WEST LAFAYETTE - Purdue basketball's Big Ten Player of the Year standard has shifted to the backcourt this season.

Junior guard Braden Smith was voted preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, the conference announced Tuesday. He is also the lone unanimous selection to the 10-man preseason All-Big Ten team, voted on by conference media.

Smith, from Westfield, emerged as a first team All-Big Ten Conference player and honorable mention All-American last season. The point guard behind the Boilermakers’ first Final Four appearance in 44 years became the first player in NCAA history with at least 450 points, 290 assists and 250 rebounds in a season.

Smith averaged 12 points, 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals in a school-record 1,327 minutes. He also set Purdue and Big Ten record with his 292 assists.

That production came as the catalyst for an offense built around two-time national player of the year Zach Edey. With Edey now in the NBA, the Boilermakers will look for Smith to facilitate within a new, still emerging identity.

Preseason All-Big Ten team

Ourmar Ballo, Indiana

Payton Sandfort, Iowa

Dawson Garcia, Minnesota

Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern

Bruce Thornton, Ohio State

Jackson Shelstad, Oregon

Ace Baldwin Jr., Penn State

Braden Smith, Purdue (unanimous)

Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Great Osobor, Washington

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue basketball's Braden Smith is Big Ten preseason Player of Year