond-green-isaiah-canaan-thomas-robinson-ja|title=Sporting News 2012 All-American college basketball teams|access-date=March 6, 2012|date=March 5, 2012|work=Sporting News}} Green and Sullinger were also first team All-American selections by the United States Basketball Writers Association.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/news/2012/allamerica120312.html|title=USBWA Names 2011-12 All-Americans|access-date=March 12, 2012|date=March 12, 2012|publisher=United States Basketball Writers Association}} On March 20, the NABC chose Green and Sullinger as a first team All-Americans.{{cite web|url=http://www.nabc.org/NABC_Releases/releases/2011-12_NABC_Releases/2012_NABC_Coaches-_Division_I_All-America_release|title=National Association of Basketball Coaches Announces 2012 NABC Coaches' Division I All-America Teams|access-date=March 20, 2012|date=March 20, 2012|publisher=National Association of Basketball Coaches}} Sullinger and Green were named first team Associated Press All-Americans, making them unanimous first team selections. Trey Burke, Robbie Hummel, Jordan Taylor, John Shurna, and Cody Zeller were honorable mention selections.{{cite web|url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/sports/2012/03/2011-12-ap-all-america-teams/408371 |title=2011-12 AP All-America Teams |access-date=March 26, 2012 |date=March 26, 2012 |work=Washington Examiner }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Hummel was named the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award winner.{{cite web|url=http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/033012aaa.html|title=Hummel Wins Lowe's Senior CLASS Award: Valparaiso native is first Purdue player to claim prestigious award.|access-date=March 30, 2012|date=March 30, 2012|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=PurdueSports.com}} Aaron Craft won the Elite 89 Award.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2012-03-29/osus-craft-earns-elite-89-honor|title=OSU's Craft earns Elite 89 honor: Buckeye takes award after posting 3.89 cumulative GPA|access-date=March 31, 2012|date=March 29, 2012|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130858/http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2012-03-29/osus-craft-earns-elite-89-honor|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/rapid-reports/post/18144845|title=Craft gets another academic accolade|author=Bean, Doug|access-date=March 31, 2012|date=March 29, 2012|publisher=CBS Sports/CBS Interactive}} Green was named the NABC Player of the Year, while Izzo won his second career NABC Coach of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2012/04/nabc_names_michigan_states_dra.html|title=NABC names Michigan State's Draymond Green national player of the year and Tom Izzo coach of the year|access-date=May 12, 2024|date=April 2, 2012|work=MLive.com|author=Leung, Diamond}} 41 men's basketball players in their second year or beyond earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition for carrying a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/032812aaa.html|title=Big Ten Recognizes Winter Academic All-Big Ten Honorees|access-date=April 2, 2012|date=March 28, 2012|website=BigTen.org|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426181858/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/032812aaa.html|archive-date=April 26, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

CBSSports.com used a modified selection process that resulted in Green being named a first team All-American, while Sullinger and Burke were second team selections. The process derided the traditional basketball All-American process of naming the best players and was modelled on the All-Pro or NHL All-Star team formula of choosing the best players by position.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/17767925/kansas-robinson-worthy-of-poy-but-kentuckys-davis-is-better |title=Kansas' Robinson worthy of POY, but Kentucky's Davis is better |access-date=March 23, 2012 |work=CBS Sports |author=Parrish, Gary and Jeff Goodman |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401054833/http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/17767925/kansas-robinson-worthy-of-poy-but-kentuckys-davis-is-better |archive-date=April 1, 2012 }} Shurna was also selected to participate in the NABC 2012 Reese's Division I All-Star Game at the 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament final four.{{cite web|url=http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/Harvards_Wright_Selected_to_Play_in_the_2012_NABC_Division_I_All-Star_Game|title=Harvard's Wright Selected to Play in the 2012 NABC Division I All-Star Game|access-date=April 14, 2012|date=March 26, 2012|publisher=IvyLeagueSports.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918235125/http://ivyleaguesports.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/Harvards_Wright_Selected_to_Play_in_the_2012_NABC_Division_I_All-Star_Game|archive-date=September 18, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

{{main|2012 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament}}

Michigan State emerged as the Big Ten Conference tournament champion by defeating Ohio State in the championship game. The team was led by most outstanding player Green. Spartan Brandon Wood, Minnesota's Andre Hollins and Ohio State's Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas were also on the all-tournament team.

