2009-10 College Basketball Preview: Big Ten Conference

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2009-10 College Basketball Preview

Big Ten Conference

1) Michigan State

2008-09 Record: (31-7, 15-3 Big 10)
Coach: Tom Izzo (16th year, 336-137 at Michigan State)
Assistants: Mark Montgomery, Dwayne Stephens, Mike Garland
Ret. Starters/Lost: 3/2

Overview: Michigan State lost in last year’s National Championship game to North Carolina by 17. This season, Tom Izzo returns three of the five starters, and it would be no shock to see the Spartans back in the Final Four, if not winning the whole thing. They do have to replace center Goran Suton, who led the conference in rebounding at 8.4rpg and Traivs Walton, the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. But the team is still loaded at at every position, including point guard where junior Keilan Lucas (14.7ppg, 4.6apg) hopes to take his game to another level. What made last year’s final appearance even more special was that they did most of it with their top player, 6-8 Raymar Morgan having a down season (10.2ppg, 5.3rpg) due to walking pneumonia and a broken nose. Junior Durrell Summers is a tremendous athlete from the wing, while 6-3 junior guard Chris Allen is an excellent perimeter shooter. Delvon Roe (6-8, 5.6ppg, 5.2rpg) is a nice role player up front. They’ll need a pair of freshmen to step for Suton in Derrick Nix (6-9, 285) and Garrick Sherman (6-10, 235).

Outlook: Morgan is a potential All-American if he’s healthy this season and so is Lucas. They’ll need help from the role players, who will need to do the dirty work that Suton and Walton were so good at. There’s no reason why this team can’t return to the Final Four as long as they continue to play the physical Big 10 ball that Izzo likes.

2) Purdue

2008-09 Record: (27-10, 11-7 Big 10)
Coach: Matt Painter (5th year, 83-50 at Purdue)
Assistants: Paul Lusk, Rick Ray, Jack Owens
Ret. Starters/Lost: 5/0

Overview: Matt Painter has turned things back around at Purdue. He got about as much out of 27-10 team as possible considering their star player was hampered by injuries all season. Junior Robbie Hummel (12.5ppg, 7rpg) is back for his junior season, despite missing five games and being hampered by back injuries the entire season. But everybody is back injuring 6-10 junior big man JaJuan Johnson (13.4ppg, 5.6rpg), one of the most improved players in the nation last year. In the backcourt, E’Twaun Moore (13.4ppg) shot just 42.2 percent from th efield and had 111 assists with 97 turnovers. They also return 6-4 senior guard Keaton Grant, 6-3 senior defensive whiz Chris Kramer and 5-9 sophomore Lewis Jackson. Jackson provides the speed and athleticism needed since this isn’t particularly speedy and athletic club. Kramer led the league in steals last year with 75. The most important newcomer will be freshman guard D.J. Byrd (6-5, 215), who was one of the top scorers in Indiana high school basketball last year.

Outlook: Not many teams get after it defensively like Purdue, which is why they’ll be a tough out all season for the upper echelon teams like Michigan State and Ohio State. If Hummel can stay healthy, theycould surprise Michigan State.

3) Minnesota

2008-09 Record: (31-7, 15-3 Big 10)
Coach: Tubby Smith (3rd year, 42-25 at Minnesota)
Assistants: Ron Jirsa, Saul Smith, Vince Taylor
Ret. Starters/Lost: 4/1

Overview: Tubby Smith continues to work wonders in Minnesota after winning 22 games last year, though the conference record was just 9-9. With four starters returning, the Gophers have to continue to improve and that’s becoming a better three-point shooting team, as they finished last in the conference in 3-point shooting percentage. The Gophers will go as far as 6-0 shooting guard Lawrence Westbrook (12.6ppg) takes them. He can get hot and carry the team or shoot them out of the game. Junior Al Nolen (6-3) runs the points and manages the offense well with 4.3 assists per game, but he shot just 33.7 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from beyond the arc. In the frontcourt, senior Damian Johnson (9.8pp, 4.2rpg, 58 steals, 60 blocks) provides defense, boards and scoring. He can play small or big fowrard. Minnesota is tough to score on in the paint as they return twin towers 6-11 sophomore Ralph Sampson III (6.3ppg, 6.2rpg, 50 blocks) and 6-10 sophomore Colton Iverson (6.3ppg, 4.2rpg). Freshman Royce White (6-8, 240) is going to push for playing time right away and is one of the top recruits to come to Minnesota in a long time. Smith can also use a strong season off the bench from junior Blake Hoffarber (6.4ppg), who shot just 34% from three-point range, after shooting 42% as a freshman.

