Big Ten Conference Season Recap
Regular Season Recap
As expected, the Big Ten was (ugh!) down again this season, housing two of the best teams in the country, a handful of very average squads, and more than its share of forgettable rosters. The result: a conference season littered with ugly basketball, one deep tournament run alongside several NCAA Tournament flameouts, and three head coach dismissals.
Ohio State posted a 15-1 conference record, losing only at second-place Wisconsin on its way to a conference title, conference tournament crown and NCAA title game appearance. Freshmen Greg Oden and Mike Conley, Jr. delivered as promised, and both (along with sixth man frosh Daequan Cook) turned their successes into NBA draft declarations. Conley controlled the game as well as any point guard in the nation, getting his teammates involved early, and taking over offensively if needed. We’ve all seen Oden backing down 7-footers and dunking in their faces, reminding us he has the best poker face in basketball. Running side by side with OSU was Wisconsin, who, through consistent play by conference player of the year Alando Tucker, wore down Big Ten foes to the tune of a 13-3 finish. Wisconsin boasted the best collection of role players, but didn’t have the firepower to hang with the Buckeyes. The two squads were clearly the class of this league.
In fact, the gap deserves illustration.
Here we are, the Big Ten pack.
Indiana showed flashes of excellence, and first-year head coach Kelvin Sampson had the Hoosiers competing for 40 minutes every time out, but inconsistent guard play kept them from making a real push. D.J. White continued his enigmatic play, dominating for stretches on both ends of the court, but fading into foul trouble or inactivity in other spurts. Still, a 10-6 record is respectable, and the Hoosiers have some pieces to build around, presuming White stays. And did I mention forgettable teams? Here are a few: Illinois, Purdue and Iowa, each 9-7 in conference but without a marquee win. The formula is simple; win at home, get a couple on the road against the bottom feeders, and you’re above .500.
There were two different stories for the two 8-8 teams. Michigan State made the NCAA tournament via a difficult non-conference and conference schedule, but Michigan finished with a whimper yet again and sent coach Tommy Amaker packing.
Yes, the gap from the top to the middle was huge, but maybe not as large as the gap from the middle to the bottom. Minnesota fired coach Dan Monson before the conference season began, and showed little of anything on the way to a 3-13 mark. Those three wins were good enough to best both Penn State and Northwestern, who both finished at 2-14. As the year progressed, less and less attention was awarded to the bottom three, and that trend will continue here.
Conference Tournament Recap
Unlike previous Big Ten tournaments, this one mirrored the regular season exactly, emphasizing the dominance of Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Buckeyes cruised to a tournament title, defeating the Badgers 66-49 in the title game. Both teams earned their finals berth through double-digit wins in the semis, with OSU handling Purdue and Wisconsin besting Illinois.
How dull was this tournament? Aside from the opening round, where the bottom three were sent packing, there was only one game decided by single-digits. That is, only the Illinois-Indiana quarterfinal matchup was close. The other quarters, both semis, and the final lacked suspense. This… is Big Ten basketball.
