Big Ten Conference 2005-06 Preview
Just as its football coaches talked about how the Big Ten doesn’t earn the respect that it is due in their sport, many of the Big Ten basketball programs don’t feel the conference gets the respect it deserves after putting two teams in the Final Four for the third time in a decade.
With Dee Brown and James Augustine returning to Illinois, the Fighting Illini will look to defend their conference title, but loaded Michigan State and Indiana squads have a thing or two to say about that. Led by big man Paul Davis, the Spartans are aiming to return to the Final Four after losing to North Carolina in the national semifinals last year. With Maurice Ager and Shannon Brown at his side, Davis and the Spartans will be hard to overcome.
Indiana coach Mike Davis has added a pair of Auburn transfers in hopes of taking his team back to the Final Four after falling to 14 and 15 wins on the last two seasons. Like Davis, Michigan coach Tommy Amaker is hoping to prove that his success – and NIT title – was not a fluke and that his team can contend for the conference title and an NCAA bid for the first time since NCAA sanctions were lifted for rules violations several years ago.
With so many strong teams, the conference should have ten teams contending for postseason spots as the season wraps up. Now that everyone has something to play for, one can only wonder how tight the final conference race will end up.
Preseason All-Conference Team
Maurice Ager, Sr. G, Michigan State
Dee Brown, Sr.G, Illinois
Greg Brunner, Sr. F, Iowa
Vincent Grier, Sr. F, Minnesota
James Augustine, Sr. C, Illinois
Honorable Mention: Paul Davis, Sr. C, Michigan State; J.J. Sullinger, Sr. G, Ohio State; Terrence Dials, Sr. C, Ohio State
Conference MVP: Dee Brown, Illinois
Freshman of the Year: Marcus Landry, Wisconsin
Newcomer of the Year: Marco Killingsworth, Indiana
Coaches on the Hot Seat: Mike Davis, Indiana and Tommy Amaker, Michigan
1. Michigan State Spartans
2004-05 Record: 26-7, 13-3 Big Ten(2nd)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Paul Davis, Sr.
F Matt Trannon, Sr.
F Delco Rowley, Jr.
G Maurice Ager, Sr.
G Drew Neitzel, So.
Schedule Highlights:
11/30 vs. Georgia Tech
1/15 at Ohio State
2/26 at Indiana
After becoming the first team in history to knock of Duke and Kentucky in the same NCAA tournament, Michigan State is primed to take home this year’s Big Ten title. Led by seniors Paul Davis and Maurice Ager, the Spartans look to make up for the loss of Alan Anderson and Kelvin Torbert, two key cogs in the their run to the Final Four.
One of the keys to Michigan State’s success will be Davis’ consistency in the paint. In past seasons, Davis has seemed to play to the Spartans’ competition, struggling against lackluster opponents and starring against the toughest competition. Michigan State cannot afford a letdown in an extraordinarily competitive conference, even against the lower-ranked teams. If junior Drew Naymick can make it back from shoulder surgery, he will serve a key role when Davis is not on the court.
Ager is a high-percentage shooter that spreads the ball around well. He will be joined by sophomore Drew Neitzel, who earned a starting job in the second half of last season. As Neitzel continues to polish his game, he has the potential to become one of the premier guards in the conference over the coming years.
The Spartans will also be looking for contributions from several newcomers, including freshman Travis Walton and redshirt freshmen Marquise Gray and a pair of centers Idong Ibok and Goran Suton.
Last year, the Spartans played one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in the country, but this time around will have an easier go. Their biggest games of the year include a January 15th tilt at Ohio State, which could determine an early leader in the Big Ten race, and a late-season road game at Indiana before they close out the season with a pair of home games.
2. Indiana Hoosiers
2004-05 Record: 15-14, 10-6 Big Ten(tie-3rd)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Ben Allen, Fr.
F D.J. White, So.
F Marco Killingsworth, Sr.
G Marshall Strickland,Sr.
