Big Ten Basketball Team Capsules and Prediction

The Big Ten Conference should once again be very tough.  It boasts one of the favorites to win the National Championship—Ohio State—and could have almost half the teams in the running for a 2012 NCAA Tournament berth.

Unlike football, the teams will not be separated into two divisions.

Nebraska is going new to Big Ten basketball and it could be a struggle to compete in their first year of competition.

Can anyone stop defending champion Ohio State from once again winning the regular season and conference tournament?

Here's a capsule of each team with the order they will finish in.

Ohio State Buckeyes (29-2, 17-1 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Thad Matta

Last Year: (34-3 overall, 16-2 Big Ten)

The Buckeyes lose three starters, but bring back a ton of experience.

Jon Diebler (12.6 ppg), David Lighty (12.1 ppg), and Dallas Lauderdale (4.2 ppg) all graduated.

But, they do return potential national player of the year in sophomore, Jared Sullinger.  He averaged 17.5 ppg last year as a freshman and should be better than he was last year.

Joining Sullinger, in the front court, will be fellow sophomore DeShaun Thomas (7.6 ppg).

The backcourt will be run by sophomore Aaron Craft (6.9 ppg) and senior William Buford (14.3 ppg)

That group of four will be hard to stop.

Joining them will be newcomers G Shannon Scott, F Sam Thompson, G/F LaQuinton Ross and C Amir Williams.

That experience and a good group of newcomers makes Ohio State my favorite to win the Big Ten once again.

Wisconsin Badgers (25-5 Overall, 14-4 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Bo Ryan

Last Year: (25-9 overall, 13-5 Big Ten)

The Badgers like Ohio State graduated six talented players and will miss forwards Jon Leuer (18.3 ppg) and Keaton Nankivil (9.7 ppg).  Joining them was guard Tim Jarmusz (3.9 ppg).

Who they do bring back is senior guard and last year's leading scorer, Jordan Taylor (18.8 ppg). Joining Taylor in the back court will be sophomore guard Josh Gasser (5.9 ppg).

Freshman Traevon Jackson should also see a ton of playing time this season in the back court.

The main guy returning in the front court is bruiser Mike Bruesewitz (4.4 ppg).

Joining Jackson as new comers are center Frank Kaminsky, guard George Marshal and forward Jarod Uthoff.

Michigan Wolverines (23-6 Overall, 12-6 Big Ten)

Head Coach: John Beilein

Last Year: (21-14 overall, 9-9 Big Ten)

This could be the best year in Ann Arbor in a while.  Although the Wolverines are without last year's leading scorer, Darius Morris, who left for the NBA, they return a lot of talent.

Expect the Wolverines to run a three guard set with sophomore Tim Hardaway Jr. (13.8 ppg), and juniors Zack Novak (8.7 ppg), and Stu Douglass (7.1 ppg).

Joining those three in the starting lineup will be sophomore forward Jordan Morgan (9.2 ppg).

The Wolverines will be young again, but they have some talent.

Indiana Hoosiers (23-8 Overall, 11-7 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Tom Crean

Last Year: (12-20 overall, 3-15 Big Ten)

The year of freshman Cody Zeller has finally arrived. 

The Hoosiers have desperately waited on his arrival to end the long stay in the Big Ten basement.

With the Hoosiers returning all but Jeremiah Rivers, I think big things will happen in Bloomington.

The Hoosiers are my sleeper team to catch people off guard this year.

They return junior guard Jordan Hulls (11 ppg), senior guard Verdell Jones III (12.5 ppg) and junior Christian Watford (16 ppg).

Joining them in getting a bulk of the playing time are sophomores Will Sheehey and Victor Oladipo.

Indiana is knocking on the door of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years.

Michigan State Spartans (21-10 Overall, 11-7 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Tom Izzo

Last Year: (19-15 overall, 9-9 Big Ten)

The Spartans will miss point guard Kalin Lucas.  He graduated last year and took his 17 ppg with him.  Also, the Spartans will be without transfer guard Korie Lucious and forward Delvon Roe.

It will be the first time in quite sometime that the Spartans will be very inexperienced at both guard positions.

Lucas' replacement will be sophomore Keith Appling (6.5 ppg).

Where they will be strong at is in the front court.  The Spartans return forwards Draymond Green and Derrick Nix.

Freshmen guards Brandan Kearney, Dwaun Anderson and and Travis Trice look to get some time in the back court this season, while small forward Branden Dawson looks to use his explosiveness in an already crowded front court.

Northwestern Wildcars (18-10 Overall, 9-9 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Bill Carmody

Last Year: (20-14 overall, 7-11 Big Ten)

The leader of the team, Juice Thompson, is gone.  He graduated his 16.7 ppg.