Postseason Recap
Ohio State:
NCAA First Round: OSU 78, Central Connecticut State 57
NCAA Second Round: OSU 78, Xavier 71
NCAA Sweet 16: OSU 85, Tennessee 84
NCAA Elite 8: OSU 92, Memphis 76
NCAA Final 4: OSU 67, Georgetown 60
NCAA Title Game: Florida 84, OSU 75
Wisconsin:
NCAA First Round: Wisconsin 76, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 63
NCAA Second Round: UNLV 74, Wisconsin 68
Indiana:
NCAA First Round: Indiana 70, Gonzaga 57
NCAA Second Round: UCLA 54, Indiana 49
Michigan State:
NCAA First Round: MSU 61, Marquette 49
NCAA Second Round: North Carolina 81, MSU 67
Purdue:
NCAA First Round: Purdue 72, Arizona 63
NCAA Second Round: Florida 74, Purdue 67
Illinois:
NCAA First Round: Virginia Tech 54, Illinois 52
Michigan:
NIT First Round: Michigan 68, Utah State 58
NIT Second Round: Florida State 87, Michigan 66
All Conference Teams
First Team:
G Drew Neitzel, Michigan State
G Mike Conley, Jr., Ohio State
G Adam Haluska, Iowa
F Alando Tucker, Wisconsin
C Greg Oden, Ohio State
Second Team:
G David Teague, Purdue
F Carl Landry, Purdue
F Geary Claxton, Penn State
F Warren Carter, Illinois
F D.J. White, Indiana
Third Team:
G Roderick Wilmont, Indiana
G Kammron Taylor, Wisconsin
G Dion Harris, Michigan
F Tyler Smith, Iowa
C Courtney Sims, Michigan
MVP: Alando Tucker, Wisconsin
Coach of the Year: Thad Matta, Ohio State
Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Oden, Ohio State
Freshman of the Year: Greg Oden, Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes (35-4, 15-1)
2006-07 was nearly everything Buckeye fans dreamt it could be. With a heralded recruiting class (The Thad Five) and several key returnees, many pegged this young, talented squad as a Final Four contender. Those predictions came to fruition, as OSU navigated its way through a difficult road to Atlanta, needing a late 3-pointer to force overtime and a sprawling rejection to seal wins along the way. Greg Oden, who missed the beginning of the season with a wrist injury he suffered in summer action, gradually became more comfortable offensively, using both hands and dominating less willful defenders. Defensively, he was a monster, blocking hoards of shots, altering even more, and dissuading a significant number of wary penetrators. Fellow freshman Mike Conley, Jr. showed poise and savvy beyond his age, leading the Big Ten in both assists and steals as he became more potent offensively. Seniors Ron Lewis and Ivan Harris provided timely 3-pointers, transfer Othello Hunter adequately spelled Oden, and freshmen Daequan Cook and David Lighty contributed mightily. This was a talented, deep squad, but if they had one year to claim a title, this was it. Lewis and Harris graduate, and Oden, Conley, Jr., and Cook have made themselves eligible for the NBA draft. The cupboard’s not bare, but it’s not quite as loaded.
Team MVP: Greg Oden (15.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.3 bpg, 62% FG)
Team Leaders
Points: Oden
Rebounds: Oden
Assists: Mike Conley, Jr. (6.1 apg)
Starters leaving
G Mike Conley, Jr. (NBA)
G Ron Lewis (graduating)
F Ivan Harris (graduating)
C Greg Oden (NBA)
Key players returning
G Jamar Butler (senior, 8.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.4 apg)
F Othello Hunter (senior, 5.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.1 bpg)
Wisconsin Badgers (30-6, 13-3)
This year was destined to be the year of Alando Tucker in the Big Ten, and it was. Tucker, Hoopville’s conference Player of the Year, was a rock in Bo Ryan’s lineup all season. As always, the Badgers were sound defensively, played smart basketball, and were impossible to beat at home. A frustrating finish to the season, including a second-round NCAA tournament exit, ended an otherwise magnificent season on a sour note. The loss of forward Brian Butch certainly didn’t help, and Wisconsin couldn’t cover up his loss. Senior point guard Kammron Taylor paced the club, and his inconsistencies were covered up by the tremendous supporting cast. Michael Flowers was a terrific defender who could streak to the basket. Forward Marcus Landry was gritty and provided timely shooting. Joe Krabbenhoft may have been the toughest player in the league and was the team’s best pure rebounder. There are definitely pieces to build around, and expect sharpshooter Jason Bohanon, who gained seasoning as his freshman year moved along, to make an impact next year.
