MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin senior forward Nigel Hayes was voted Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year by the media on Tuesday.

Excited to see what this guy has in store for 2016-17.



Congrats to Nigel Hayes on being named Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/Xv7FpD4sig — Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) October 11, 2016





Last season, Hayes averaged a team-high 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game for the Badgers, who reached the Sweet 16 for the fifth time in six seasons.

Hayes is the fourth Badger in the last 14 seasons to be named conference preseason player of the year. The 6-foot-8 forward from Toledo, Ohio, joins Frank Kaminsky (recognized prior to the 2014-15 season), Alando Tucker (tabbed prior to the 2006-07 season) and Devin Harris (honored prior to the 2003-04 season) as the only Badgers to earn the distinction.

Harris, Tucker and Kaminsky all went on to turn their preseason nominations into postseason Big Ten Player of the Year awards that season.

“While I appreciate the sign of respect this shows, preseason honors don’t really mean much,” Hayes said in a statement. “I’m much more concerned with postseason player of the year awards, because that would likely mean our team did something special this season. Seven of the last 12 postseason Big Ten Players of the Year have come from the conference champion and that’s one of our goals.

“If we win championships, everything individually will fall into place. Really, I just want to be Frank Kaminsky.”

The Badgers are making a run at the college football playoff! Get the scoop on the Cardinal and White by signing up for the FREE Wisconsin newsletter.

Senior point guard Bronson Koenig was also named to the preseason All-Big Ten team as was freshman center Ethan Happ.

2016-17 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM

Malcolm Hill, Illinois

James Blackmon Jr., Indiana

Thomas Bryant, Indiana

Peter Jok, Iowa

Melo Trimble, Maryland

Derrick Walton Jr., Michigan

Caleb Swanigan, Purdue

Ethan Happ, Wisconsin

NIGEL HAYES, Wisconsin

Bronson Koenig, Wisconsin

Unanimous selections in ALL CAP



