We’ve reached the middle of summer — or as it is otherwise known, peak wedding season. But love and reverence need not only be applied to new spouses.

At every Big Ten school, there are certain athletes who are loved and revered above all the rest.

Much like true love, there’s no secret sauce to why that’s the case. Sometimes it is on-court or on-field success. Maybe it’s charisma. But something about these athletes have given them a special place in the hearts of their fans.

Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You may not agree with your school’s pick — and if that’s so, feel free to let us know.

We begin with Saturday Tradition’s picks for the most beloved basketball player at each Big Ten school.

Illinois: Dee Brown

Deron Williams was the most talented player on the legendary 2005 Fighting Illini, who are among the greatest teams to never win it all. But it was backcourt mate Dee Brown who was the spirit of the Illini, and he remains a revered figure a generation later.

Brown is Illinois’ all-time leader in minutes played (4,698) and is tied with classmate James Augustine for a program record 114 wins. In the transfer-portal era, those marks are unlikely to be unbroken.

Brown surpassed Kendall Gill, Stephen Bardo and the rest of the 1989 Flyin’ Illini in popularity, and his match has yet to be met in Champaign.

Indiana: Calbert Cheaney

If you asked 100 Indiana fans who their all-time favorite Hoosier is, at least 80 are saying Calbert Cheaney. And chances are about 15 of the other respondents weren’t alive to see him play.

In one regard, it’s strange.

The Hoosiers have 5 national titles, including 3 under Bob Knight. Cheaney didn’t win any of them. But he did win the hearts of Indiana fans like few others ever have.

That’s probably because no player in Indiana or Big Ten history has scored like Cheaney — he remains the conference’s career scoring leader with 2,613 points. As a senior in 1993, Cheaney bested Purdue’s Glenn Robinson and Michigan’s Chris Webber in a truly great race for Big Ten player of the year.

Cheaney remains the last Hoosier to win the Naismith and Wooden Awards, further enhancing his legend.

Iowa: Chris Street

Chris Street’s place in Iowa hearts is one birthed in tragedy.

The Iowa native was already an incredibly popular player on Dr. Tom Davis’ Hawkeyes, but his death in a 1993 accident with a snow plow assured that he would never be forgotten — because no one involved with Iowa basketball has allowed for Street to be forgotten.

The Hawkeyes present 1 player with the Chris Street Award each season. The reverence for Street is so strong that Jordan Bohannon intentionally missed a free throw so he could tie Street’s school record of 34 straight makes rather than surpass it — 25 years after Street’s death.

Due to the circumstances, no Hawkeye is likely to overtake Street’s place. But on the women’s side, it certainly appears Caitlin Clark is working her way to a similar level of Hawkeye reverence.

Maryland: Juan Dixon

Juan Dixon has to be among the most beloved sports figures in the DMV, period.

His story was compelling as they come — the Baltimore kid overcoming the death of both parents and becoming a star for the Terrapins. Dixon surpassed Len Bias as Maryland’s all-time leading scorer, and certainly Bias is the only other Terp held in similar esteem.

But Dixon did what no Maryland all-American could before or after him — lead the Terps to a national title. His popularity was high enough at the time that it certainly factored into the Wizards drafting him 17th overall.

That popularity likely hasn’t waned.

Michigan: The Fab Five

They were nicknamed after the Beatles, who were also known as the Fab Four. And just as their namesakes had Paul fans or John fans, you might come across a Chris Webber fan or Jalen Rose fan or Juwan Howard fan. You might even meet a Ringo fan or Jimmy King fan.

But what people really loved was the collective unit over any individual player. They looked cool — the Fab Four with their mop-top hair and the Fab Five with their baggy shorts. Both defined a new generation in different ways.

Michigan fans cooled on the Fab Five after scandals stripped away their wins, but as time passes that love has rekindled.

Michigan State: Magic Johnson

Quite simply, the king of all Spartans.

Magic Johnson is a singular figure in not only Michigan State history, but basketball history. The only player to have a game like Nikola Jokic before Jokic came along, but far more stylish.

He is the total package — performance (national champion) meets artistry meets charisma. You know, Magic.

If they hadn’t been up against Magic, Shawn Respert or Mateen Cleaves would certainly be candidates for such a distinction. But Earvin “Magic” Johnson is one of a kind.

Minnesota: Mychal Thompson

Thompson, a native of the Bahamas, came to a Minnesota program mired in NCAA probation and promptly became the best player in program history. As in, had his number retired immediately after playing his final game in 1978.

Thompson averaged 20.8 points and 10 rebounds per game playing alongside fellow Gopher legend and future NBA rival Kevin McHale. Some Minnesota fans may be fonder of McHale, a Hibbing native. But Thompson was the first and only Gopher ever drafted No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft, so we’re giving him the nod. Though in this case it’s perfectly acceptable to have love for more than one.

Thompson is currently the radio color commentator for the Lakers, and he and son Klay represent 1 of 5 father-son duos to ever win an NBA title.

Nebraska: Keisei Tominaga

Recency bias?

This list includes — SPOILER ALERT — John Wooden. There’s no recency bias. Tominaga really is that popular in Nebraska, though it doesn’t hurt that the Cornhuskers have an arid basketball history.

The “Japanese Steph Curry” is the most electric player returning to the Big Ten next season. Not the best, per se, but the most exciting. He’s just pure fun.