Team MVP: Alando Tucker (19.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2 apg)
Team Leaders
Points: Tucker
Rebounds: Brian Butch (5.9 rpg)
Assists: Michael Flowers (2.9 apg)
Starters leaving
F Alando Tucker (graduating)
G Kammron Taylor (graduating)
F/C Jason Chappell (graduating)
Key players returning
F Brian Butch (senior, 8.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg)
G Michael Flowers (senior, 7.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.6 spg)
F Marcus Landry (junior, 5.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
F Joe Krabbenhoft (junior, 4.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Indiana Hoosiers (21-11, 10-6)
Kelvin Sampson’s first year in Bloomington was a solid, if not outstanding, campaign. He guided the Hoosiers back to the NCAA tournament and posted a first-round win. More importantly, he motivated his club to play inspired, scrappy, defensive-minded basketball. There’s no way of knowing for sure, but I surmise that this club would not have made the tourney without Sampson’s tutelage. D.J. White once again was the club’s leader, and at times looks like the most talented player in the Big Ten. Hoosier fans must hope White comes back for one more year, and with Sampson at his side, White may finally reach his mile-high potential. Senior guard Roderick Wilmont had several explosive games offensively, and freshman Armon Bassett improved as the year went on, eventually providing necessary offense. Hoosier fans must be giddy about next season, when prized recruit Eric Gordon finally arrives.
Team MVP: D.J. White (13.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.3 bpg)
Team Leaders
Points: White
Rebounds: White
Assists: Earl Calloway (4.3 apg)
Starters leaving
G Roderick Wilmont (graduating)
G Earl Calloway (graduating)
Key players returning
F D.J. White (senior, 13,8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.3 bpg)
G Armon Bassett (sophomore, 9.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3 apg)
G A.J. Ratliff (senior, 9.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
Illinois Fighting Illini (23-12, 9-7)
This was a different team than what Illini fans have become used to. Gone was the flashy, high-octane offense, and in its place was a hustling, smothering defensive unit. And they had to be. Injuries and off-field incidents seemed to disrupt Bruce Weber’s crew all season, and the team rallied to make the NCAA Tournament once again. Warren Carter stepped up in his senior season, taking charge while starters Rich McBride, Brian Randle, and Jamar Smith were having trouble staying on the court. Unfortunately, Carter and McBride, who stepped up as the season progressed, are gone. Randle will return, and Illinois desperately hopes he can fulfill the promise he showed two seasons ago. Shaun Pruitt became a force inside, and jet-quick guard Chester Frazier roused faint memories of Dee Brown at times. Sophomore sniper Jamar Smith missed the end of the season after a mysterious car accident left teammate Brian Carlwell injured. Questions around his return remain, but it appears Smith will be back on campus next season.
Team MVP: Warren Carter (13.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2 apg)
Team Leaders
Points: Carter
Rebounds: Shaun Pruitt (7.5 rpg)
Assists: Chester Frazier (4.5 apg)
Starters leaving
F Warren Carter (graduating)
G Rich McBride (graduating)
Key players returning
F/C Shaun Pruitt (senior, 11.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg)
G Chester Frazier (junior, 7.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.5 spg)
F Brian Randle (senior, 7.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
G Jamar Smith (junior, (9.1 ppg, 1.9 apg)
Purdue Boilermakers (22-12, 9-7)
We knew the return of Carl Landry and David Teague would benefit the Boilermakers, but we didn’t know they’d lead them to an NCAA tournament victory. Landry was a beast on the interior, and showed surprising 3-point range. And Teague, known as a defensive specialist, must have worked on his jumper during his absence. His massive offensive improvement gave Purdue a perimeter threat to balance Landry on the inside. While the season was encouraging, both Landry and Teague are now gone for good, as are guard Chris Lutz and center Johnathan Uchendu, who both are transferring. Not all is lost in Lafayette, however. Purdue’s recruiting class may be the best in the Big Ten, and is generally regarded as one of the top ten classes nationwide.