Outlook: Another physical Big 10 team that defends the paint and the perimeter. That’s how you win in this league, but to get to the next level, they will need shooters like Westbrook and Hoffarber to become more consistent.

4) Ohio State

2008-09 Record: (22-11, 10-8 Big 10)
Coach: That Matta (6th year, 127-46 at Ohio State)
Assistants: Alan Major, Jeff Boals, Brandon Miller
Ret. Starters/Lost: 5/0

Overview: Thad Matta has lost his last three big men after one season: Greg Oden in 2007, Kosta Koufos in 2008 and B.J. Mullens last June. Most teams would be devastated by those losses, but Matta has recruited so well, he just re-loads. In fact, Mullens wasn’t even a starter last year, which makes his departure even more puzzling. However, don’t cry for the Buckeyes who do return five starters including 6-7 junior point forward Evan Turner (17.3ppg, 7.1rpg, 4apg). Turner also shot 50.3 percent from the field and simply carried the offense. There is help on the way as 6-5 junior David Lighty returns after missing all but seven games last year due to a broken foot. He averaged 9.7ppg and 5.7rpg and is a tough matchup for shooting guards with his 220 pounds. At the point, seniors P.J. Hill (3.2ppg,) and Jeremie Simmons (6.8ppg) will vie again for the starting job. This team is so loaded at the wing that last year’s Big 10 Freshman of the Year, 6-5 guard William Bruford (11.3ppg) could come off the bench. Jon Diebler (11.2ppg), a 6-6 junior wing also provides long-range scoring and hustle. Junior Dallas Lauderdale (6-8, 255) is the one ture post player, who had 67 blocks last season, but provides little offense. The biggest newcomer literally and figurately could be 7-foot UAB transfer Zisis Sarikopoulos, from Greece, who should provide size when needed.

Outlook: This is a very underrated team that really didn’t lose much as Mullens was a very raw talent. They don’t have the great post player, but nobody is really dominant in this league at over 6-9 or they would leave early. They key is the return of Lighty and how he fits with Turner. The point guard situation will dictate how far they go.

5) Michigan

2008-09 Record: (21-14, 9-9 Big 10)
Coach: John Beilein (3rd year, 31-36 at Minnesota)
Assistants: Jerry Dunn, Mike Jackson, John Mahoney
Ret. Starters/Lost: 4/1

Overview: John Belein seems to have a program on track that has been marred by controversy over the last two decades. Last season, they beat Duke and UCLA early in the season and eventually made the second round of the NCAA Tournament. But Beilein’s work is not over as Michigan returns four players and adds a few newcomers who can help them take it to the next level. Junior guard Manny Harris (16.9ppg, 6.8rpg) is backasone of the best all-around players in the league. Harris shot just 32.7% from beyond the arc, but got to the line a lot where he was very successful (.863). Up front, senior DeShawn Sims (6-8, 235) averaged 15.4ppg and 6.8rpg, but at times, wanted to stay at the three-point line, taking away his strength. Joining Harris at the wing in this four-guard lineup is sophomore Zach Novak (6.7ppg), who regularly had to guard players three inches taller than his 6-6, but also gave big men matchup problems wit his perimeter shooting. Sophomore Stu Douglass (6.1ppg) returns at shooting guard and is a real streak shooter. The key is at the point where sophomore Lava Lucas-Perry (6-3, 185) averaged just 6.1ppg and 1.1apg, after transferring from Arizona and was very inconsistent. If he doesn’t improve. freshman Darius Morris (6-4, 180) could push him. They do have some size off the bench with the return of 7-foot Ben Cronin (4.ppg), who redshirted last season after having surgery on his hip and if healthy, should be an impact player.

Outlook: This is a very dangerous team led by two All-Conference performers in Harris and Sims, but the rest of the team is still questionable, especially the point guard spot. Beilein’s has added more three-point shooters to his system and should be a tough matchup with their 1-3-1 zone.

6) Illinois

2008-09 Record: (24-10, 11-7 Big 10)
Coach: Bruce Weber (7th year, 152-57 at Illinois)
Assistants: Wayne McClain, Jay Price, Jerrance Howard
Ret. Starters/Lost: 3/2

Overview: Another year, another 20+ winning season for Bruce Weber. He certainly earned it last season with defense as not one player on the Illini averaged more than 12 points per game. They’ll need more scoring this season from their “Big Three” of guard Demetri McCamey (11.5ppg, 41.1% FG), forward Mike Davis (6-9, 11.3ppg, 8.1rpg) and 7-1 center Mike Tisdale (10.2ppg, 53.1% FG). They do have to replace two quality guards in Trent Meacham (10.2ppg) and Chester Frazier (5.3apg). Freshman D.J. Richardson (6-3, 175) will have to replace Meacham at shooting guard (with McCamey playing point). He’s a good defender and ballhandler, who can allow Meacham to freelance at the wing. Junior Alex Legion (6-5) is also back after a difficult season, after sitting out the first semester after transferring from Kentucky. He’ll have to step up his game and his defense to earn back Weber’s faith. Up front, 6-7 senior Dominique Keller(5.9ppg) is the perfect glue guy and role player off the bench. Freshman Stan Simpson (6-9, 225) also returns after sitting out his first season and provides shotblocking and defense in the paint. Another possible contributor from the wing is 6-5 Joseph Bertrand.

