The BaToNs

Doesn't quite ring like "ESPYs," but the Big Ten Network Awards need some kind of cutesy nickname.

    While you think of one (BigTeNnies?), here are the details on an MSU-heavy third annual awards show, to air at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Jesse Owens Award for male athlete of the year and Suzy Favor Award for female athlete of the year feature MSU nominees Greg Jones and Floor Rijpma (field hockey), respectively.

    Men's Coach of the Year nominees:

    Tom Izzo

    Thad Matta

    Kirk Ferentz

    Jim Tressel

    Tom Brands (Iowa wrestling)

    Justin Spring (Illinois gymnastics)

 

    Women's Coach of the Year nominees

    Rolf van de Kerkhof (MSU field hockey)

    Jim Foster (Ohio State basketball)

    Carol Hutchins (Michigan softball)

    Russ Rose (Penn State volleyball)

    Lisa Bluder (Iowa basketball)

    Kelly Amonte-Hiller (Northwestern lacrosse)   

Breakout Performer of the Year

Draymond Green

Kelci Bryant – Minnesota diver

Adrian Clayborn – Iowa football

Jamie Printy – Iowa women's basketball

John Shurna – Northwestern basketball

Evan Turner – Ohio State basketball

 

Most Dominating Performance:

Angela Bizzarri at Big Ten Championships – Illinois cross country

David Boudia at Big Ten Tournament – Purdue diver

Kate Fesenko at Big Ten Championships – Indiana swimmer

Robbie Hummel in the first half vs. Ohio State – Purdue basketball

Mike Kafka in the Outback Bowl – Northwestern football

Ryan Kerrigan vs. Ohio State – Purdue football

 
Best Finish

Iowa vs. Michigan State – Football

Michigan vs. Michigan State -- Football

Michigan vs. Ohio State - Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament

Michigan State vs. Michigan - Men's Basketball

Michigan State vs. Minnesota - Men's Basketball

Michigan State vs. Maryland - NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

 

Men's Team of the Year

MSU basketball

Iowa football

Iowa wrestling

Michigan gymnastics

Ohio State basketball

Ohio State football

 
Women's Team of the Year

Michigan gymnastics

Michigan softball

Northwestern lacrosse

Ohio State basketball

Penn State volleyball

Purdue golf

 
Game of the Year
Illinois vs. Ohio State (Big Ten Tournament) - men's basketball

Ohio State vs. Purdue - men's basketball

Iowa vs. Indiana - football

Iowa vs. Ohio State – football

Northwestern vs. Auburn (Outback Bowl) - football

Penn State vs. Texas (NCAA Championship) - women's volleyball

    How about that Best Finish category? Five of the six are MSU games (and Evan Turner's shot to beat Michigan might win the category, although I think the frantic final two minutes of MSU-Maryland should emerge victorious), illustrating again just how wild 2009-10 was on the field/court. We already know how wild it's been off the field/court. This makes for a difficult task, whittling football and basketball season into a Top Ten Games Covered in 2009-10.

    1. MSU-Maryland basketball. The agony for Kalin Lucas. The eruption from Durrell Summers. And three straight huge shots to end the game, which you never see in basketball without at least one timeout between them. Draymond Green gave MSU the lead, Greivis Vasquez gave it back to Maryland and Korie Lucious won it at the buzzer. One of the best games I've ever seen live.

    2. MSU-Tennessee basketball. Stakes have to be a factor. This was a highly entertaining game from the high-scoring start to the defense-dominated final minutes. Lots of trash talk from Tennessee, lots of big plays on both sides, and a final push down the floor leading to Raymar Morgan's winning free throw.

    3. MSU-Iowa football. Say this for MSU, it played a heck of a defensive game on this night, wrapping a midseason revival on that side of the ball that was lost for good the next week at Minnesota. This was a great Big Ten game. Rarely do you see a football game won in regulation with a touchdown as time expires.

    4. MSU-Michigan football. Major swings of emotion. A convincing MSU win erased by an improbable late U-M comeback. Then, an inevitable OT win for the Wolverines erased by an ill-advised pass and Larry Caper's rumbling TD to win it.

    5. MSU-Purdue football. If you like defensive football, this wasn't for you. It was wild all the way to Colin Neely's game-saving sack, though.

    6. MSU-Michigan basketball. Kalin Lucas' second game-winning shot in less than a week, followed by a DeShawn Sims shot that was just off the mark. A shot that could have done a lot for John Beilein's program.

    7. MSU-Notre Dame football. Another thriller with very little defense, ended on Kirk Cousins' interception deep in ND territory.

    8. MSU-CMU football. A handful of plays, including Colin Neely's offsides penalty to give CMU another kick, changed a 10-2 season to 6-6 (of course, it could have been 4-8 without those U-M and Purdue saves).

    9. MSU-Minnesota basketball. The first of Kalin Lucas' game winners during the last week of January. MSU was dead in this game early in the second half, down 13 and forced to sit Raymar Morgan with his fourth foul.

    10. MSU-Butler basketball. It was the Final Four, it was close and it involved some late-game controversy, so it has to make the list. Not a terribly enjoyable game to watch, though.