2008 Big Ten Basketball Preview

With the start of the college basketball season only a few weeks away, here is what the Big Ten conference looks like heading into this season.

I have ranked the teams based on how they finished last season, not on any sort of prediction for this season.

1. Wisconsin Badgers: 31-5 (16-2)

Last Season: The Badgers followed up their Big Ten regular-season championship with a Big Ten tournament championship. They advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament before losing to Davidson.

Key Losses:  PF Brian Butch, SG Michael Flowers, C Greg Stiemsma

Key Returners:  G Trevon Hughes, F Marcus Landry, G Jason Bohannon, SG Joe Krabbenhoft

Key Newcomers:  G Jordan Taylor, F/C Jared Berggren

Key Non- Conference Games: Paradise Jam Tournament (teams include Miami, Connecticut), at Virginia Tech, at Marquette, vs. Texas

Outlook:  Wisconsin has been the Big Ten’s most consistent performer in recent years with 10 straight NCAA tournament appearances and having advanced past the first round in six of the last seven NCAA tournaments. The Badgers return a solid core of players, but lose most of their top performers from last season. Wisconsin should contend for a Big Ten title again this season, but won’t reach the win total they posted last year.

2. Purdue Boilermakers: 25-9 (15-3)

Last Season: After being upset in their first Big Ten tournament game, Purdue rebounded to win their first round NCAA tournament easily. They then lost to Xavier in the second round.

Key Losses:  G Tarrance Crump

Key Returners:  G Chris Kramer, F Robbie Hummel, G Keaton Grant, SG E’Twaun Moore

Key Newcomers:  G Lewis Jackson

Key Non- Conference Games: vs. Duke, at Ball State, vs. Davidson

Outlook:  Purdue returns all of their top players from a great team a year ago.  Robbie Hummel has been voted the Big Ten pre-season player of the year.  This team will have their sights set on a Big Ten title and will be looking to contend for a National Championship as well.

3. Indiana Hoosiers: 25-8 (14-4)

Last Season: After a great start to the season, Indiana collapsed after the firing of coach Kelvin Sampson. The Hoosiers were upset in their final regular season game at Penn State. Then they lost their first round Big Ten tournament game to Minnesota and lost their first round NCAA tournament game to Arkansas.

Key Losses: G Eric Gordon, PG Armon Bassett, G Jordan Crawford, F D.J. White, F Mike White, G A.J. Ratliff, F Lance Stemler

Key Returners:  none

Key Newcomers:  G Devan Dumes, G Verdell Jones III, F Tom Pritchard, G Matt Roth, G Nick Williams

Key Non- Conference Games:  Maui Invitational (Notre Dame, St. Joseph’s or Texas, etc.), at Wake Forest, vs. Gonzaga, at Kentucky

Outlook: After the disaster at the end of last season, Indiana has no players returning that were a key part of their team last year. With new coach Tom Crean the Hoosiers should recover in a short amount of time as a program, but this will certainly be a rebuilding year for Indiana. Crean was able to recruit some skilled Junior College players and freshman to the program, but don’t expect great immediate results.

4. Michigan State Spartans: 27-9 (12-6)

Last Season: After a somewhat disappointing regular season, the Spartans finished strong by losing a close game to Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament semi-finals and then posting two impressive NCAA Tournament victories. In the round of sixteen, the Spartans were ousted by Memphis.

Key Losses:  PG Drew Neitzel, C Drew Naymick

Key Returners:  G Kalin Lucas, F Raymar Morgan, C Goran Suton, G Durrell Summers

Key Newcomers:  F Draymond Green, G Korie Lucious

Key Non-Conference Games: Old Spice Class (Maryland, Gonzaga or Oklahoma State, etc.), vs. Texas, vs. Kansas

Outlook: The Spartans return a talented group of players and will look to contend for the Big Ten title this year. They lost arguably the best player in the Big Ten and their leader in Drew Neitzel to graduation, so some players will have to step up in his absence. Michigan State has eleven straight NCAA tournament appearances.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes: 24-13 (10-8)

Last Season: The Buckeyes lost their first round Big Ten tournament game to Michigan State and then were not selected for the NCAA tournament. However, Ohio State looked like a team worthy of the NCAA tournament as they marched on to an NIT Championship.

Key Losses:  C Kosta Koufos, PG Jamar Butler, F Othello Hunter, F Matt Terwilliger

Key Returners:  G/F David Lighty, G/F Evan Turner, G Jon Diebler

Key Newcomers:  C B.J. Mullens, G William Buford, G Walter Offutt, G Anthony Crater

Key Non-Conference Games:  at Miami, at Notre Dame, vs. Butler, vs. West Virginia

Outlook: Ohio State loses most of their important players from last season, but yet again has a very talented recruiting class coming in. The Buckeyes have the ability to do well this season and return to the NCAA tournament, but they will need their freshman players to have immediate impacts.

6. Minnesota Golden Gophers: 20-14 (8-10)

Last Season: Tubby Smith’s first season as the Minnesota head coach was a success as he lead the team to 20 victories. The Golden Gophers made the semi-finals of the Big Ten tournament before losing to Illinois, and then lost their first-round NIT match-up to Maryland.

