Big Ten Tournament 2012: Each Team's Most Important Player

The Big Ten Tournament is underway in Indianapolis. Michigan State is the favorite to win it all, but several other teams are laying in the weeds waiting to get their shot at the Spartans.

With the field wide open, let's take a look at the player on each team who is the most important element in leading his team to a Big Ten crown and automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

No. 1 Michigan State: Draymond Green

Green is the beat of the Spartans' drum. The senior forward is as battle tested as they come, and he is without a doubt the key to Michigan State's success.

Green leads Sparty in points per game (16.8) and rebounds per game (10.3). He has experience in the postseason, having been to the Final Four before.

If Michigan State is to avoid the upset bug and make it through the Big Ten Tournament unscathed, Green must put up his regular statistics and avoid an off night.

If he can do so, look for Sparty to run the table and set itself up nicely for a deep run in the Big Dance.

No. 2 Michigan: Jordan Morgan

Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway, Jr. might be the front-runners in this category, but Jordan Morgan, a sophomore forward flying under the radar, will be the Wolverines' key to victory.

Barring any major upsets, Michigan will likely see Ohio State in the tournament semifinal. The teams split their two regular season meetings, but in the game the Wolverines won, Morgan was the key.

The 6'8" forward registered 11 points and 11 rebounds and really did a phenomenal job of sealing off the paint, limiting the production of Ohio State All-American Jared Sullinger.

If the Wolverines are to defeat the Buckeyes again, Morgan will have to be a big reason why. His offensive, defensive and rebounding abilities will all have to play a major role.

No. 3 Ohio State: Jared Sullinger

When he's on his game, Sullinger is arguably the most dominant big man in college basketball today. No one else in the Big Ten can stack up against the All-American, and the Buckeyes must exploit this obvious advantage if they are to advance far in this tournament.

Sullinger struggled towards the end of the season, recording just nine points and eight points in back-to-back contests to Illinois and Wisconsin.

The big man rebounded spectacularly, though, in his final two regular season games, going for 22 and 18 against Northwestern and 14 and 10 against Michigan State.

If Sullinger can carry that momentum into the Big Ten Tournament, the sky is the limit for both he and the Buckeyes.

No. 4 Wisconsin: Jordan Taylor

Like Draymond Green for Michigan State, Jordan Taylor is the pulse of Wisconsin. The Badgers did enough to earn a coveted first-round bye and await the winner of Penn State and Indiana.

Assuming Wisconsin can take care of business in the quarterfinals, a pivotal semifinal showdown with Michigan State looms.

The Badgers played the Spartans twice in the regular season and fell both times. The first contest was a heartbreaking overtime loss in which Taylor had 28 points.

The second time around wasn't nearly as productive for the senior, as he finished with just 13 points.

Taylor will need to break the 20-point barrier if his team has a shot at knocking off Michigan State. The Badgers are already safely in the NCAA tournament, but Taylor will be the difference in determining Wisconsin's fate as far as seed is concerned.

No. 5 Indiana: Victor Oladipo

Christian Watford and Cody Zeller may be the dynamic duo that leads the Hoosiers, but Tom Creen needs a supporting cast to help out this twosome.

Oladipo can be that guy.

If the Hooisers hang on to beat Penn State, they will take on Wisconsin, a team they lost to in their only meeting of the season.

Oladipo was nonexistent in that game, scoring just two points in 19 minutes. Since then, the sophomore guard has turned up the dial, scoring in double-digits in all but two contests since that game.

Oladipo will likely be pitted against Wisconsin star Jordan Taylor, meaning he will have to step up his defensive game as well.

If Oladipo rises to the occasion, look for Indiana to go far in this tournament in preparation for an even deeper run in the NCAA Tournament.

No. 6 Purdue: D.J Byrd

The obvious choice here is Robbie Hummel, whose nearly 17 points per game lead the Boilermakers. But if Purdue is to advance in this tournament, it will need another offensive threat to step up.

Enter D.J. Byrd.

Byrd has played well of late, netting 12 and 14 points in his last two contests respectively. Averaging 8.5 points so far this season, Byrd has the ability to step up and make an impact from his swingman position.

When Purdue nearly knocked off possible second-round opponent Ohio State in early February, it was Byrd, not Hummel, who led the charge with 24 points and six boards.

The Boilermakers will need a similar showing out of Byrd if they hope to knock off the mighty Buckeyes, assuming they take care of Nebraska in round one.

No. 7 Northwestern: Dave Sobolewski

It's no coincidence that when Sobolewski performs, so do the Wildcats. In Northwestern's lone win against Minnesota earlier this season, Sobolewski tallied 22 points on 6-of-10 shooting to lead his team to victory.

In the Wildcats' other meeting with the Golden Gophers, things didn't go as well for the freshman guard, as he failed to register a point.

If the Wildcats are to avoid a first-round upset, Sobolewski must step up and compliment leading scorer John Shurna.

The winner of this matchup takes on No. 2 Michigan tomorrow.

No. 8 Iowa: Matt Gatens

The Hawkeyes advanced into the quarterfinals thanks in large part to the performance of Gatens, who netted 20 points on the way to a three-point victory over ninth-seeded Illinois.

Gatens has been doing it all year for Iowa, averaging nearly 16 points a game to go with four rebounds during his senior campaign.

If Iowa is to pull off an upset of top-seeded Michigan State tomorrow, Gatens will have to lead the charge.

He was relatively quiet in the two teams' first meeting, totaling just 11 points in a blowout win for Sparty. That must change if the 17-15 Hawkeyes have hope of any further postseason tournaments.

No. 9 Illinois: Meyers Leonard

Coming into a first-round showdown with No. 8 Iowa, Illinois knew its difference maker was going to be center Meyers Leonard.

The sophomore big man scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the Illini's regular season victory over the Hawkeyes, and Bruce Weber needed much of the same if his squad was to pull off a minor upset.

Leonard delivered with 18 points on 9-of-11, shooting but it wasn't enough to propel Illinois to a victory. There may still be basketball to be played for the Fighting Illini this season in a tournament, but a first-round exit in the Big Ten Tournament was certainly not in Weber's plans, and his job may be on the line as a result.

No. 10 Minnesota: Rodney Williams

The Gophers have suffered several setbacks after a brilliant start to the season. If they are to right the ship with a first-round upset, Rodney Williams is going to have to lead the way.

Williams is averaging 11 points and five-and-a-half rebounds a game this season. He's been particularly solid in his last couple outings, going for 16 points and eight rebounds against Nebraska and 11 points and nine rebounds against Wisconsin.

Tubby Smith's squad will be hard pressed to advance much past the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, but if they do, it will be Rodney Williams that leads them there.

No. 11 Nebraska: Bo Spencer

Spencer is the clear-cut choice here. He is the heart and soul of the Huskers, and the team seems to go as he goes.

Spencer has been impressive all year long in his first season in Lincoln, averaging 15.8 points per game.

The LSU transfer is the only player on the Nebraska roster averaging double-digits in points, and his team will need another big performance out of him if they hope to upset No. 6 Purdue.

Spencer was solid his first time out against Purdue, scoring 19 points in a blowout loss.

The senior guard is Nebraska's best player, and the team will go as far in the Big Ten Tournament as he carries them.

No. 12 Penn State: Tim Frazier

Fraizer is the driving force behind the Nittany Lions team. Despite a lackluster 4-14 conference record, the junior guard has still made a tremendous impact, averaging nearly 19 points a game.

The road in the Big Ten Tournament is not an easy one for Penn State. Even if the Lions get past Indiana in a first-round upset, they will then need to take on Wisconsin a team they failed to beat during the regular season in two tries.

If anyone is going to will this team to victory, it's going to be Frazier. Without him, Penn State doesn't stand much of a chance.