G Lewis Monroe, Sr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/30 vs. Duke
12/10 at Kentucky
3/4 at Michigan
This coming season could prove the most important in Indiana coach Mike Davis’ career. After finishing fourth in the Big Ten last year, a first round loss in the conference tournament sent them to an NIT matchup with Vanderbilt, where they were immediately knocked out.
After losing Bracey Wright to the NBA Draft, Davis has restocked his team with a pair of Auburn transfers who should have an immediate impact. Marco Killinsworth and Lewis Monroe, who played in the Sweet Sixteen with the Tigers, provide the Hoosiers with valuable experience.
Killingsworth and sophomore D.J. White will provide the Hoosiers with one of the league’s top frontcourts. Behind them, Monroe and senior Marshall Strickland will form one of the Big Ten’s most experienced backcourts, meaning one thing: this team will be dangerous on any court.
In the middle, Australian freshman Ben Allen will have an immediate impact. Allen may take a few games to settle in to the American college game, but he will be counted on early and often. Other help up front comes from sophomore James Hardy and senior Sean Kline.
If the Hoosiers can manage to stay strong in the early stages of the season and not let down in the Big Ten Tournament, they have the potential to go deep into the NCAA tournament. And if they do experience a letdown, it begs the question: Is Mike Davis really the man for this job?
3. Illinois Fighting Illini
2004-05 Record: 37-2, 15-1 Big Ten(1st)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C James Augustine, Sr.
F Charles Jackson, Fr.
F Warren Carter, Jr.
G Dee Brown, Sr.
G Rich McBride, Jr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/29 at North Carolina
12/10 at Oregon
2/12 at Ohio State
After coming seconds away from running the table in the Big Ten conference season last year, the Fighting Illini have taken a big hit this coming season, losing Deron Williams, Luther Head, Roger Powell and several reserves. But with big man James Augustine and guard Dee Brown, the Illini can still find themselves in the Big Ten race this season.
Brown originally planned to enter the NBA Draft, but withdrew after breaking an ankle at the pre-draft camp and has a chance to increase his draft stock with a solid season when he is not surrounded by two first-round picks. One of the Illini’s most important attributes is Brown’s deadly three-point shooting, which always seemed to click at the right times. Brown also has an aggressive mentality, as shown in the Michigan game last year, when single-handedly changed the momentum of the game into Illinois’ favor.
Augustine is perhaps the conference’s top post player and was the Big Ten’s most accurate shooter last year. Illinois will look to Augustine to dominate down low, opening up lanes for Brown to get to the basket. His help in the front court will come from junior Warren Carter and freshman Charles Jackson, a 280-pounder touted as one of the nation’s top 100 prospects.
While Illinois can’t expect to win 37 games again this year, look for them to stay in the thick of the league race. They have a rematch with NCAA Champion North Carolina at Chapel Hill in November, and will be aiming to avenge their one conference defeat at Ohio State in February.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
2004-05 Record: 20-12, 8-8 Big Ten(6th)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Terrence Dials, Sr.
F Matt Sylvester, Sr.
F Ivan Harris, Jr.
G J.J. Sullinger, Sr.
G Je’Kel Foster, Sr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/28 vs. Virginia Tech
12/10 at St. Joseph’s
12/31 vs. LSU
The Buckeyes shocked the world by defeating the previously unbeaten Illinois Fighting Illini on Matt Sylvester’s impossible last-second three-pointer. While they couldn’t play in the postseason last year due to self-imposed sanctions for NCAA violations, coach Thad Matta led his team as though they had the world to play for, and this year they just might.
Ohio State’s attack will be led by senior guard J.J. Sullinger, one of the league’s most explosive players. Sullinger is one of the Big Ten’s top three-point shooters, and when center Terrence Dials can free up space by draw attention down low, Sullinger has the moves to go to the basket.
