One projected first-round NBA draft pick -- all you need to know about Big Ten basketball

This is written three hours before Wednesday night's Ohio State-Iowa men's basketball game in Iowa City, but it's highly doubtful anything that happens in that contest will affect what's written here.

Namely, Big Ten ball has remained lackluster.

We all know what drives teams to national-titles and Final Fours. Talent. Kentucky's got it. Kansas has got it. Syracuse, Duke, Texas ... got it.

The Big Ten? Not so much.

According to NBAdraft.net, the Big Ten has one projected first-round pick in the 2010 NBA draft. That's a guy who brought his game to Carver-Hawkeye Wednesday, Ohio State forward Evan Turner.

That's it.

The Big 12 has eight projected first-rounders, including three apiece from Kansas and Texas. I've seen both of those teams in person this month. They are terrific. They have the kind of players that used to frequently roam through the Big 12.

The ACC has six projected first-rounders, the SEC and Big East four each.

Only one Big Ten player, Michigan State's Raymar Morgan, is listed as a second-rounder. His teammate, Kalin Lucas, is tabbed along with Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger as projected 2011 first-rounders. Late in the first round. They're the only Big Ten players so tabbed.

Iowa State has as many players in NBAdraft.net's mock draft as the entire Big 12 with first-rounder Craig Brackins and second-rounder Marquis Gilstrap.

You can talk about systems all you want. That's great if you're a mid-major. If you play in a BCS conference, you need talent, big-time talent. Without it, you're just another face in a very packed college basketball crowd. For those who would throw Wisconsin back at me, know the Badgers had their best teams under Bo Ryan when future NBA players Devin Harris and Alando Tucker were in Madison.

I'm not glossing over the fact Michigan State has a fine, fine team. But I'm struck by the fact the Big Ten has as the same number of players forecasted to be first-round as Virginia Commonwealth and Tulsa.

So maybe Iowa can become a contender sooner rather than later in the Big Ten. Because it isn't as if the league has any apparent dynamos on the horizon.