Francis Earns All-Big Ten Honorable Mention; Davis Named to Sportsmanship Team
Mar 10 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers junior guard Tariq Francis was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the media, while junior captain Jamichael Davis earned recognition on the Big Ten Sportsmanship Team, the conference announced.
Francis has been one of the Big Ten's most dynamic scorers in his first season with the Scarlet Knights, leading Rutgers with 16.9 points per game while scoring in double figures 24 times this season.
The guard has delivered several standout performances throughout the year, including a career-high 34 points and a buzzer-beater in a win over Penn, which earned him Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Francis also scored 30 points in victories over Northwestern and Oregon and added another 30-point performance off the bench, becoming the only Big Ten player since 1996-97 to record multiple 30-point games off the bench in the same season. The last major conference player to accomplish the feat was Arkansas' Jannero Pargo in 2001-02.
Francis has been a consistent offensive force throughout the season, posting three 30-point games, tying him with Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper as the only players in the Steve Pikiell era to reach that mark in a single season.
During the season, Francis produced numerous key performances, including 28 points against Indiana, 26 points against USC, 25 points with five assists and three steals at Michigan State, and back-to-back 21-point performances in wins over Maryland and Penn State. Most recently, he scored a team-high 19 points in Rutgers' victory over Penn State.
Francis has also been one of the nation's most efficient free-throw shooters and is putting together one of the best seasons at the line in program history. He has made 144 free throws this season, tied for
11th most in a single season in Rutgers history, and ranks third all-time in single-season free throw percentage (.908). His free-throw percentage is good for eighth in the nation.
Davis was named to the Big Ten Sportsmanship Team, an honor that recognizes student-athletes who distinguish themselves through sportsmanship . A veteran leader for the Scarlet Knights, Davis has represented the program with integrity and respect both on and off the court throughout the season.
Rutgers will begin Big Ten Conference Tournament play this week at the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago as the Scarlet Knights take on Minnesota Wednesday night at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
Below are the all-conference teams selected by the coaches and by the media.
2025-26 ALL-BIG TEN MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS & HONORS
As selected by Big Ten coaches
UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN ALL CAPS // * - additional player due to tie in voting
2025-26 BIG TEN MEN'S BASKETBALL SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM HONOREES
Jake Davis, ILL; Conor Enright, IND; Bennett Stirtz, IOWA; Collin Metcalf, MD; Will Tschetter, MICH; Carson Cooper, MSU; Bobby Durkin, MINN; Rienk Mast, NEB; Nick Martinelli, NU; Bruce Thornton, OSU; Sean Stewart, ORE; Josh Reed, PSU; Liam Murphy, PUR; Jahmichael Davis, RU; Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA; Terrance Williams II, USC; Zoom Diallo, WASH; Isaac Gard, WIS.
2025-26 ALL-BIG TEN MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS & HONORS
As selected by Big Ten media
UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN ALL CAPS // * - additional player due to tie in voting
Francis has been one of the Big Ten's most dynamic scorers in his first season with the Scarlet Knights, leading Rutgers with 16.9 points per game while scoring in double figures 24 times this season.
The guard has delivered several standout performances throughout the year, including a career-high 34 points and a buzzer-beater in a win over Penn, which earned him Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Francis also scored 30 points in victories over Northwestern and Oregon and added another 30-point performance off the bench, becoming the only Big Ten player since 1996-97 to record multiple 30-point games off the bench in the same season. The last major conference player to accomplish the feat was Arkansas' Jannero Pargo in 2001-02.
Francis has been a consistent offensive force throughout the season, posting three 30-point games, tying him with Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper as the only players in the Steve Pikiell era to reach that mark in a single season.
During the season, Francis produced numerous key performances, including 28 points against Indiana, 26 points against USC, 25 points with five assists and three steals at Michigan State, and back-to-back 21-point performances in wins over Maryland and Penn State. Most recently, he scored a team-high 19 points in Rutgers' victory over Penn State.
Francis has also been one of the nation's most efficient free-throw shooters and is putting together one of the best seasons at the line in program history. He has made 144 free throws this season, tied for
11th most in a single season in Rutgers history, and ranks third all-time in single-season free throw percentage (.908). His free-throw percentage is good for eighth in the nation.