Team MVP: Carl Landry (18.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 60% FG)
Team Leaders
Points: Landry
Rebounds: Landry
Assists: Chris Kramer (2.5 apg)
Starters leaving
F Carl Landry (graduating)
G David Teague (graduating)
G Chris Lutz (transferring)
Key players returning
G Chris Kramer (sophomore, 7.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2 spg)
G Gordon Watt (junior, 7.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.4 apg)
G Tarrance Crump (senior, 5.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.8 apg)
Iowa Hawkeys (17-14, 9-7)
The big news in Iowa City isn’t Adam Haluska’s graduation. It’s not Tyler Smith’s decision to transfer. The news, certainly big and overdue to some, is the departure of head coach Steve Alford. Alford, less than a year after signing a multi-year contract extension, bolted for New Mexico, and in his place, Iowa hired former Butler coach Todd Lickliter. Lickliter guided his Butler squad to the Sweet 16 this season, and Iowa fans should rejoice his hiring. The Hawkeyes, after a disappointing non-conference slate, were the most surprising team in the conference season. However, a 9-7 conference record couldn’t make up for that brutal start, and Iowa didn’t even net an NIT berth. Adam Haluska had an impressive senior season, and Iowa will desperately miss him. Freshman standout Tyler Smith also won’t be back, as he’s likely to end up at his home state university (Tennessee). Maybe Alford got out at the right time, as Lickliter has some major rebuilding ahead of him.
Team MVP: Adam Haluska (20.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.4 spg)
Team Leaders
Points: Haluska
Rebounds: Tyler Smith (4.9 rpg)
Assists: Tony Freeman (3.7 apg)
Starters leaving
G Adam Haluska (graduating)
G Mike Henderson (graduating)
F Tyler Smith (transferring to Tennessee)
Key players returning
G Tony Freeman (junior, 7.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.7 apg)
F/C Kurt Looby (senior, 3.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.7 bpg)
Michigan State Spartans (23-12, 8-8)
With the departure of NBA draft picks Maurice Ager, Shannon Brown and Paul Davis, Spartan fans wondered if junior guard Drew Neitzel could take the reigns. The answer? A resounding yes. Neitzel had a fabulous season, and will be an essential piece of next year’s Big Ten puzzle. More importantly, every major contributor to this 23-win team will return next year. Throw in an exciting recruiting class and there’s reason to believe Tom Izzo will have this squad back at the top of the conference. Sophomore-to-be Raymar Morgan should improve on a solid freshman campaign, and big man Goran Suton was surprisingly potent in the paint. You know the Spartans are going to control the glass. You know they’re going to contest every shot. And you know Izzo will have them competing for a Big Ten title next March.
Team MVP: Drew Neitzel (18.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.3 apg)
Team Leaders
Points: Neitzel
Rebounds: Goran Suton (6.7 rpg)
Assists: Travis Walton (5.5 apg)
Starters leaving
None
Key players returning
G Drew Neitzel (senior, 18.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.3 apg)
F Raymar Morgan (sophomore, 11.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
C Goran Suton (junior, 9.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.4 apg)
G Travis Walton (junior, 6.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 5.5 apg)
Michigan Wolverines (22-13, 8-8)
Ann Arbor is the second of three Big Ten cities where new coaches currently call home. Gone is Tommy Amaker, downgrading from a storied Big Ten school to a storied academic institution, Harvard. His replacement will be former West Virginia coach John Beilein, and he’ll bring a style that will stand out in the sometimes sloppy Big Ten. Beilein, famous for his everybody-out, gun-slinging offense, will inherit a club that may have passed its chance to dance. Team leaders Dion Harris (points, assists), Courtney Sims (rebounds), Brent Petway (athleticism) and Lester Abram (versatility) leave campus. While each of them tallied highlights along the way, the overall product wasn’t good enough, yet again, to make it to the dance. Like the other new Big Ten coaches, Beilein isn’t joining a title contender, and it remains to be seen if his foreign style can flourish in the Big Ten.