Dials averaged just under 16 ppg last season and hit 57.4-percent of his shots. He will be joined by Sylvester, who is out to prove that he’s not a one-shot wonder, and junior Ivan Harris, who has a history of sitting outside rather than battling down low. If Sylvester and Dials cannot step up their play in the front court, the Buckeyes could struggle in a big man-laden conference.
In the back court, Sullinger will have help from scrappy senior Je’Kel Foster and Jamar Butler, who both have adequate experience.
Looking at their non-conference schedule, the Buckeyes should have an easy road to the conference season, but that’s where they have to prove that they’re for real.
5. Michigan Wolverines
2004-05 Record: 13-18, 4-12 Big Ten(9th)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Graham Brown, Sr.
F Courtney Sims, Jr.
F Ron Coleman, So.
G Daniel Horton, Sr.
G Lester Abram, Sr.
Schedule Highlights:
12/3 at Notre Dame
12/17 vs. UCLA
While Indiana coach Mike Davis is on the hot seat, Michigan head coach Tommy Amaker can’t be far behind. When he arrived in Ann Arbor and NCAA sanctions expired, fans expected the Wolverines to make the jump back to NCAA tournament contenders. But after an NIT Championship, the Wolverines fell apart last season and came nowhere near postseason play after senior Lester Abram was forced to sit out with a shoulder injury and guard Daniel Horton found himself in trouble with the law.
Abram was one of the Wolverines’ finest players during the 2003-04 season, and was named the team’s most valuable player. Horton was marked as one of the nation’s top in 2002-03 and was awarded the most valuable player trophy in the 2004 NIT.
Down low, the Wolverines have two ever-improving big men in Graham Brown and Courtney Sims. After Sims worked to put on muscle mass during the last offseason, Michigan fans were disappointed when the lanky junior didn’t show the immense improvement that they were promised. Nevertheless, he remains one of the league’s top shot-blockers.
Junior Brent Petway might not have contributed many points to the team, but his incredible dunking and shot-blocking provide game-changing moments when well-placed like in the Wolverines’ victory over Notre Dame last December. But Michigan will be without Petway for at least the first part of the season, as he was deemed academically ineligible for the fall semester.
The backcourt will consist primarily of Horton, Abram and junior Dion Harris, who shouldered most of the Wolverines’ scoring load in the absence of the other two last year. Now that some of that pressure has been lifted, Harris will likely prove to be more consistent and a legitimate threat off of the Wolverines bench.
Michigan will also use the talents of freshmen Jevohn Sheperd and Kendric Price coming off the bench to have a significant impact.
With all their talent back on the court, it’s hard not to like the Wolverines when choosing teams for the NCAA tournament. But as history has shown, what it says on paper doesn’t always translate to the court. Look for Amaker’s bunch to be motivated for a ticket to the dance.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes
2004-05 Record: 21-12, 7-9 Big Ten(7th)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Erek Hansen, Sr.
F Greg Brunner, Sr.
F Doug Thomas, Sr.
G Jeff Horner, Sr.
G Adam Haluska, Jr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/30 vs. North Carolina State
12/9 at Iowa State
12/17 vs. Arizona State
After a hot start last year that had coach Steve Alford’s Iowa Hawkeyes flirting with the top-15 for a while. But once the conference season rolled around, the Hawkeyes faltered, going 7-9 and losing top scorer Pierre Pierce for disciplinary reasons.
This year the Hawkeyes return 11 players from last year’s team, giving them a chance to avenge their conference woes. This group is led by senior Greg Brunner, a forward who has been among the conference’s top two rebounders the past two years. Brunner is also able to put up points, but needs to stay out of foul trouble to be totally effective.
Senior guard Jeff Horner returns to the backcourt alongside junior Adam Haluska. Horner is a reliable player at the point, rarely turning the ball over, and Haluska came on strong at the end of last season to average 14.2 ppg.
The Hawkeyes’ senior-laden lineup will have help from five freshmen, including two walk-ons. Freshman Tony Freeman should be able to come off the bench at the beginning of the year.
