Scouting Iowa's Big Ten basketball single-plays: Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State

Iowa's Big Ten opponent list is set for the upcoming season. The Hawkeyes know who and where they're playing; they just won't know when for a few more months.

Until we get the dates and can dissect the Big Ten schedule in entirety, here's a look at four opponents Iowa will face just once in the upcoming Big Ten season.

ILLINOIS (20-14, 9-9)

• Game Location -- Champaign, Ill.
• Recent Action vs. Iowa -- The Fighting Illini have beaten Iowa 21 of the last 22 games at Assembly Hall with the Hawkeyes' only win coming in 1999 against a last-place Illinois team. The Illini's overall streak of five straight wins ties an all-time series mark against Iowa.
• Who's Back? -- Illinois will look completely different from last year. Only one regular starter, guard D. J. Richardson (8.4 ppg) returns, as does part-time starter Brandon Paul. Paul (9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.1 apg) likely will transition into the Illini's top offensive threat this year and may thrive in the scoring role previously held by Demetri McCamey. Sophomore center Meyers Leonard started one game and averaged just over 8 minutes a game but should become a starter.
• Who's Gone? -- The Fighting Illini lose McCamey, the all-everything guard who also was benched after run-ins with Coach Bruce Weber. McCamey averaged 14.6 points and 6.1 assists a game last year. Top inside trio of Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale and Bill Cole also leave. Combined, the Illini lose 122 starts among those four. Talented freshman Jereme Richmond, who started six games but was suspended from the NCAA Tournament for violating team rules, left for the NBA.
• Who's New? -- Illinois landed a massive class of six incoming freshmen, including top Chicago recruits (all ranked as Rivals 4-stars) Mike Shaw, Mycheal Henry, Nnanna Eqwu and Tracy Abrams. Illinois also pulled in 3-star players Ibrahima Djimde and Devin Langford.
• Relating to Iowa -- The Fighting Illini recently have posed an athletic mismatch for the Hawkeyes. Iowa has won at Assembly Hall only once since 1987 but with the Champaign personnel turnover, it's possible to at least hang at Illinois this year unlike most seasons.
• Outlook? -- Unpredictable. Neither Paul, Richardson nor Leonard had a primary role last year and with a talented -- yet inexperienced -- class coming in, it's difficult to know how the Illini will mesh on or off the court. Last year was a major disappointment for perhaps the Big Ten's most athletic team so if the chemistry improves, so could the overall record.

MICHIGAN STATE (19-15, 9-9)

• Game Location -- East Lansing, Mich.
• Recent Action vs. Iowa -- Michigan State has beaten Iowa 16 straight times in East Lansing, dating to 1993. Of the last 12 meetings in East Lansing, only two were decided by single digits. Last year the teams split their regular-season meetings with Iowa winning 72-52 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and the Spartans winning 85-66 at Breslin Center. Michigan State won the Big Ten Tournament opener 66-61.
• Who's Back? -- Second-leading scorer Draymond Green scored 12.6 points and grabbed 8.6 rebounds a game last year. He's a senior this year. Sophomore Keith Appling (6.4 ppg) started 18 games while part-time starters Delvon Roe and Garrick Sherman also return. Post players Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne should see increases in playing time.
• Who's Gone? -- Leading scorer and four-year starter Kalin Lucas exits after averaging 17 points a game. He started all 34 games after tearing his Achilles tendon in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Long-time starting wing/forward Durrell Summers also leaves, while talented backup point guard Korie Lucious transferred to Iowa State.
• Who's New? -- Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo took one of the nation's top prospects in 6-6 forward Branden Dawson, a 5-star recruit from Gary, Ind. The Spartans also signed 4-star guard Dwaun Anderson and 3-star guard Travis Trice and forward Brandan Kearney.
• Relating to Iowa -- Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery earned his first major win as the Hawkeyes' coach in the 20-point stomping against the Spartans. Michigan State's players later called it "an embarrassment" and pounded Iowa in East Lansing. Iowa had its chance to beat Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament and led by seven points midway through the second half before losing.
• Outlook? -- Michigan State was the nation's most underachieving team last year after starting with a No. 2 ranking in many polls. The team lacked chemistry, leadership and toughness, a trait usually associated with an Izzo-coached team. Now, with an influx of new talent, the team's mental approach likely will change and send the Spartans back among the Big Ten's elite.

