2009-2010 Big Ten Basketball Preview
The Big Ten has seen a lot of improvement this year, making it a highly competitive league. With 11 teams, the conference became misnamed when Penn State joined the league, it contains seven teams that could be bound for the NCAA Tournament. Here’s the way they sift out.
The top spot will go to either the Michigan State Spartans or the Purdue Boilermakers. The Spartans signed some fine new inside players and also boast of the premier point guard in the league: Kalin Lucas. With a fine new guard in D.J. Byrd and a solid and talented team, the Boilermakers of Purdue will contend for first place and the national championship.
Michigan State and Ohio State will both be in the mix. The Spartans may have the best freshman of any team in the conference. Frosh player Matt Vogrich offers a superb shot and the inside-outside tandem of DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris is a force with which to be reckoned. The Buckeyes have no recruits to speak of but super player Evan Turner is back and that is simply good news.
The Fighting Illini of Illinois bring in four freshmen who were rated nationally in the top 100 and see their top three scorers return. The Minnesota Golden Gophers have an experienced group that includes their top nine point makers. The highest rate Big Ten freshmen, Rodney Williams and Royce White, join the team.
If you’re looking for depth and talent, then look at the Northwestern Wildcats. This is the best of the best that this program has ever seen. Head coach Bo Ryan will try to make the Wisconsin program viable. Diamond Taylor, a versatile combo guard with fine shooting chops, joins the Badgers.
Penn State had a hallmark season last year. This year they won’t be as strong but they will still be competitive. Although the incoming class is not as deep as it could be, the Nittany Lions will have one of the most driven and talented point men on the court again: Tony Battle.
The Indiana Hoosiers welcome two of the best freshmen in the nation: Jordan Hulls and Maurice Creek. The Hoosiers are starting to rebuild the program, which means this is an exciting time in Bloomington, Indiana.
The Iowa Hawkeyes are pretty much starting from the floor up. This will be a process that will take a few years. Stay tuned.
2009-2010 Big Ten Basketball Predictions
Click on School Link For Individual Team Preview
1) Purdue
Boilermakers
2) Michigan
State Spartans
3) Michigan
Wolverines
4) Ohio
State Buckeyes
5) Illinois
Fighting Illini
6) Minnesota
Golden Gophers
7) Northwestern
Wildcats
8) Wisconsin
Badgers
9) Penn
State Nittany Lions
10) Indiana
Hoosiers
11) Iowa
Hawkeyes