Outlook: Illinois will defend as well as anybody in the conference, but can they score enough to keep up with the elite teams? They don’t appear to have a dominant scorer though Davis and McCamey have the skills.

7) Wisconsin

2008-09 Record: (20-13, 10-8 Big 10)
Coach: Bo Ryan (9th year, 193-73 at Wisconsin)
Assistants: Greg Gard, Gary Close, Howard Moore
Ret. Starters/Lost: 3/2

Overview: Bo Ryan’s club is coming off a disappointing season and nwo they have to replace top scorer Marcus Landry (12.7ppg) and leading rebounder Joe Krabbenhoft (6.7rpg). To get back to the NCAA Tournament, the Badgers will ahve to rely on 6-0 senior guard Trevon Hughes (12.ppg). Hughes can carry the team when he’s hot, as he led the Badgers in scoring 11 times, but shot just 38.2 percent from the field. The third-leading scorer does return in 6-2 shooting guard Jack Bohannon (10.3ppg, 3.1rpg), but he also shot just 38.1 percent from the field as nearly two-thirds of his shots came from beyond the arc. Wisconsin usually doesn’t win pretty as they love to defend and crash the boards. But last season, Wisky allowed their opponents to shoot 43.9 percent from the field, which ranked 10th in the Big 10. Ryan needs more defense from juniors Jon Leuer (6-10, 8.8ppg) as well as Keaton Nankivil (6-8, 240). Freshman Mike Bruesewitz (6-7, 215) is a physical player who can fill it up from the perimeter and should contribute off the bench. Tim Jarmusz (6-6, 3.4ppg) was hampered by leg injuries and last season and the Badgers expect big things from him at small forward. Another wing should contribute is Rob Wilson (6-6), a freshman who redshirted last year and provides some athleticism.

Outlook: Never count out a Bo Ryan squad. Even when they diasppointed last season, they still managed 20 wins. This isn’t a club full of big names and stars, but they will battle you and be in the picture at the end.

8 ) Northwestern

2008-09 Record: (17-14, 8-10 Big 10)
Coach: Bill Carmody (10th year, 120-149 at Northwestern)
Assistants: Mitch Henderson, Tavaras Hardy, Ivan Vujic
Ret. Starters/Lost: 4/1

Overview: Northwestern is finally on the way up after a record-tying 17 wins and earning a postseason appearance for the first time since 1999. They could surpass that this season and finally make the NCAA Tournament with four starters returning. However, they have to replace thid-team All-Big Ten guard Craig Moore and his 14.3ppg and 320 career three-pointers. The Wildcats will have to learn on senior forward Kevin Coble (15.5ppg, 4.8rpg) and junior point guard Michael “Juice” Thompson (9.9ppg, 3.7apg). Coble is 6-8, but just 200 pounds and added strength would improve his rebounding numbers. Sophomore forward Jon Shurna (6-8, 7.3ppg) returns along with 7-foot sophomore center Kyle Rowley (3.6ppg), who at 280 pounds, is coming off a fractured foot. Jeremy Nash, a 6-4 senior guard is a very good defender, who could get the starting nod replacing Moore. If they go for more scoring, rangy 6-5 freshman Drew Crawford, son of NBA referred Dan, could be the real deal. He finished third in the Mr. Illinois voting, averaging 25ppg and nine rebounds.

Outlook: Northwestern could be in the thick of things if they can replace Moore’s production from the outside. Carmody finally seems to have the program set in the right direction as recruiting has really picked up.

