Big Ten preview: League strong again with Spartans, Boilermakers on top

The Big Ten put seven teams in the NCAA tournament last season, and only put two players in the NBA Draft. That's not good for the NBA, of course. But it's great for the Big Ten and why this should be another tremendous season for the often-ridiculed league. Everybody who got in last season should get in this season ... except Wisconsin (more on that later). And the two best teams from last season should also be the two best this season as Michigan State and Purdue battle for a league title.

Let's take a look at the Big Ten.

(Schools listed in predicted order of finish)

1. Michigan State

Kalin Lucas will be Kalin Lucas, and Raymar Morgan will be Raymar Morgan (provided he remains healthy, which he is not right now; the senior missed MSU's exhibition with an ankle sprain). Both players could chase All-America honors -- particularly Lucas, the 6-1 point guard who averaged 14.7 points and 4.6 assists last season while leading the Spartans to the Final Four. So Lucas and Morgan are no concern; the concern is whether the Spartans can avoid slipping despite the loss of Goran Suton, who was far more valuable than his averages of 10.1 points and 8.2 rebounds suggest. The X-factor is Delvon Roe. He's super talented, but college basketball fans have yet to see it because the 6-8 sophomore spent his freshman season limited by knee surgery, and now Roe is battling the effects of a concussion. That's not good. But if he gets healthy and plays to the potential he showed as a high school All-American, the Spartans can win the Big Ten and play for another national title.

2. Purdue

The junior class of Robbie Hummel, E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson has been a program-changing class, and what I like is that they took a step in the right direction last season. As freshmen, they won 25 games and made the second round of the NCAA tournament. As sophomores, they won 27 games and made the Sweet 16. So what's next? Twenty-nine wins and the Elite Eight, perhaps. A lot of it will revolve around Hummel remaining healthy; he missed five games last season (Purdue was 2-3 without him) and barely felt comfortable even when he did play. But he claims to feel great now, and that's all that matters. If he stays that way, Purdue will challenge Michigan State for the Big Ten championship.

3. Ohio State

There are questions about whether Evan Turner can be the primary ball-handler for Ohio State, but a lot of those might've been answered Wednesday when the junior wing turned point guard got 15 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and just one turnover in OSU's 86-48 win over Walsh in an exhibition game at Value City Arena. "I thought Evan played a tremendous game all-around," Matta told reporters afterward. "I think one of the biggest differences for him is he's playing with more patience and seeing things and really looking to get guys involved, which was exciting to see. He realizes the more he gives, the more is going to come back to him." If Turner is this effective, the Buckeyes can be really good. Another bit of positive news is that Dallas Lauderdale could return in time for Monday's opener. He broke a bone in his hand last month and had surgery to repair it. He's expected to practice Friday.

4. Michigan

A recent headline in the Chicago Tribune asked this question: "Has the excitement returned to Michigan basketball?" I say yes thanks to Manny Harris, DeShawn Sims and John Beilein's move from West Virginia to Ann Arbor, which is going much smoother than Rich Rodriguez's move from West Virginia to Ann Arbor. Beilein took the Wolverines to the NCAA tournament in just his second year and won 21 games last season. The top five scorers from that team are back, so, yeah, the excitement is back, too.

5. Illinois

Bruce Weber's career was at a crossroads a few years ago when recruiting wasn't going well, most famously the recruitment of Eric Gordon. But that now seems like ages ago, and few Big Ten programs seem to have better foundations in place than the one in place at Illinois. The Illini have two talented juniors in Demetri McCamey (11.5 points and 4.6 assists last season) and Mike Davis (11.3 points and 8.1 rebounds last season). They're joined by a top 15 recruiting class highlighted by D.J. Richardson, a 6-3 guard who is the wise pick for Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

6. Minnesota

According to the preseason Top 25 (and one), the Gophers should be picked third in the Big Ten. But I filed those rankings before I knew for sure that junior college transfer Trevor Mbakwe would be out until at least December because of an assault charge, and way before promising freshman Royce White was suspended indefinitely; White, the state's reigning Mr. Basketball, has been charged with theft and fifth-degree assault for alleged shoplifting, and shoving a security guard at the Mall of America. So things have clearly changed at Minnesota over the past few weeks, and quickly. Tubby Smith might be capable of pulling it all together, but he didn't need to start this season this way.

7. Wisconsin

Bo Ryan has literally never missed the NCAA tournament. So it's probably stupid to pick the Badgers to finish just on the wrong side of the bubble, but that's what I'm doing. I'll correct myself in time, if need be. But let's not forget that Wisconsin barely made the field last season, and that was with Marcus Landry (team-best 12.7 points per game) and Joe Krabbenhoft (8.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game) in the lineup. Those guys are gone now. That's why Ryan's eight-year streak of NCAA tournament appearances is in jeopardy.

8. Northwestern

It's this time every year when I'm supposed to tell you that the Wildcats are the lone team from a power conference that has never made the NCAA tournament, and if this was a down year for the Big Ten I might tell you to get ready for that to end because Northwestern isn't going to be that bad. But not being that bad isn't going to be good enough this season, not with the Big Ten being strong. So Kevin Coble's career will likely end like every other Wildcats' career ends, i.e., with something short of a trip to the Big Dance, unfair as that might be.

9. Penn State

The Nittany Lions won 27 games and captured the NIT title last season while renewing interest in a program that doesn't get much attention locally or nationally. It was a great season any way you look at it. But two of the top three scorers (Jamelle Cornley and Stanley Pringle) are gone from that team, and the Big Ten will be better as a league. Consequently, it's tough to imagine having similar success. But it'll still be fun to watch Talor Battle, a guard who averaged 16.7 points, 5.0 assists and 5.3 rebounds last season.

10. Indiana

Tom Crean is still rebuilding, and it's going to take some time despite the additions of Christian Watford, Jordan Hulls, Maurice Creek and Jeremiah Rivers. All four are talented players -- the first three incoming freshman, the latter a transfer from Georgetown. And it should be noted that Watford, a 6-9 forward, got 19 points and 11 rebounds in Wednesday night's exhibition win over Grace. Still, the reality is that the Hoosiers are probably a year away from respectability. They'll get there in time, I'm certain. But it's going to take some time.

11. Iowa

The Hawkeyes finished 10th in the Big Ten last season, and the league got better while they probably got worse. Two of the top three scorers are gone, including Jake Kelly (11.6 points per game last season). That means another losing season is almost certainly on the way, and that'll make it three straight for Todd Lickliter since moving from Butler to the Big Ten. Does that mean he'll be gone? Probably not, because Iowa isn't the type of program that should be changing coaches after three years. But there needs to be a sign of progress to quiet Lickliter's critics, and it's doubtful many signs will emerge this season.