If Iowa is looking to contend for a second consecutive tournament appearance, it will have to prevent any letdowns like the one that took them out of Big Ten title contention early on last year.
7. Wisconsin Badgers
2004-05 Record: 25-9, 11-5 Big Ten(3rd)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Brian Butch, So.
F Alando Tucker, Jr.
F Marcus Landry, Fr.
G Kammron Taylor, Jr.
G Michael Flowers, So.
Schedule Highlights:
11/29 at Wake Forest
12/3 vs. Pepperdine
12/10 vs. Marquette
One thing is for sure: no one wants to travel to Madison to play the Badgers, especially once conference play starts. Wisconsin has lost just once in four years at the Kohl Center, and is hoping to maintain that dominance this year, trying to stay above the 20-win mark for the fourth consecutive season.
But without forward Mike Wilkinson, who simply dominated last year, staying in contention for a conference title will be a challenge. Stepping up to that challenge is junior forward Alando Tucker, who should pan out as one of the league’s top offensive threats in 2005-06. Tucker is well-known around the conference for a series of last-second prayers that beat Indiana and Iowa last winter.
Junior point guard Kammron Taylor should also contribute, improving on his total of 8.2 ppg last year. As Taylor becomes more disciplined when he handles the ball more, the Badgers will be thrilled to see his scoring numbers go up and his turnovers down.
Beyond Taylor, the Wisconsin back court lacks experience, a factor that might keep the Badgers out of the upper echelons of the Big Ten this year. But in the front court, freshman Marcus Landry should make an immediate impact. Landry will likely start with Tucker and find himself open as Tucker draws increasing coverage from the opposition.
Coach Bo Ryan has a history of pulling together the Badgers, and with such a formidable home court advantage, Wisconsin will have a chance to move up the Big Ten ranks as players mature into starting roles as the season grinds on.
8. Minnesota Golden Gophers
2004-05 Record: 21-11, 10-6 Big Ten(tie-3rd)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Spencer Tollackson, So.
F Vincent Grier, Sr.
F Dan Coleman, So.
G Adam Boone, Sr.
G Maurice Hargrow, Sr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/30 at Maryland
12/5 at Arizona State
12/31 vs. Oral Roberts
After earning a bid to the NCAA tournament last year, Minnesota will face an uphill battle in competing for a spot this year after losing three starters. Led by senior Vincent Grier, one of Hoopville’s Preseason All-Big Ten forwards, the Golden Gophers aim to repeat their 21 wins from last season.
Grier was the Big Ten’s third-leading scorer last year, but struggled with turnovers. He will be helped by returning starter Dan Coleman, a forward who was selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman team last year. Coleman looks to add eight to ten points a game and boost the Gophers’ offense.
In the back court, the Gophers have upperclassmen Adam Boone and Maurice Hargrow, who started together two years ago before Boone was injured and Hargrow sat out after returning to Minnesota from Arkansas.
Should the Golden Gophers manage to contend for a bid to the NCAA tournament, the Big Ten could have as many as eight teams competing for bids. But after winning 19 games three years ago, the Golden Gophers fell to just 12 wins in 2004. After rebounding to 21 wins in 2005, coach Dan Monson is hoping Grier can prevent a repeat of the 2004 fall off.
9. Northwestern Wildcats
2004-05 Record: 15-16, 6-10 Big Ten(8th)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Michael Thompson, Sr.
F Vedran Vukusic, Sr.
F Bernard Cote, Jr.
G Mohamed Hachad, Sr.
G Tim Doyle, Jr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/30 at Virginia
After three years of improvement, going from 12 to 14 to 15 wins, the Wildcats are relying on a core of veteran players to keep them in the Big Ten race. With senior Michael Thompson in the middle and Vedran Vukusic and Kentucky transfer Bernard Cote helping out, the key to Northwestern’s success lies with its forwards.
