Gophers' Daniel Oturu left off first-team All-Big Ten squad

Daniel Oturu's progress from solid freshman to All-America-caliber sophomore has been one of the most impressive accomplishments in the Big Ten this year.

Still, the Gophers center was left off the All-Big Ten first team when the league honors were announced Monday.

While he is the only player in the country averaging at least 20 points and 11 rebounds, Oturu was a second-team pick by media and coaches. The Gophers' record — 14-16, 8-12 Big Ten — likely had something to do with his not being named among the conference's five best players.

Oturu was named to the all-defensive team, and sophomore guard Marcus Carr was named to the third team by the media.

"It's kind of unfair that [Oturu] doesn't get a chance to be on the first team," Big Ten Network analyst Stephen Bardo said on the announcement show. "What happens is when you have a plethora of players like we do in the Big Ten, you have to go to different factors. My factor was I looked at team success because it is a team sport."

Iowa center Luka Garza was named Player of the Year by media and coaches after averaging 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He is the first Hawkeye to be named the conference's top player since 1968.

Wisconsin's Greg Gard was honored as Coach of the Year. Garza, Maryland's Jalen Smith, Michigan State's Cassius Winston and Penn State's Lamar Stevens were named to both first teams. Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu was the media's fifth pick, while the coaches selected Maryland's Anthony Cowan.

"He's obviously had one of the most productive years for a big man in Gophers history," Gophers coach Richard Pitino said of Oturu on Monday.

The 6-foot-10, 240-pound Cretin-Derham Hall product finished second in the Big Ten in scoring (20.0) and first in rebounding (11.6), field-goal percentage (56.2) and blocks (2.6). The last Big Ten player to finish first in the latter three categories was Greg Oden in 2007, the year the Ohio State center was the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

"I thought the 5 best players should be 1st team?" Oturu wrote on Twitter, with the curious emoji, after the Big Ten made its announcement. He later deleted that tweet.

The Gophers have had some monster games from Oturu this season. He piled up 29 points and 18 rebounds in a double-overtime loss at Purdue on Jan. 2. He had two 30-point games, including a career-high 32 points and 16 rebounds Feb. 8 at Penn State.

"We certainly put in emphasis on getting him the ball," Pitino said. "And he's been very, very productive. I think the greatest improvement he's had is his endurance. He's been able to stay on the court and play through fatigue."

Oturu scored 20 points or more 17 times this season, with 12 games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, tied for second in school single-season history with Kris Humphries in 2003-04. He is also 17-for-50 from three-point range after making only one of two three-pointers as a freshman.

In 2018-19, Oturu averaged 10.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on an NCAA tournament team. Now he is projected to be the first Gophers player drafted since Humphries.

"I think my game has taken a huge step forward," Oturu said. "Playing with more confidence and shooting the ball a lot more showing my perimeter touch. Now that I've shown the ability to shoot the three and shoot jump shots, I can take my defender off the dribble and have more space to work."