Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor, December 13, 2015

We're officially one month into the 2015-16 college basketball season.

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The first month saw a lot of good, from Michigan State and Purdue's perfect starts to Spartans star Denzel Valentine's across-the-board individual performances.

But what has been the best of the best of the opening month?

BTN.com writer Sean Merriman and BTN analyst Jess Settles break down the best teams, players, coaches and more from an entertaining first month.

Best team: Michigan State (11-0)

The Spartans are ranked No. 1 in the nation and sport a perfect 11-0 record through the first month of the season. Tom Izzo's team is outscoring opponents by an average of 79.8-56.8 points per contest. MSU has already notched impressive wins over the likes of Kansas, Providence, Louisville and Florida. This team has all the makings of national championship contender. – Merriman

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Best player: Denzel Valentine, Michigan State

Not only has Valentine been the best player in the Big Ten, he has been the top player in the nation during the first month of the season. The Spartans' do-it-all senior is averaging 18.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists. He has already recorded two triple-doubles, joining Magic Johnson and Draymond Green as the only players in school history to record multiple triple doubles in a career. – Merriman

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Best coaching job: Tom Izzo, Michigan State

A slight edge goes to Izzo over Purdue?s Matt Painter. Both coaches have positioned themselves into the National Coach of the Year race, but the Spartans have passed more tests in the nonconference than the Boilers. Even with the graduation of Travis Trice and Branden Dawson, the Spartans have quality wins over Kansas, Providence, Louisville, and Florida. Izzo has Denzel Valentine playing point guard more than expected, and the Michigan State star is the early National Player of the Year favorite. – Settles

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Best freshman: Caleb Swanigan, Purdue

The prized freshman is nearly averaging a double-double (9.9 points and 9.2 rebounds), to go along with a respectable 2.7 assists per game. Over his last three games, Swanigan is putting up 15 points and 10.3 rebounds, and has connected on 12 of his 14 free throws. The Boilers are a perfect 11-0, and the former McDonald?s All-American has played like a veteran from the opening tip. – Settles

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Best transfer: Andrew White III, Nebraska

The Kansas transfer has been phenomenal in his first season at Nebraska. White III is averaging 16.7 points, which ranks third in the conference. He is shooting 48 percent from the field and also leads the Huskers in rebounding (5.1 rpg) and 3-point shooting (42 percent). He and Shavon Shields form one of the top duos in the Big Ten. – Merriman

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Best graduate transfer: Rasheed Sulaimon, Maryland

The former Duke guard is fitting in perfectly with his old school's longtime ACC rival. Sulaimon is doing it all for the Terrapins, shooting 51 percent and averaging 10.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. – Merriman

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Best dunk: Aubrey Dawkins' left-handed putback slam vs. Northern Michigan

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Best block: Josh Reaves' game-sealing block vs. Louisiana-Monroe

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Best shot: Aaron Falzon's shoeless 3-pointer vs. SIU-Edwardsville

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Best play: Michigan State scores off the opening tip vs. Binghamton

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Best stat line: Denzel Valentine vs. Kansas

The Spartans' senior guard had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists, to go along with one turnover, in an impressive 79-73 win over Kansas in the Champions Classic. The all-around line accounted for the 13th triple-double in Michigan State history, joining Magic Johnson (8), Draymond Green (3) and Charlie Bell (1). That's some impressive company. – Merriman

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Best win: Michigan State 79, Kansas 73 

The Spartans rallied from an 11-point deficit midway through the second half to knock off then-No. 2 Kansas in the second game of the highly anticipated Champions Classic at the United Center. As mentioned above, Denzel Valentine was absolutely scintillating, registering a must-see triple-double (29 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists), just the fourth player in program history to record a triple-double.  – Settles

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Best defensive performance: Purdue at Pitt

Purdue is the best defensive team in the country right now, and it?s not even close. Rapheal Davis is the returning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and A.J. Hammons is one of the nation?s best rim protectors. The Boilers have held seven of their eleven opponents under 35 percent from the field. Pitt was supposed to be Purdue?s biggest nonconference hurdle, but the Boilers held the Panthers to 59 measly points on 35 percent shooting.