Key Losses:  G Lawrence McKenzie, SF Dan Coleman, PF Spencer Tollackson

Key Returners:  G Lawrence Westbrook, G Blake Hoffarber, F Damian Johson

Key Newcomers:  F/C Colton Iverson, F/C Ralph Sampson III

Key Non-Conference Games:  vs. Virginia, at Louisville

Outlook: Tubby Smith lost his three leading scorers from last team, but will look to build on the success he had from last season in his second year as head coach. The Gophers don’t have the talent to compete for a Big Ten title, but don’t be surprised if they have some success and finish near the bubble of the NCAA tournament.

7.  Penn State Nittany Lions:  15-16 (7-11)

Last Season:  Penn State got off to a strong start and then star forward Geary Claxton went down with an injury and missed the entire second half of the season. Penn State eventually rebounded nicely to have some quality wins at the end of the season. The Nittany Lions defeated both Michigan State and Indiana at home. Penn State lost their first round Big Ten tournament game to Illinois, after defeating the Illini twice during the regular season.

Key Losses:  G/F Geary Claxton, G Mike Walker, C Brandon Hassell

Key Returners:  G Talor Battle, G Stanley Pringle, G Danny Morrissey, F David Jackson, F Jamelle Cornley, F Andrew Jones, F Jeff Brooks

Key Newcomers:  G Chris Babb, G Cammeron Woodyard, F Billy Olliver

Key Non-Conference Games:  Philly Hoops Group Classic (Rhode Island, Villanova or Towson), at Penn, at Georgia Tech, vs. Temple

Outlook:  The Nittany Lions have been one of the worst programs in the Big Ten for a long time, but have shown signs of life recently with several talented players. Sophomore PG Talor Battle and Senior F Jamelle Cornley will look to lead this team to their first NCAA tournament since 2001. The Nittany Lions have the talent to be competitive this year, but it takes more than talent for a program of their reputation to find success.

8. Iowa Hawkeyes: 13-19 (6-12)

Last Season: The Hawkeyes had a disappointing season with a very young team. They lost to Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.

Key Losses:  G Justin Johnson, PG Tony Freeman

Key Returners:  F Cyrus Tate, G Jake Kelly, F Jarryd Cole

Key Newcomers:  G Anthony Tucker, F Andrew Brommer, F Aaron Fuller

Key Non-Conference Games:  Las Vegas Invitational (West Virginia, Kansas State, Kentucky), at Boston College, vs. Iowa State, at Drake

Outlook: The Hawkeyes look to be destined for the bottom of the conference again this season. They have some solid recruits coming in but have no real experience and will be out-matched by the stronger Big Ten teams.

9. Illinois Fighting Illini: 16-19 (5-13)

Last Season: After a very disappointing regular season, the Illini finished strong by qualifying for the Big Ten tournament championship as a No. 10 seed. They lost to Wisconsin, but defeated the likes of Penn State, Purdue, and Minnesota on their way to the championship.

Key Losses:  F Shawn Pruitt, PF Brian Randle

Key Returners:  G Calvin Brock, G Chester Frazier, G Demetri McCamey, G Trent Meachem

Key Newcomers:  G Alex Legion, C Stan Simpson

Key Non-Conference Games:  at Vanderbilt, vs. Clemson, vs. Georgia, vs. Missouri

Outlook: The make-up of the Illinois team will be drastically different from last season as they lost both of their talented big men and will look to rely on some experienced guards for this season. Illinois should be able to find more success than last year, but they are still not back to the level of the conference elite.

10. Michigan Wolverines: 10-22 (5-13)

Last Season:  Michigan posted a horrendous win-loss record in their first season under coach John Beilein. However, they did have glimpses of success in some of their games, as they clearly had some talented young players. Michigan was able to win their first round Big Ten tournament game against Iowa before losing in the second round to Wisconsin.

Key Losses:  C Ekpe Udoh

Key Returners:  G Manny Harris, F Deshawn Sims, G Kelvin Grady, F Zack Gibson, F Anthony Wright

Key Newcomers:  C Ben Cronin, G Zack Novak

Key Non-Conference Games:  at Maryland, vs. Duke, at Connecticut

Outlook:   Michigan was a two-man team last year with Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims. If they can find another player or two to step up and contribute then this team could be very good. I expect them to be much improved from last season, but not quite ready to contend for the Big Ten title yet. They should be right around the middle-of-the-pack in the Big Ten.

11.  Northwestern Wildcats:  8-22 (1-17)

Last Season:  There wasn’t much that went right for the Wildcats last season as they lost a whopping 17 conference games.  Their lone conference win came against Michigan, the second-worst team in the Big Ten last year.  The Wildcats did play very well in their first-round Big Ten tournament game, but let the game slip away at the end as they lost to Minnesota.

Key Losses:  G Jason Okrzesik

Key Returners:  F Kevin Coble, G Craig Moore, G Michael Thompson

Key Newcomers:  G/F Nick Freundt, F/C Luka Mirkovic, F John Shurna

Key Non-Conference Games:  at Butler, vs. Florida State, vs. Depaul, at Stanford

Outlook:  The good news for Northwestern is that they are returning almost all of their players from last season.  The bad news is that that particular combination of players didn’t work out too well last year.  I expect the Wildcats to be much improved, but they will still only win a handful of conference games.  Northwestern has never made the NCAA tournament.