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Discuss this article on the forums. (1 posts)  There aren’t many fans out there that are going to argue that this year’s a two-team race in the Big Ten Conference. Both Michigan State and Indiana, picked 1-2 by the media pre-season, both add top tier recruiting classes to an already-solid squad. The Spartans were picked to win the regular season in large part to the fact that they return all five starters, including all-world guard Drew Neitzel. Indiana, on the other hand, returns two sure starters (Pre-Season Big Ten Player of the Year D.J. White as well as point guard Armon Bassett) but adds the biggest impact player in the conference this year in Eric Gordon.
The two meetings between the Spartans and Hoosiers (Feb. 16 in Bloomington; March 2 in East Lansing) will play a major role in determining this season’s winner. Here’s how the conference will finish:
1. Indiana
Sure, call me a homer. But have you seen Eric Gordon thus far? He’s an unreal talent, a rare blend of speed, athleticism and great distance. He’ll lead the conference in scoring this year (as a freshman no less) and win Player of the Year Honors. He’s that good. The Gordon-D.J. White combination should provide a tough test of the rest of the Big Ten, and
all in all, Kelvin Sampson will bring home the Big Ten Championship in only his second season in Bloomington.
Projected Finish: 14-4
2. Michigan State
What makes Michigan State so formidable this year is the fact that they add a top-notch recruiting class to five returning starters. Drew Neitzel will lead the way as a first team All-Big ten player, and Raymar Morgan will lead a cast of supporting characters.
Projected Finish: 13-5
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
You can’t replace players like Greg Oden and Mike Conley, Jr. That Matta prepared well for their departures, however, and brings in another studded recruiting class led by 7-0 Kosta Kofous. Home games against the Hoosiers on Feb. 10 and the Spartans on March 9 will go a long way in determining if the Buckeyes are able to defend their championship.
4. Illinois Fighting Illini
No, Jeff Jordan isn’t going to have a major impact on the Illini. But Shawn Pruitt will. Expect a newly-heightened rivalry with the Hoosiers to highlight Illinois’ conference slate. Kelvin Sampson and Eric Gordon (who originally committed to Illinois before
rescinding and deciding to go to IU) will be the main targets in Champaign in one of the Big Ten’s biggest games of the year Feb. 7.
5. Wisconsin Badgers
It will be tough to replace the likes of Alando Tucker and Kammron Taylor, but if there’s a better floor coach out there in the Big Ten, I haven’t seen it. Year after year, Bo Ryan gets the most of out his kids and I don’t think this year will be any exception. Come March, people will be praising Ryan’s work this season with an under-manned club.
6. Purdue Boilermakers
The black and gold are definitely on the upswing, with four recruits that should play a major impact in Matt Painter’s second season in West Lafayette. They’re led by E’twaun Moore, a speedy guard who can score the basketball. Expect the Boilers to prove a tough test for the top teams in the conference.
7. Minnesota
Tubby Smith leads the revitalization in Minneapolis, and should benefit from the added pressure being removed after his departure from Kentucky last spring. Make no mistake about it: Smith can coach, and the Gophers will matter in the Big Ten this year.
8. Michigan
Another squad with a first year coach. John Beilein now leads the Wolverines, and that along should revitalize the stagnant fan base left from Tommy Amaker’s stay. Gone are the talented and seemingly-tenth year seniors Courtney Sims, Lester Abram, Dion Harris and Brent Petway, so Beilein has his work cut out for him.
9. Penn State
I’m going to go out on a limb here and make a bold prediction: Penn State will beat two teams in the conference this season. In years past, you would have laughed at me. But I honestly believe that Geary Claxton is that good- the Nittany Lion’s guard/forward that averaged 16 a game last year. He’ll steal some games at home against conference foes Northwestern, Iowa and Minnesota.
10. Iowa Hawkeyes
The last of the first-year coaches, Todd Lickliter faces a tough test in maintaining the basketball culture in Iowa City left by Steve Alford. Gone is the Hawkeyes’ best player- Adam Haluska- and it will be Lickliter’s first season leading a team in a major conference, but he has the know-how and experience to do so after his time at Butler. Overall, though, should be a learning year for the Hawkeyes.
11. Northwestern Wildcats
Still the doormat of the Big Ten, and it doesn’t look necessarily promising in the years
to come. The Wildcats only won three of their final eighteen games in 2007, and Bill
Carmody’s job won’t get any easier this season. His Princeton offense needs to take hold,
and losing Tim Doyle won’t help all that much. Again, they’ll be on the outside looking
in.
Predictions:
- Regular Season Champion: Indiana
- Big Ten Tournament Champion: Michigan State
- NCAA Tournament Teams: Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State, Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue
- Big Ten Player of the Year: Eric Gordon, Indiana
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year: Eric Gordon, Indiana
- Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: Mike Flowers, Wisconsin
Discuss this article on the forums. (1 posts) Comment on this article >>> Technorati Tags: Eric Gordon, Big Ten Preview, Big Ten Preview, pre-season, recruiting classes, Player of the Year, D.J. White, Hawkeyes
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