Big Ten men's basketball preview: Freshman tips league toward Ohio State

IOWA CITY - It's possible Ohio State lost the nation's best player and still improved this offseason.

Since 2007, five Buckeyes have landed in the NBA's first round, including three drafted among the top four picks. Evan Turner, last year's Naismith Award winner, went No. 2 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers. Superstars have become the norm in Columbus, but freshman Jared Sullinger just might be the best of the era.

Sullinger, a 6-foot-9 power forward, has taken the Big Ten's weekly top freshman honors five of six weeks this year. Twice he was named the Big Ten Player of the Week. He averages 18.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and hits nearly 60 percent of his shots from the floor. He's recorded five double-doubles this year, including a 40-point, 13-rebound performance against IUPUI. He also put up 30 points and 19 rebounds against South Carolina.

Some people have compared Sullinger to Greg Oden, who led Ohio State to the national title game and was selected No. 1 overall in the 2007 NBA draft. Ohio State Coach Thad Matta doesn't think it's a fair comparison.

"I think Jared, No. 1, has two hands, which is important," Matta said, referring to Sullinger's ability to score. "But he's a little bit more polished around the basket, where Greg was so dominant defensively and right next to the basket."

Sullinger is part of the reason why the Buckeyes - which tied for the regular-season title last year and won the Big Ten tournament - are the league favorite this year. Ohio State has beaten every opponent by double digits and returns its core group - outside of Turner - from last year's squad. Ohio State has 3-point shooter Jon Diebler, inside rebounder Dallas Lauderdale and play-making guards in William Buford and David Lightly to complement Sullinger. Deshaun Thomas, another highly touted freshman, comes off the bench.

"I've seen Jared Sullinger before," Purdue Coach Matt Painter said. "I knew how good he was. He's a load. He can hurt you inside and outside to go along with their other experienced players.

"They're going to be a tough team to go against."

But the league offers much more than just Ohio State.  Five schools are ranked - No. 2 Ohio State, No. 12 Michigan State, No. 14 Purdue, No. 17 Minnesota and No. 21 Illinois. Wisconsin and once-beaten Northwestern are receiving votes. The Big Ten won the ACC-Big Ten Challenge for the second straight season, something it failed to do for the previous 10 years.

Purdue and Michigan State tied Ohio State for the regular-season crown last year. Michigan State, a Final Four team last year, returns starting point guard Kalin Lucas, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the NCAA Tournament. Lucas was named the league's preseason player of the year for the second straight season. Draymond Green ranks in the top in rebounding, steals and 3-point percentage. Durrell Summers can score from anywhere on the floor. 

Purdue sustained its biggest loss on the first day of practice. Previous all-Big Ten player Robbie Hummel suffered his second ACL tear in 2010 and will miss the season. But the Boilermakers, which lost to eventual national champion Duke in the Sweet 16, remain stacked with preseason all-Big Ten selections E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson.

Illinois has one of the league's top playmakers in guard Demetri McCamey and returns all five starters from last year. Wisconsin lost its backcourt in Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes, but returns one of the league's most versatile big players in Jon Leuer. Minnesota, which lost to Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament title game, returns academic casualty Al Nolen at point guard and power forward Trevor Mbakwe, who was held out last year during an assault investigation. Mbakwe has seven double-doubles so far and leads the league in rebounding.

"He looks like he's just a stud," Painter said of Mbakwe. "The way he can rebound ... a physical presence."

 Northwestern has yet to reach an NCAA Tournament, but this could be the Wildcats' best opportunity. John Shurna leads the league in scoring at 23.7 points and is sixth in rebounding. Penn State, Michigan, Iowa and Indiana are rebuilding but all have winning records entering league play.

"From top to bottom, I don't think there's any question (the Big Ten is the best league)," Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo said. "Some years I've said the ACC is better or the Big East is better. ... But I still think - top to bottom - it's not even a question."

"I don't want to start thinking about (the Big Ten) until Christmas," Matta said. "Otherwise, I won't sleep at night."