Even opposing fans seem to have a soft spot for Tominaga, so long as he isn’t beating their team. Which means Tominaga might not be so popular with opposing fans next season.

If Tominaga can lead Nebraska to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014, or its first NCAA win ever — yes, ever — there will be a statue in Lincoln. Or at least there should be.

Northwestern: Evan Eschmeyer

To date, Eschmeyer is the greatest player in Wildcats history.

In 1999, he became Northwestern’s first all-American since 1946. He remains the last Wildcat all-American. And Eschmeyer probably should have been the 1999 Big Ten player of the year, but he lost to Ohio State’s Scoonie Penn and Michigan State’s Mateen Cleaves because he played for Northwestern.

Eschmeyer averaged 21.7 ppg and 10.7 rpg as a junior and 19.6 ppg and 10.1 rpg as a senior. He played 4 seasons with the Nets before injuries curtailed his NBA career.

There’s a chance Eschmeyer’s reign will be ending soon. If point guard Boo Buie can lead Northwestern to another historic season next year, his ascending place in program history will reach the top of the mountain.

Ohio State: Jerry Lucas

There’s a strong case to be made for Jim Jackson, and undoubtedly many will make it. He’s an all-time beloved Buckeye for good reason.

But Jerry Lucas is second to none.

Lucas was arguably the original LeBron James — the first high school player to draw media attention for his nationwide recruitment. There’s just something about those Ohio guys, apparently.

Ever the team player, Lucas gave the Buckeyes an extra roster spot by attending school on a scholarship for his academics. As a sophomore — his first season of eligibility — Lucas led Ohio State to the 1960 national championship.

That summer, he upped the ante by helping the US to the gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games. Lucas finished 2nd in scoring to Oscar Robertson, his future NBA teammate.

Lucas is considered the first center to have a fully developed outside shot, meaning he was also the original Dirk Nowitzki. Unfortunately, he played before the 3-point line was invented. But Lucas would still go on to be named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team and the 75th Anniversary Team.

Penn State: The Brothers Crispin (but mostly Joe)

Perhaps their parents don’t have a favorite child. And Penn State fans certainly love both Joe and Jon Crispin.

But if forced to choose between the pair they’d probably take Joe. The eldest sibling is always the best, after all.

Joe preceded Jon at Penn State by 2 years, but it took their combined powers in 2001 to lead the Nittany Lions to heights unseen since the mid-1950s.

Led by the Crispins, Penn State topped 10th-seeded Providence before upsetting No. 2 North Carolina to reach its first Sweet 16 since 1955. It would remain Penn State’s final NCAA Tournament appearance for a decade, and those struggles elevated their profile even higher — despite Jon transferring to UCLA for his final 2 seasons.

Jon is currently a Big Ten Network analyst, while Joe was just hired as an assistant to new Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades.

Purdue: John Wooden

Before he was the Wizard of Westwood, John Wooden was the Wizard of West Lafayette.

Wooden was the first star player in Purdue history, winning national player of the year honors in the Boilermakers’ claimed 1932 national championship season. His turn at UCLA as the most successful coach in college basketball history created a great sense of pride for Purdue fans. So much so that a statue of Wooden stands outside Mackey Arena.

Robbie Hummel is Purdue’s most beloved modern player, but his injury-ravaged career was never able to match the potential that would have put him over the top.

If Zach Edey’s return to Purdue results in a national title, though, Wooden’s long-held place in Boilermaker hearts will have some company.

Rutgers: Ron Harper Jr. & Geo Baker

Like Hall & Oates, it’s simply impossible to separate Ron Harper Jr. and Geo Baker. They are the heart and soul of Rutgers basketball.

Harper and Baker shared something in common other than the Rutgers backcourt — both were offered scholarships by only 2 Division I programs, including the Scarlet Knights. Undoubtedly, being so overlooked gave each the chip on their shoulders that would endear them to Rutgers fans.

In 2021, Harper averaged 14.9 points per game and Baker added 10.4 points per game to lead Rutgers to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 30 years. Both were named third team all-B1G.

Both players further endeared themselves by returning in 2022, with Harper foregoing the NBA Draft and Baker using his 5th season of Covid-induced eligibility. They led Rutgers to its first back-to-back Tourney appearances since 1975-76.

Given the doldrums they lifted the program out of, it could be decades before their popularity is equaled in Piscataway.

Wisconsin: Frank Kaminsky

For a solid decade or so, the Badgers churned out a new fan favorite every few years.

Michael Finley awoke the program from a deep slumber in the 1990s. An unlikely group featuring Kirk Penney and Duany Duany brought Wisconsin to the Final Four in 2000.

As the program became a Big Ten power in the 2000s, Devin Harris and Alando Tucker became big hits.

But with his mix of personality and skill, Big Frank Kaminsky became the most beloved Badger of all by the end of his career in 2015.

As a junior, he broke Finley’s single-game Wisconsin record with 43 points. Later that season, he led the Badgers to their first Final Four since 2000.

As a senior, Kaminsky became the first Badger to be named national player of the year. He had 20 points and 11 rebounds in Wisconsin’s stunning upset of 38-0 Kentucky in the national semifinals. It was the biggest Final Four upset since Duke downed unbeaten UNLV in 1991.

Though Wisconsin lost the national championship to Duke, Kaminsky’s place in Badger lore is secure. And it may never be topped.