{{4RoundBracket-Byes

|RD1=First round
Thursday, March 8
ESPN2/BTN

|RD2=Quarterfinals
Friday, March 9
ESPN/BTN

|RD3=Semifinals
Saturday, March 10
CBS

|RD4=Championship
Sunday, March 11
CBS

| RD1-seed03 =8

| RD1-team03 =Iowa

| RD1-score03 =64

| RD1-seed04 =9

| RD1-team04 =Illinois

| RD1-score04 =61

| RD1-seed07 =5

| RD1-team07 =Indiana

| RD1-score07 =75

| RD1-seed08 =12

| RD1-team08 =Penn State

| RD1-score08 =58

| RD1-seed11 =7

| RD1-team11 =Northwestern

| RD1-score11 =68

| RD1-seed12 =10

| RD1-team12 =Minnesota

| RD1-score12 =75^OT

| RD1-seed15 =6

| RD1-team15 =Purdue

| RD1-score15 =79

| RD1-seed16 =11

| RD1-team16 =Nebraska

| RD1-score16 =61

| RD2-seed01 =1

| RD2-team01 =Michigan State

| RD2-score01 =92

| RD2-seed02 =8

| RD2-team02 =Iowa

| RD2-score02 =75

| RD2-seed03 =4

| RD2-team03 =Wisconsin

| RD2-score03 =79

| RD2-seed04 =5

| RD2-team04 =Indiana

| RD2-score04 =71

| RD2-seed05 =2

| RD2-team05 =Michigan

| RD2-score05 =73^OT

| RD2-seed06 =10

| RD2-team06 =Minnesota

| RD2-score06 =69

| RD2-seed07 =3

| RD2-team07 =Ohio State

| RD2-score07 =88

| RD2-seed08 =6

| RD2-team08 =Purdue

| RD2-score08 =71

| RD3-seed01 =1

| RD3-team01 =Michigan State

| RD3-score01 =65

| RD3-seed02 =4

| RD3-team02 =Wisconsin

| RD3-score02 =52

| RD3-seed03 =2

| RD3-team03 =Michigan

| RD3-score03 =55

| RD3-seed04 =3

| RD3-team04 =Ohio State

| RD3-score04 =77

| RD4-seed01 =1

| RD4-team01 =Michigan State

| RD4-score01 =68

| RD4-seed02 =3

| RD4-team02 =Ohio State

| RD4-score02 =64

}}

{{main|2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament}}

The Big Ten had six teams in the 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament: Michigan State earned the automatic bid and a number 1 seed, while Indiana (2 seed), Michigan (4 seed), Ohio State (4 seed), Purdue (4 seed), Wisconsin (10 seed). With 5 top-4-seeded teams, the Big Ten tied the tournament record since seeding began in 1979. The Big Ten matched its conference best and for 2012 national lead with four Sweet Sixteen participants (Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State Wisconsin) and was the only conference with multiple entrants to have half its teams make the Elite Eight round. Ohio State achieved its conference leading 10th final four.{{cite web|url=https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltca750cef518bc6e4/blt6b5f4cc63e11b4a9/65ed1c7fc26d91c404539666/2011-12_MBB_Season_in_review.pdf|title=2011–12 Big Ten Men's Basketball Season in Review|accessdate=April 25, 2024|date=May 4, 2012|publisher=Big Ten Conference}}

{{main|2012 National Invitation Tournament}}

All three Big Ten entrants in the 2012 National Invitation Tournament won their opening games and Minnesota reached the championship game before losing.

{{main|2012 College Basketball Invitational|2012 CollegeInsider.com Tournament}}

The Big Ten did not have any entrants in the other post season tournaments.

{{main|2012 NBA draft}}

:The following current 1st, 2nd & 3rd team All-Big Ten performers were listed as seniors: Draymond Green, Robbie Hummel, John Shurna, Jordan Taylor, Matt Gatens, William Buford. Former All-Big Ten performer and fifth-year Trevor Mbakwe has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA,{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7733348/minnesota-golden-gophers-trevor-mbakwe-leaning-returning|title=Trevor Mbakwe considering returning|access-date=March 26, 2012|date=March 24, 2012|publisher=ESPN}} and he has opted to use it.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7820845/minnesota-gophers-trevor-mbakwe-announces-returning|title=Trevor Mbakwe returning to Gophers|access-date=April 17, 2012|date=April 16, 2012|publisher=ESPN}} The deadline for entering the NBA draft is April 29, but once one has declared, the deadline for withdrawing the declaration and retaining NCAA eligibility is April 10.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/bigten/story/2012-03-21/trey-burke-nba-michigan/53691584/1|title=Michigan's Trey Burke inquiring about NBA draft status|access-date=March 23, 2012|date=March 21, 2012|work=USA Today|author=Snyder, Mark}} The deadline for submitting information to the NBA Advisory Committee for a 72-hour response is April 3.{{cite web|url=http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-basketball/nba-draft-analyst-assesses-early-entry-prospects-for-michigan-basketball-pg-trey-burke/|title=Michigan point guard Trey Burke 'has nothing to lose' by seeking advisory {{sic|nolink=y|committe's|expected=committee's}} opinion, NBA draft analyst says|access-date=March 23, 2012|date=March 22, 2012|work=AnnArbor.com|author=Baumgardner, Nick}}

:The following Big Ten underclassmen have sought the advice of the NBA's undergraduate advisory committee to determine his draft prospects: Trey Burke

:The following Big Ten underclassmen declared early for the 2011 draft: Jared Sullinger,{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/draft2012/story/_/id/7774756/jared-sullinger-ohio-state-buckeyes-entering-nba-draft|title=Jared Sullinger entering draft|access-date=April 5, 2012|date=April 4, 2012|publisher=ESPN}} Meyers Leonard{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/ncb/story/_/id/7767655/meyers-leonard-leave-illinois-fighting-illini-early-enter-nba-draft|title=Meyers Leonard to enter NBA draft|access-date=April 5, 2012|date=April 3, 2012|publisher=ESPN}}

:The following Big Ten underclassmen entered their name in the draft but who did not hire agents and opted to return to college:

The following Big Ten players were drafted in the 2012 NBA draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_2012.html|title=2012 NBA Draft|accessdate=April 22, 2024|publisher=Sports Reference}}

Prior to the day of the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of draft picks between the teams.

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111026212509/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/big10-m-baskbl-body.html Big Ten website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101011234829/http://www.bigtennetwork.com/subindex/sports/basketball-mens Men's basketball] at Big Ten Network

{{Big Ten Conference men's basketball navbox}}

{{2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball conference season navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2011-12 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Season}}