Davis was named to the Big Ten Sportsmanship Team, an honor that recognizes student-athletes who distinguish themselves through sportsmanship . A veteran leader for the Scarlet Knights, Davis has represented the program with integrity and respect both on and off the court throughout the season.
Rutgers will begin Big Ten Conference Tournament play this week at the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago as the Scarlet Knights take on Minnesota Wednesday night at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
Below are the all-conference teams selected by the coaches and by the media.
2025-26 ALL-BIG TEN MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS & HONORS
As selected by Big Ten coaches
| FIRST TEAM | HONORABLE MENTION | ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM |
| Keaton Wagler, Illinois | David Mirkovic, Illinois | David Mirkovic, Illinois |
| Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan | Jaxon Kohler, Michigan State | KEATON WAGLER, Illinois |
| Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State | Cade Tyson, Minnesota | Trey McKenney, Michigan |
| Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska | Sam Hoiberg, Nebraska | Braden Frager, Nebraska |
| Braden Smith, Purdue | Rienk Mast, Nebraska | Hannes Steinbach, Washington |
| Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue | ||
| SECOND TEAM | Donovan Dent, UCLA | ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM |
| Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana | Kylan Boswell, Illinois | |
| Bennett Stirtz, Iowa | Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan | |
| Nick Martinelli, Northwestern | Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan | |
| Bruce Thornton, Ohio State | Aday Mara, Michigan | |
| Nick Boyd, Wisconsin | Sam Hoiberg, Nebraska | |
| THIRD TEAM | PLAYER OF THE YEAR | |
| Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan | Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan | |
| Aday Mara, Michigan | ||
| Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA | DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR | |
| Hannes Steinbach, Washington | Aday Mara, Michigan | |
| John Blackwell, Wisconsin | ||
| 6TH MAN OF THE YEAR | ||
| Braden Frager, Nebraska | ||
| COACH OF THE YEAR | ||
| Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska | ||
| FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR | ||
| Keaton Wagler, Illinois | ||
| HOWARD MOORE ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR | ||
| UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN ALL CAPS | Sharif Chambliss, Wisconsin |
UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN ALL CAPS // * - additional player due to tie in voting
2025-26 BIG TEN MEN'S BASKETBALL SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM HONOREES
Jake Davis, ILL; Conor Enright, IND; Bennett Stirtz, IOWA; Collin Metcalf, MD; Will Tschetter, MICH; Carson Cooper, MSU; Bobby Durkin, MINN; Rienk Mast, NEB; Nick Martinelli, NU; Bruce Thornton, OSU; Sean Stewart, ORE; Josh Reed, PSU; Liam Murphy, PUR; Jahmichael Davis, RU; Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA; Terrance Williams II, USC; Zoom Diallo, WASH; Isaac Gard, WIS.
2025-26 ALL-BIG TEN MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS & HONORS
As selected by Big Ten media
| FIRST TEAM | HONORABLE MENTION | PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| Keaton Wagler, Illinois | Kylan Boswell, Illinois | Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan |
| Bennett Stirtz, Iowa | David Mirkovic, Illinois | |
| YAXEL LENDEBORG, Michigan | Elliot Cadeau, Michigan | COACH OF THE YEAR |
| Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State | Jaxon Kohler, Michigan State | Dusty May, Michigan |
| Braden Smith, Purdue | Cade Tyson, Minnesota | |
| Sam Hoiberg, Nebraska | FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR | |
| SECOND TEAM | Rienk Mast, Nebraska | Keaton Wagler, Illinois |
| Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan | John Mobley Jr., Ohio State | |
| Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska | Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue | |
| Nick Martinelli, Northwestern | Tariq Francis, Rutgers | |
| Bruce Thornton, Ohio State | Donovan Dent, UCLA | |
| Nick Boyd, Wisconsin | ||
| THIRD TEAM | ||
| Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana | ||
| Aday Mara, Michigan | ||
| Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA | ||
| Hannes Steinbach, Washington | ||
| John Blackwell, Wisconsin |
UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN ALL CAPS // * - additional player due to tie in voting
Players Mentioned
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