MICHIGAN (21-14, 9-9)

• Game Location-- Carver-Hawkeye Arena
• Recent Action vs. Iowa -- The teams have played to overtime in Iowa City for three consecutive seasons, with Michigan winning the last two. Michigan has won six straight overall in the series.
• Who's Back? -- Michigan had no seniors last season. Sophomore Tim Hardaway Jr. was a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and averaged 13.9 points a game. He scored double digits in the Wolverines' final 16 games, including 30 at Iowa. Sophomore post Jordan Morgan averaged 9.2 points and senior combo guard Zack Novak led the team in rebounding and averaged 8.9 points. Outside shooter Stu Douglass and power forward Evan Smotrycz also come back.
• Who's Gone? -- Darius Morris, one of the league's up-and-coming stars, bolted for the NBA following his sophomore season. Morris averaged 15 points, 4 rebounds and nearly 7 assists a game. His departure was a surprise to the Wolverines, who were considered among the top Big Ten teams returning this year.
• Who's New? -- Carlton Brundidge, a 4-star guard from Southfield, Mich., could fill Morris' spot as an all-everything shooting guard. Michigan also signed 3-star recruits Max Bielfeldt (forward) and guard Trey Burke.
• Relating to Iowa -- From 2008-2010, the schools played nine times, including three straight seasons to open Big Ten Tournament play.  Had Michigan lost to archrival Michigan State in the regular-season finale, the teams would have played again in the Big Ten Tournament.
• Outlook? -- The Wolverines came out of nowhere to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament last year, rolling Tennessee in the first round and nearly upsetting top-seed Duke in the second round. Had Morris stayed, Michigan would have threatened Ohio State and Michigan State for Big Ten supremacy this year. It still might, depending on whether Brundidge can replace Morris. Hardaway Jr. could be the league's best scoring threat this year and if Morgan improves, Michigan will be dangerous.

OHIO STATE (34-3, 16-2)

• Game location-- Carver-Hawkeye Arena
• Recent Action vs. Iowa -- The Buckeyes have won a series-record six straight against the Hawkeyes. Three of those wins came in Iowa City but all were tight games until Ohio State pulled away late.
• Who's Back?-- Consensus All-American sophomore forward Jared Sullinger returns, which surprised most people who expected him to turn pro. Sullinger, who was the national freshman of the year, had 18 double-doubles last year and averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds a game. Aaron Craft started only once but was a key player as the team's primary point guard. He had nearly 7 points and 5 assists a game and led the Big Ten in steals. Slashing senior scoring guard William Buford and sophomore forward Deshaun Thomas also return.
• Who's Gone? -- The Buckeyes lost excellent senior role players from last year's squad. Guard David Lighty was a multi-faceted scoring threat, tough defender and the winningest player in Buckeye history (129 wins). Shooting guard Jon Diebler put up the most 3-pointers (374) in Big Ten history. Center Dallas Lauderdale was one of the most feared post defenders in college basketball.
• Who's New?-- Ohio State's recruiting class should soften the Buckeyes' losses, although maybe not immediately. Ohio State signed four 4-star recruits in center Amir Williams, forwards Sam Thompson and LaQuinton Ross and point guard Shannon Scott. Forward Trey McDonald was a 3-star recruit.
• Relating to Iowa? -- Iowa scrapped against then No. 2-ranked Ohio State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in a five-point loss last year. Iowa freshman Melsahn Basabe (22 points, 13 rebounds) battled Sullinger (24 points, 12 rebounds) to a draw that game.
• Outlook? -- The Buckeyes once again look like the class of the Big Ten, although the senior losses will hurt a bit. Sullinger might be the nation's best player while Thomas likely will step up from reserve to key contributor. Craft was one of the league's top point guards and Buford is among the most versatile. If the Buckeyes receive valuable production from their freshmen, watch out.