BIG TEN CAPSULES (with predictions)

1. OHIO STATE- The Buckeyes are the league's most balanced team with skill at every position. Freshman power forward Jared Sullinger has become a force. Dallas Lauderdale is a tough shot-blocker at center. Jon Diebler can hit 3-pointers from any position on the floor. David Lighty, William Buford and Deshaun Thomas are skilled playmakers. PREDICTION: NCAA Championship Game
2. MICHIGAN STATE- The Spartans possess the league's top point guard in Kalin Lucas, a scorer in Durrell Summers and versatility in Draymond Green. The program has stumbled according to Izzo because of three early-season losses. But those came at No. 1 Duke, vs. No. 4 UConn in Hawaii and No. 5 Syracuse in New York. No Big Ten team is better prepared entering the season than Izzo's squad. PREDICTION: Final Four
3. MINNESOTA- The Gophers boast Trevor Mbakwe at power forward, have size inside with Ralph Sampson and Colton Iverson, good guards in Devoe Joseph and Al Nolen plus a deadly outside shooter in Blake Hoffarber. The Gophers are the poor man's version of Ohio State but have the players to fight for the league's top three. PREDICTION: Sweet 16
4. PURDUE- The Boilermakers had the talent to make an NCAA title run last year until Robbie Hummel suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Many people had Purdue pegged as the nation's top team before Hummel tore up the same knee on the first day of practice. But the Boilermakers are experienced, poised and competitive with veterans at point guard and the post. PREDICTION: Sweet 16
5. ILLINOIS- If not now, then when for the Illini? With all five starters returning, including all-everything guard Demetri McCamey, Illinois should compete for the league's upper echelon and at least the Sweet 16. The talent is there, but so far the results are mixed after losing to Illinois-Chicago. One way or the other, it could be a program-defining season in Champaign. PREDICTION: NCAA Tournament, first round
6. WISCONSIN - Every year people overlook Wisconsin, only to discover nobody beats them in Madison and the Badgers stifle teams with defense. Wisconsin has played in 12 straight NCAA Tournaments and have another one of those seasons ahead with scoring forward Jon Leuer and point guard Jordan Taylor. PREDICTION: NCAA Tournament, second round
7. NORTHWESTERN - The Wildcats have improved steadily under Bill Carmody, but this year is about finally reaching the NCAA Tournament. Northwestern is known to lose a few winnable games, but with John Shurna, the league's leading scorer, in tow, it might be time for the Wildcats to shed a few tears of joy on Selection Sunday. PREDICTION: NCAA Tournament, first round
8. INDIANA - Martinique native and 7-foot- center Guy-Marc Michel was declared ineligible before he could play for the Hoosiers because he played five games professionally in France three years ago. That hurts the Hoosiers but doesn't bury them. Indiana continues to make steps as a program after hitting rock bottom three years ago. This year is another step in the right direction. PREDICTION: NIT
9. MICHIGAN - Darius Morris has been the Big Ten's surprise player thus far, ranking second in the league in assists at 7.09 a game and 12th in scoring at 14.9 points. Couple Morris with freshman Tim Hardaway Jr., and the Wolverines could make teams forget about Manny Harris. PREDICTION: NIT
10. IOWA - It's a tough year to begin a rebuilding project in the Big Ten, but Fran McCaffery has reshaped a Hawkeye program from a half-court offense into an uptempo, exciting style of play. Effort is crucial for Iowa in a stacked Big Ten because the league's talent pool is so deep. On a good night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa could upset just about anybody save Ohio State. PREDICTION: no postseason
11. PENN STATE - Talor Battle nearly took the Nittany Lions to the NCAA Tournament two years ago and instead led them to the NIT crown. There has been little else to cheer since that title. Battle, now a senior, might be the league's most unheralded big-time player but he's going to need a lot of help to get Penn State back to the postseason. PREDICTION: no postseason

• ALL-BIG TEN - First team: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State; Kalin Lucas, Michigan State; JaJuan Johnson, Purdue; Demetri McCamey, Illinois; Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota. Second Team: John Shurna, Northwestern; Jon Leuer, Wisconsin; E''Twaun Moore, Purdue; David Lighty, Ohio State; Durrell Summers, Michigan State. Third team: Talor Battle, Penn State; Al Nolen, Minnesota; Draymond Green, Michigan State; Darius Morris, Michigan; Matt Gatens, Iowa
• PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Sullinger
• COACH OF THE YEAR - Tubby Smith, Minnesota
• FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR - Sullinger
• QUOTABLE - "If you want to win on the road in the Big Ten, you'd better win by 10 or 15 points. Otherwise you're going to get beat." - Purdue Coach Matt Painter, quoting former Purdue Coach Gene Keady