After leading the Big Ten in both scoring and assists during the 2011 season, it was no surprise to learn that Penn State point guard Tim Frazier was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team by the conference media this morning at Big Ten media day.

Frazier earned All-Big Ten recognition last year for a stellar junior season when the Houston native averaged 18.8 points and 6.2 assists per game. He also set a Penn State single season record by registering 198 assists, which ranked 14th in the nation. To top it all off, Frazier was named to the Big Ten’s all-defensive team after averaging 2.4 steals per game.

Frazier is joined on the preseason All-Big Ten team by Indiana forward and preseason player of the year Cody Zeller, forward DeShaun Thomas and guard Aaron Craft from Ohio State, and one-time Penn State commit Trey Burke from Michigan.

The Big Ten preseason poll was also released at Media Day in Chicago this morning, and Penn State was picked to finish 11th in the Conference.

Here is the rest of the poll:

1. Indiana
2. Michigan
3. Ohio State
4. Michigan State
5. Wisconsin
6. Minnesota
7. Iowa
8. Purdue
9. Illinois
10. Northwestern
11. Penn State
12. Nebraska

Penn State’s ranking is not surprising here, but I really think the Nittany Lions will surprise people this year and finish somewhere in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten.