NBA Draft 2012: Predicting Where the Big Ten's Best Will Land

It may be ridiculed for its slow tempo, low scoring output and lack of athleticism, but the Big Ten Conference was the cream of college basketball's crop in 2011. They spent almost the entire season atop the conference RPI chart, with four teams finishing in the top 11 of KenPom's rankings. 

But while the numbers substantiate their claim as college basketball's top conference, Big Ten players have historically had trouble translating to the new atmosphere of the NBA game.

Big Ten teams dominate college basketball because they are well-coached, disciplined, and veteran-laden. But the NBA draft doesn't value any of those things, willing to overlook a player's character problems or mental lapses so long as he's young and bouncy.

With that being said, some of the Big Ten's top performers from a wildly successful 2011-12 campaign have entered the draft this year, hoping to make their NBA dreams a reality. Here is how they stack up a day before draft night.

All DraftExpress picks are courtesy of Jonathan Givony, while ESPN picks are courtesy of Chad Ford.

C Meyers Leonard (Illinois)

DraftExpress Prediction: 14—Houston Rockets

ESPN Prediction: 14—Houston Rockets

Leonard has done the seemingly unthinkable over the past month, ascending up the draft board and jettisoning Jared Sullinger from his perch atop the Big Ten prospect rankings.

Somewhat of an enigma at Illinois (a microcosm of the team as a whole), Leonard combined flashes of dominance with stretches of passive deference. But NBA teams are willing to overlook capriciousness where they see potential.

Leonard wowed at the NBA Combine, where he proved to be a legitimate 7'1'', and reportedly outperformed the likes of Tyler Zeller and John Henson. He's super-athletic for a seven-footer, and far less stiff in the post than some would assume just by looking at him.

Once ticketed as high as ninth overall, Ford and Givony have both moved him out of the Pistons' spot after John Henson purportedly outplayed him at a Detroit workout. Still, pick No. 9 is where hearing his name becomes a distinct possibility.

Beyond that, all the teams between Detroit and Houston—New Orleans, Portland, Milwaukee and Phoenix—could be in the market for a center, making Leonard a hot commodity at the back end of the lottery.

Prediction: 12—Milwaukee Bucks

PF Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

DraftExpress Prediction: 19—Orlando Magic

ESPN Prediction: 19—Orlando Magic

In stark contrast to Leonard, Sullinger has been the draft's quickest faller. His descent recently hit its nadir when the NBA withheld his invitation to sit in the green room at the draft, ostensibly confirming speculation that he's fallen out of the lottery.

While some NBA teams were tepid about Sullinger's stock to begin with, the primary source of his fall seems to be the findings of his NBA physical, where his bad back red-flagged him as an injury risk.

Still, it's hard to imagine NBA GMs are dumb enough to not learn from prior mistakes. In 2009, another ultra-productive, below-the-rim power forward was red-flagged for medical reasons, and saw his stock drop from lottery pick to second-rounder. His name? DeJuan Blair.

You think NBA GMs would like to go back and draft him over the likes of Sergio Llull and DaJuan Summers? Me too.

Pick 19 to the Magic represents what is generally believed to be the farthest Sullinger could fall. And while I think he could learn a lot from similarly shaped NBA veteran Glen Davis, I also think that at some point, his talent will convince a team to take a flyer on him. Sullinger is, without a doubt, the most advanced post-scorer in the class.

Then again, these are NBA GMs I'm talking about. And they never learn.

Prediction: 19—Orlando Magic

SF/PF Draymond Green (Michigan State)

DraftExpress Prediction: 26—Indiana Pacers

ESPN Prediction: 26—Indiana Pacers

A lot of NBA teams could use a player like Draymond Green. In particular, teams outside the lottery who were competitive in 2011 could take advantage of his NBA-readiness and nearly realized potential (what the more pessimistic scouts would call "low upside").

Both Jonathan Givony and Chad Ford have Green going to Indiana, a team who, as I mentioned, thinks they are only a couple pieces away from serious contention. Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed on Twitter that the Pacers' interest in Green is more than just speculation, as they invited him back for a second workout.

Should he go to the Pacers, he would fill a big need by giving Danny Granger a legitimate backup, and potentially pushing Louis Amundson out of a rotational big-man job.

If the Pacers pass, other candidates include the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Prediction: 26—Indiana Pacers

SF Robbie Hummel (Purdue)

DraftExpress Prediction: Undrafted

ESPN Prediction: 47—Utah Jazz

A poster boy for entering the draft when your stock is the highest, Hummel was once considered a first-round lock. But two years and two ACL surgeries later, Hummel is almost an afterthought in NBA circles.

He's tough, scrappy and talented, but it doesn't matter how many threes Hummel drains in workouts; all NBA scouts see is a limited athlete with a twice-torn ACL.

In the NCAA tournament, Hummel scored 22 points in the first half against Kansas (while being guarded by presumed top-three pick Thomas Robinson), before the Boilermakers squandered their big lead and fell to the eventual national runners-up. His final game was a fitting microcosm for his NBA stock; he started strong, then faded away.

Chad Ford has him going to the Utah Jazz in the second round, a pick that makes too much sense not to happen. As Ford says, "Hummel is a Jazz player all the way. He is tough, has a terrific basketball IQ and can really shoot the basketball."

Prediction: 47—Utah Jazz

SG William Buford (Ohio State)

DraftExpress Prediction: 55—Dallas Mavericks

ESPN Prediction: Undrafted

Its hard to believe Buford isn't a better NBA prospect than he is. With ideal size, and genuine three-point range, he should have teams salivating over the thought of getting him.

But Buford's game and demeanor have always been a little mercurial, and he has some who are in the know, questioning his drive.

"I wouldn't draft him," a scout told SI.com's Seth Davis, "I don't think he likes to play. I don't think he has enough toughness."

That scout also mentioned that he came into the combine a little bit heavy, a sign of blatant indifference, particularly from a prospect whose athleticism was already in question.

Some team will take a Summer League flyer on him, but it's hard to imagine wasting a draft pick on a guy who doesn't love playing basketball.

Prediction: Undrafted

SF/PF John Shurna (Northwestern)

DraftExpress Prediction: Undrafted

ESPN Prediction: Undrafted

Shurna helped lead Northwestern as close as they've ever been to snapping their record-breaking NCAA tournament drought.

He ultimately failed, but he did all he could, making three All-Big Ten teams (including the first team in 2011), and being named a 2012 honorable mention AP All-American.

He has an unorthodox stroke, but his release is quick and he's one of the purest shooters in the draft. As one scout told Seth Davis, "He's a really, really, really good shooter, and he can really run...Plus, he's got legit size. If you play him with a good post player, you've got to guard him."

That being said, he's also likely headed to the Summer League as an undrafted free agent. But his hot shooting makes him a perennial threat to be the unheralded star of the show.

Becoming the next Ryan Anderson is his best-case scenario, but it isn't completely out of the question.

Prediction: Undrafted

PG Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin)

DraftExpress Prediction: Undrafted

ESPN Prediction: Undrafted

Taylor took a major step back in 2011. His scoring average dropped four points, his field-goal percentage dropped by 30 points, and his three-point percentage dropped by 60 points.

Had he been able to build off his outstanding 2010 season—a season which saw him share second-team AP All-American honors with Kemba Walker—he could be a much more intriguing prospect.

But Taylor is undersized, slow and unathletic in comparison to NBA point guards. He's a savvy, cerebral floor leader, but he just doesn't have what NBA teams are looking for.

He could carve out a nice career in Europe (where his game fits in much better) should he be so inclined.

Prediction: Undrafted