If Ohio State wants to compete at the top of the conference, the Buckeyes will have to be playing at that level by January.
View full sizeMichigan State's 6-6 forward Draymond Green is the heart of the Spartans. If Ohio State wants to compete at the top of the conference, the Buckeyes will have to be playing at that level by January.
With four teams -- No. 2 Michigan State, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 13 Illinois and No. 14 Purdue -- in the top 14 of the preseason Associated Press poll, the Big Ten might be the nation's best conference, featuring a depth of talent in the senior and freshman classes.
The Class of 2007 has been dominating the conference for years, and though Ohio State's Evan Turner went to the NBA, the seniors from that recruiting season who remain -- from Purdue's JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore to Michigan State's Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers to Illinois' Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale to Wisconsin's Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankavil to OSU's Jon Diebler and Dallas Lauderdale -- know how to win and know each other. There are no secrets here.
Throw in the seven top 50 freshmen on the rosters of Ohio State, Michigan State and Illinois, led by OSU big man Jared Sullinger, and there looks to be another crop of players ready to control the league for a while.
TEAM-BY-TEAM BREAKDOWNS Doug Lesmerises predicts the order of finish
1. Michigan State
Coach: Tom Izzo (364-146, 15 years at MSU)
2009-10: 28-9, 14-4 (co-champ).
Key returners: Draymond Green (9.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg), Kalin Lucas (14.8 ppg, 4.0 apg).
Overview: A seventh Final Four appearance in the past 13 years is certainly attainable with Lucas, the preseason Big Ten player of the year; Green, a versatile big man, good passer and great leader; guard Durrell Summers, a potential first-round NBA pick; what should be a healthier season from former St. Edward star Delvon Roe; and big-time big man recruit Adreian Payne from Dayton.
2. Ohio State
Coach: Thad Matta (156-54, six years at OSU; 258-85, 10 years overall.)
2009-10: 29-8, 14-4 (co-champ).
Key returners: William Buford (14.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg), David Lighty (12.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg).
Overview: The Buckeyes are two teams in one, with a quartet of talented veterans in Buford, Lighty, Jon Diebler and Dallas Lauderdale; and a six-man freshman class that's among the best in the nation. There may be some bumps early, but if freshman Aaron Craft can provide solid minutes at point guard, it's not hard to imagine freshman big man Jared Sullinger emerging as maybe the league's best player by the end of the season, and the Buckeyes actually improving despite losing national player of the year Evan Turner to the NBA.
3. Purdue
Coach: Matt Painter (112-56, five years at Purdue; 137-61, six years overall.)
2009-10: 29-6, 14-4 (co-champ).
Key returners: E'Twaun Moore (16.4 ppg), JaJuan Johnson (15.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg).
Overview: The Boilermakers on the first day of practice lost star Robbie Hummel for the season with a torn ACL, the same ACL he tore in the middle of last season. Now, as then, his loss moves Purdue from great to good. Seniors Moore and Johnson are still first-team All-Big Ten-type players, and a fully healthy year from point guard Lewis Jackson will help Purdue contend. But already the season looks like a what-could-have-been.
4. Illinois
Coach: Bruce Weber (173-72, seven years at Illinois; 276-126, 12 years overall.)
2009-10: 20-15, 10-8 (fifth).
Key returners: Demetri McCamey (15.1 ppg, 7.1 apg), Mike Davis (10.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg).
Overview: The Illini have all the pieces, from veteran starters like McCamey at the point and Davis and Mike Tisdale inside, to young potential like 2010 Big Ten Freshman of the Year D.J. Richardson and incoming McDonald's All-American Jereme Richardson. Illinois' most recent Big Ten title was six years ago, and if you're looking for a dark horse in the race this season, this is your team.
5. Wisconsin
Coach: Bo Ryan (217-82, nine years at Wisconsin; 600-185, 26 years overall.)
2009-10: 24-9, 13-5 (fourth).
Key returners: Jon Leuer (15.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Jordan Taylor (10.0 ppg).
Overview: The Badgers need to come up with some depth, but everyone should know never to underestimate Ryan's squads. With 6-10 scorer Leuer as the heart of the team, there's no reason to doubt Wisconsin's chances of making a 13th straight NCAA Tournament and giving the league fits.
6. Northwestern
Coach: Bill Carmody (140-163, 10 years at Northwestern; 232-188, 14 years overall.)
2009-10: 20-14, 7-11 (tied-seventh).
Key returners: John Shurna (18.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Michael Thompson (14.2 ppg, 4.1 apg).
Overview: Still looking for the first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history, the Wildcats have reason for optimism, just as they did a year ago. Shurna can score against anyone, and senior point guard Thompson is the ball handler every good team needs. With former All-Big Ten second-teamer Kevin Coble deciding not to return for a fifth and final season, immediate help from freshman JerShon Cobb might be needed.
7. Minnesota
Coach: Tubby Smith (63-39, three years at Minnesota; 450-184, 19 years overall.)
2009-10: 21-14, 9-9 (sixth).
Key returners: Blake Hoffarber (10 ppg, 46.7 percent 3-pointers), Ralph Sampson III (8.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg).
Overview: Senior guard Al Nolen returns after being ruled academically ineligible for the second half of last season, but it's 6-8, 240-pound forward Trevor Mbakwe who's the biggest addition for the Golden Gophers. The transfer from Marquette by way of junior college sat out last season because of legal issues and could make the difference for a team on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
8. Indiana
Coach: Tom Crean (16-46, two years at Indiana; 206-142, 11 years overall.)
2009-10: 10-21, 4-14, (tied-ninth).
Key returners: Christian Watford (12 ppg, 6 rpg), Maurice Creek (16.3 ppg)
Overview: After two seasons of baby steps, the Hoosiers could take a bigger jump in Crean's third year with eight players with starting experience returning. Creek fractured his knee last December and missed the rest of his freshman season, but he is a rising star. This team could win eight Big Ten games.
'
9. Michigan
Coach: John Beilein (46-53, three years at Michigan; 597-371, 32 years overall.)
2009-10: 15-17, 7-11 (tied-seventh).
Key returners: Zack Novak (7.4 ppg), Stu Douglass (6.8 ppg).
Overview: After losing stars Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims, any sort of hope is tied to the new guys. Freshmen Tim Hardaway Jr., son of the former NBA star, and Evan Smotrycz are among the youngsters who will have to put up points right away.
10. Penn State
Coach: Ed DeChellis (95-123, seven years at Penn State; 200-216, 14 years overall.)
2009-10: 11-20, 3-15 (11th).
Key returners: Talor Battle (18.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), David Jackson (9.5 ppg).
Overview: Senior guard Battle is as good as any player in the league, but he'll need consistent help from some seniors who have shown flashes in the past. Last season's last-place finish was a huge disappointment for a team thinking it could compete.
11. Iowa
Coach: Fran McCaffery (first year at Iowa; 251-77, 14 years overall.)
2009-010: 10-22, 4-14 (tied-ninth).
Key returners: Matt Gatens (12.3 ppg), Eric May (9 ppg).
Overview: First-year coach McCaffery has to thank Ohio State at least a bit for his new gig -- his signature win in his previous stop at Siena was over the Buckeyes in overtime in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. He has quite a job ahead of him, though.