The Wildcats though could surprise people this year though.  They return senior John Shurna (16.4 ppg), junior guard Drew Crawford (12.1 ppg) and center Luka Mirkovic (7.4 ppg)

Expect freshmen guards Tre Demps and David Sobolewski along with forward Mike Turner to contribute this year as well.

The Wildcats will miss Juice, but if they can play more consistent, this may be the year the Cats can make the tournament.

Purdue Boilermakers (18-11 Overall, 9-9 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Matt Painter

Last Year: (26-8 overall, 14-4 Big Ten)

This could be a down year compared to the past few Boilermaker seasons.  Don't get me wrong, this team will still be an NCAA Tournament team, but they will miss E'Twaun Moore (18.6 ppg) and JaJuan Johnson (20.2 ppg)

The Boilers hope forward senior Robbie Hummel can return to form after missing last year with a knee injury suffered in the team's first practice.

They also hope junior guard John Hart can return to his freshman year form and guard Kelsey Barlow can make an impact after getting suspended for the NCAA Tournament last year due to violating team rules.

What we do know is that senior guard Lewis Jackson (8.1 ppg) and guard Ryne Smith (6.2 ppg) will be running the back court.

The other key addition will be forward D.J. Byrd (5.6 ppg).

Due to the inexperience and question marks, I don't see the Boilers making a big splash this year.

Illinois Fighting Illini (13-17 Overall, 6-12 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Bruce Weber

Last Year: (20-14 overall, 9-9 Big Ten)

Head coach, Bruce Weber, could be on the hot seat after seeing his team underperformed the last couple of years.

The Illini graduate their three best players and lost a young player to the NBA Draft.

This year guard Demetri McCamey (14.6 ppg), center Mike Tisdale (10.9 ppg), forward Mike Davis (12.5 ppg) and forward Jereme Richmond (7.6 ppg) all will be gone.

The Illini return some young talent though.

Sophomore guards Brandon Paul (9.0 ppg) and D.J. Richardson (8.8 ppg) should run the back court.

Their front court will be anchored by sophomore Myers Leonard (2.3 ppg) and junior Tyler Griffey (1.6 ppg)

Look for newcomers guard Tracy Abrams, forwards Mike Shaw, Devin Langford, and Mychel Henry and center Ibrahima Djimde to get a bulk of the playing time due to the Illini being so young.

Iowa Hawkeyes (15-16 Overall, 5-13 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Fran McCaffery

Last Year: (11-20 overall, 4-14 Big Ten)

This could be a surprise year for the Hawkeyes.  They return a ton of talent and look to ride the coattails of sophomore Melsahn Basabe (11.8 ppg).  He was one of the best freshmen in the country last year, and they expect big things out of him in Iowa City this year.

They also expect to get big play out of guards Eric May (7.6 ppg) and Matt Gatens (12.4 ppg).

I expect the experience and talent get the Hawkeyes out of the cellar in the Big Ten this season.

Minnesota Golden Gophers (14-15 Overall, 5-13 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Tubby Smith

Last Year: (17-14 overall, 6-12 Big Ten)

Last year was a tough year for coach Tubby Smith.  His team looked to be a threat in Big Ten play entering the conference season, but injuries and off court problems halted that dream quickly.

The Gophers graduate three of its prime performers over the last four years.  Guards Al Nolen and Blake Hoffarber depart along with center Colton Iverson.

It could be a tough season this season as well for the Gophers, due to losing that much experience.

The season rests on the shoulders of forward Ralph Sampson III (10.8 ppg).  He needs to be be a huge threat in the paint.

Joining him in the front court is senior Trevor Mbakwe (13.8 ppg).  The two of them must force teams to beat them from the perimeter.

The back court will be run by three new additions of Julian Welch, Joe Coleman and Andre Hollins.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-19 Overall, 3-15 Big Ten)

Head Coach:Doc Sadler

Last Year: (19-12 overall, 7-9 Big 12 conference)

The Huskers had a great year last year and only lost one key contributor from last year.

The problem is, they're not in the Big 12 anymore.

The Huskers enter tougher venues and tougher opponents.

They do return junior center Jorge Brian Diaz (10.4 ppg) and guards Toney McCray Martin (8.7 ppg), and Eshaunte Jones (4.8 ppg), though.

With four talented freshmen coming in, they won't be as bad as people think, but will struggle to get wins.

Penn State Nittany Lions (8-22 Overall, 2-16 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Pat Chambers

Last Year: (19-15 overall, 9-9 Big Ten)

The Nittany Lions will be the worst team in the Big Ten after their surprise run to the NCAA Tournament last year.

The Lions lost their head coach, Ed DeChellis, and their three best players in Talor Battle (20.4 ppg), Jeff Brooks (13.1 ppg) and David Jackson (9.8 ppg).

Their back court will be run by juniors Tim Frazier (6.6 ppg) and Cammeron Woodyard (1.8 ppg).

Due to the inexperience and youth, I expect some sad times in Happy Valley.