9) Penn State

2008-09 Record: (27-11, 10-8 Big 10)
Coach: Ed DeChelis (7th year, 84-103 at Penn State)
Assistants: Kurt Kanaskie, Lewis Preston, Dan Earl
Ret. Starters/Lost: 3/2

Overview: Like Northwestern, Penn State put together one of the greatest seasons in school history. Last year, culminated with the winning of the NIT, which included wins over Notre Dame and Baylor. While the Nittany Lions lose two starters in Stalney Pringle and Jamelle Cornley, who combined to average 27.2ppg, they do return their best player. Junior guard Talor Battle (16.7ppg, 5.3rpg, 5apg) finished third in the league in scoring and was an All-Big Ten first-team selection. Battle will look to take this team to tne next level and that includes a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Pringle was a great complement for Battle in the backcourt. Sophomore Chris Babb (2.8ppg), who is 6-5, 215 is a potential replacement. They could also go young with with 6-2 freshman Tim Frazier, or 6-5 swingman Jermaine Marshall. Up front, 6-6 David Jackson (4.5ppg, 3.2rpg) and 6-8 junior Jeff Brooks (3.3ppg, 3.1rpg) return up front. Junior Andrew Jones (6.2ppg, 5.7rpg) pr;ovides a big presence at 6-9 and a 57 percent clip from the field. Cam Woodyard, another 6-5 wing is also in the picture in the rotation, after making12-of-27 shots from beyond the arc.

Outlook: Penn State should continue to make strides this season, but this is a very tough conference. Last year, the conference was rated 2nd in the RPI ratings and Penn State was just left out. Outside of Battle, they are unproven and it looks like another year of making the postseason, but just missing out on the NCAA’s.

10) Indiana

2008-09 Record: (6-25, 1-17 Big 10)
Coach: Tom Crean (2nd year, 6-25 at Indiana)
Assistants: Tim Buckley, Bennie Seltzer, Roshown McCleod
Ret. Starters/Lost: 3/2

Overview: Tom Crean took over a program rife with scandal and it showed in his first season as the Hoosiers lost a program-record 25 games. However, the former Marquette coach has the fans’ support at the moment because his team played hard last season, despite being overmatched. There were so many dismissals and transfers last season that Indiana returned just 19 ppg of offense. This season is a little better, but features 11 freshmen and sophomores. Crean will rely on sophomores 6-5 guard Verdell Jones III (11ppg, 3.6apg) and 6-9 forward Tom Pritchard (9.7ppg, 6.4rpg). Another player who should make an impact is 6-5 wing Jeremiah Rivers, a junior transfer from Georgetown, and son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who sat out last year. Devan Dumes (6-2), who was suspended late last season due to a flagrant elbow, is the team’s leading returning scorer at 12.7ppg. Sophomore guard Matt Roth (6.7ppg) is an excellent shooter, but needs to find a way to create his own shot. The big question is whether Crean’s first full freshmen class will make a huge impact this seasonor the next. Freshman Derek Elston (6-8) is likely to get the most playing time right away because of his toughness. Slender 6-8 forward Chrstian Watford, a top 50 prospect from Alabama is considered the gem of the recruiting class and should be able to make an impact right away.

Outlook: Indiana should take a big step this season. But they will also be the youngest team in the league. That means there will be some good moments and bad ones this season.

11) Iowa

2008-09 Record: (15-17, 5-13 Big 10)
Coach: Todd Lickliter (3rd year, 28-36 at Iowa)
Assistants: Joel Cornette, LaVall Jordan, Chard Walthall
Ret. Starters/Lost: 3/2

Overview: Iowa takes another step backward after freshman John Kelly (11.6ppg, 3.1apg) decided to transfer closer to home (Indiana State), after a really strong rookie season. That leaves sophomore Matt Gatens (6-5, 10.8ppg, 3.8rpg) as one of the top returning players. He’s an oustanding shooter, who hit 40.3 percent from three-point range last year. Another former starter Jeff Peterson, who decided to transfer to Arkansas, while David Palmer and Jermain Davis left for Division II schools. Gatens isn’t the only returner with some talent. Anthony Tucker, a 6-4 sohpomore (10.4ppg, 3rpg), is a powerful guard at 200 pounds. He can play the point or shooting guard, though Cully Payne, a 6-1 freshman from Illinois who originally committed to Alabama, will get a opportunity. Two other freshmen: 6-5 guard Eric May and 6-9 forward/center Brennan Coughill will have a chance to play right away. The other issue is lack of depth as it looks like the Hawkeyes will have 11 players not counting walk-ons. If they suffer injuries or lose players for some reason, it will make a long year seem longer.

Outlook: Lickliter probably didn’t know what he was getting into after arriving from Butler three years ago. Taking this job was a no-brainer, but they have a ways to go to catch up with the rest of the league that has passed them big-time.

• 2009-10 College Basketball Preview: Pac 10 Conference
• 2009-10 College Basketball Preview: Big 12 Conference
• 2009-10 College Basketball Preview: ACC
• 2009-10 College Basketball Preview: SEC
• 2009-10 College Basketball Preview: Big East Conference