The top five from last year, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State, and Ohio St will still be tough this year, except for Indiana because of their gutting and subsequent rebuilding this season. Purdue and Michigan State look like the favorites on paper. Purdue is returning every important player minus Scott Martin (transfer) and Tarrance Crump (senior). Still on board are Robbie Hummel, Chris Kramer, Keaton Grant, and budding star guard E'Twaun Moore. Matt Painter's baby Boilermakers finished second last year and figure to stay in second or ascend to the top. The development of Hummel, Moore, and especially Johnson will be the key. Development will equal a Big Ten regular season championship.
Nipping at their heels will be a familiar face, Michigan State. Tom Izzo looks like he may finally have the right combination of size and speed that he has been looking for since his first and only title in 2000. Raymar Morgan, Travis Walton, Goran Suton, and Kalin Lucas are back. Drew Neitzel is gone but MSU fans could have an addition by subtraction deal on their hands. Neitzel was a supreme talent but his teammates defferred to him too much, now it's their turn to shine. Lucas, along with Chris Allen and Durrell Summers will need to step up and show that they deserved their lofty expectations coming out of high school two years ago. Throw in super freshman Delvon Roe and you have size, speed, and depth at every position. Even if they don't win the Big Ten, the Spartans could make noise in March.
Ohio State has been stockpiling talent for several years now but this talent is still young and may not be ready for the big stage. The frontcourt will be anchored by freshman BJ Mullens and sophomores Dallas Lauderdale and Evan Turner. Mullens, who some said was the best high school player in the nation, will be counted on early and often to score and rebound consistently. In the backcourt is David Lighty, a strong 6-foot-5 guard who can score and also provide leadership to a young team. Lighty will need to help out because it could be a point guard by committee with freshman Anthony Crater and junior PJ Hill.
A team to look out for is Tubby Smith's Minnesota team. They lose three out of their top five but Smith's coaching abilities can't be overlooked. They return Big Ten Tournament hero Blake Hoffharbar and quick guard Lawrence Westbrook. Smith also brought in a highly touted freshman class with guard Devoe Joseph, forward Colton Iverson, and center Ralph Sampson III (yes that Ralph Sampson). The excitement is there, watch out for this team late in the season.
Outside the top four, the rest of the Big Ten is relatively weak.
1. Purdue, 2. Michigan State, 3. Ohio State, 4. Wisconsin, 5. Penn State, 6. Michigan, 7. Iowa, 8. Minnesota, 9. Illinois, 10. Northwestern, 11. Indiana.
Awards Section:
Player of the Year: Raymar Morgan, F, Michigan State
Freshman of the Year: BJ Mullens, C, Ohio State
Most Improved Player: JaJuan Johnson, F, Purdue
Coach of the Year: Ed DeChellis, Penn State
All-Big Ten 1st team:
C BJ Mullens, Ohio State
PF Raymar Morgan, Michigan State
SF Robbie Hummel, Purdue
SG E'Twaun Moore, Purdue
G Manny Harris, Michigan
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