Michigan State men picked to win Big Ten; Iowa women tabbed for 5th

Michigan State's men's basketball team was selected as the preseason favorite to repeat as Big Ten champions by a 24-member media panel.

Michigan State guard Kalin Lucas, the league's reigining player of the year, was tabbed as the league's preseason player of the year. Joining Lucas are returning first-team all-Big Ten players Manny Harris (Michigan guard), Evan Turner (Ohio State junior guard) and Talor Battle (Penn State junior guard). Purdue junior forward Robbie Hummel, the preseason player of the year last year, rounded out the first team. Hummel suffered a stress fracture in his back last year and was limited in several games.

Purdue junior forward JaJuan Johnson, a first-team selection last year, was not included on the preseason all-conference team.

Michigan State, the defending national runner-up, finished 15-3 in league play last year, easily outdistancing Purdue and Illinois, which tied for second at 11-7.

Purdue was picked second and Ohio State third by the media panel. The Big Ten does not release the team order beyond the first team.

Iowa's women were tabbed for fifth by both the league's media and coaches. Ohio State was picked as the league favorite, followed by Michigan State in both polls.

Ohio State junior center Jantel Lavender was picked as the league's preseason player of the year. She was joined by Illinois senior forward Jenna Smith, Michigan State senior center Allyssa DeHaan, Ohio State sophomore guard Samantha Prahalis and Penn State senior forward Tyra Grant on the first team by both polls.