Vukusic has been consistent during his career in Evanston, posting almost 17 points per game last season. Thompson, who transferred from Duke last season, played well until he sat out the final 11 games of last season with an injured foot.
Having lost T.J. Parker to the NBA ranks, the Wildcats are banking on Mohamed Hachad and Tim Doyle in the backcourt. Hachad improved greatly last year, and performed especially well in the season’s final games. Doyle is an exceptional ball handler and can find the open men down low, giving the front three a chance to put points on the board.
If this unit can gel together, they have the potential to reach the NIT after being 15-16 last year. Should they string together a few extra wins during the non-conference schedule, talk of a postseason berth may resurface.
10. Purdue Boilermakers
2004-05 Record: 7-21, 3-13 Big Ten(10th)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Matt Kiefer, Sr.
F Carl Landry, Sr.
F Gary Ware, Sr.
G David Teague, Sr.
G Korey Spates, Fr.
Schedule Highlights:
11/26 vs. Xavier
11/29 at Florida State
12/30 at Memphis
After finishing 17-14 two years ago, 25-year veteran coach Gene Keady was looking forward to one last season of respectability, but his vision was shattered when the Boilermakers went just 7-21 in his final campaign. New head coach Matt Painter owns a 25-5 record in his only season of head coaching, but the Boilermakers will likely struggle to win half as many games in his first season in West Lafayette.
Leading the Boilermakers’ attack is senior forward Carl Landry, who finished second in the conference scoring race last year. Landry averaged 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest. His main partner up front is senior Matt Kiefer, who can play outside as well as getting in down low with Landry. They will likely be joined by senior Gary Ware.
The Purdue backcourt is spearheaded by David Teague. Teague is a strong ball handler and provides the long ball threat the Boilermakers need to open the lower post game for Landry.
Having lost point guard Brandon McKnight, Painter had junior college transfer Tarrance Crump to fill the void. But Crump was arrested in late September for drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident, and Painter suspended him for the season. That means another freshman, Korey Spates, more than likely takes over. Several other newcomers, including former Connecticut forward Marcus White, will have key roles in the Purdue game plan.
If the newcomers can gel into Painter’s system and the returning starters can pick up their offense, then the Boilermakers may have a chance to upset some teams on the way to a postseason NIT berth.
11. Penn State Nittany Lions
2004-05 Record: 7-23, 1-15 Big Ten(11th)
Projected Starting Lineup:
C Milos Bogetic, Fr.
F Travis Parker, Sr.
F Geary Claxton, So.
G Ben Luber, Jr.
G Danny Morrissey, So.
Schedule Highlights:
11/29 vs. Clemson
12/3 at Texas A&M
12/10 at Pittsburgh
Hard as it might be to believe, the Penn State Nittany Lions head into the 2005-06 season worse off then last season. After falling from 3-13 in the Big Ten to 1-15, two of the Nittany Lions’ top players, Aaron Johnson and Marlon Smith, decided to transfer elsewhere.
One of few bright spots is the play of senior forward Travis Parker. Parker is a 6-5 forward that averaged 11.4 ppg and 6.4 rpg last season. He will lead a young, inexperienced attack.
Penn State’s other top threat comes in the form of the versatile sophomore Geary Claxton, who can play as a guard or a forward. Claxton dropped almost 13 points per game last year and looks to improve on that this year.
Head Coach Ed DeChellis looks to begin a turnaround to lead the Nittany Lions back to the form they reached under his tutelage in the mid-1990s, when they won 21 games on two separate occasions.
Conference Outlook
With just one exception, every team in the Big Ten should be able to compete for a .500 record and postseason berths. If the teams at the top of the conference manage to live up to their billing, it could get even better when eight teams are gunning for NCAA tournament bids.
This season should help to provide the Big Ten with the national legitimacy that it deserves, after two more of its teams reached the Final Four last year. If the members of the Big Ten can pull off big non-conference wins, the league will emerge among the nation’s best.