Team MVP: Dion Harris (13.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.1 spg)
Team Leaders
Points: Harris
Rebounds: Courtney Sims (6.2 rpg)
Assists: Harris
Starters leaving
G Dion Harris (graduating)
G/F Lester Abram (graduating)
F Brent Petway (graduating)
C Courtney Sims (graduating)
Key players returning
G Jerret Smith (sophomore, 5.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.4 apg)
F Ron Coleman (senior, 5.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.1 apg)
Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-22, 3-13)
Forget the 2006-07 season, say Gopher fans, we’ve got Tubby Smith. It’s unclear how this came about, or what would provoke Smith to take a job such as this, but he brings (cliché alert!) instant credibility to a program that needs it more than ever. That’s the good news. The bad news? The team that posted one of the worst records in team history is coming back almost entirely intact, with little to no influx of new talent. Unless Smith can get this crew working hard together and develop a coherent offensive attack, it looks bleak. Lawrence McKenzie was a decent threat from the perimeter, but he didn’t finish well on the inside and is a bit streaky. Dan Coleman showed up once in a while and seemed to have all-conference ability, but his consistency waned often. The Gophers’ real problem this season, was the lack of a stable point guard. The team had 60 more turnovers than assists. Tubby Smith will soon realize that this is not Kentucky. At this point, it’s probably not even Tulsa.
Team MVP: Dan Coleman (14.2 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.3 bpg)
Team Leaders
Points: Lawrence McKenzie (14.9 ppg)
Rebounds: Coleman
Assists: McKenzie (2.8)
Starters leaving
G Limar Wilson (transferring)
Key players returning
G Lawrence McKenzie (senior, 14.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.8 apg)
F Dan Coleman (senior, 14.2 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.3 bpg)
F Spencer Tollackson (senior, 12 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Northwestern Wildcats (13-18, 2-14)
Northwestern completed yet another forgetful season under the watch of Bill Carmody. They were able to keep games close, but their lack of offensive firepower rarely provided them with an opportunity to close out a game. Tim Doyle did as much of everything as he could, but again, physical shortcomings were glaring. In a league that’s far from the most athletic in the land, Northwestern still stands out. It’s a problem that will almost certainly trouble the Wildcats in the near future. Freshman Kevin Coble showed that he could score, in conference games too, and will be a nice centerpiece for Carmody’s snail-slow offense. Craig Moore had several productive games from the outside, but struggled mightily for most of Big Ten play. Nobody likes to be the perennial league doormat, but Northwestern has rightfully earned that distinction. Loyal supporters must hope that they’ll come out of the corner fighting.
Team MVP: Tim Doyle (11.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.7 spg)
Team Leaders
Points: Kevin Coble (13.4)
Rebounds: Coble (5.2)
Assists: Doyle (5.1)
Starters leaving
G Tim Doyle (graduating)
C Vince Scott (graduating)
Key players returning
F Kevin Coble (sophomore, 13.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.6 spg)
G Craig Moore (junior, 8.1 ppg, 2 apg)
Penn State Nittany Lions (11-19, 2-14)
Expectations were high entering this season in Happy Valley. After all, Geary Claxton, one of the conference’s most productive forwards, and fellow front-liner Jamelle Cornley were both returning after solid seasons. Ben Luber and Danny Morrissey were supposed to provide the outside portion of the offense. This was supposed to be a difficult team to slow down. And on certain nights, they were. In fact, when the Nittany Lions racked up 129 points against the admittedly porous VMI, they set a Big Ten scoring record. Offense wasn’t the problem. But there are two parts to basketball in the 21st century, and Penn State may not have gotten the memo. They were awful defensively, allowing the most points in the league by a landslide. They have the offense returning. But please, don’t make this writer look as foolish in his preseason predictions again. Play some defense.
Team MVP: Geary Claxton (16.3 ppg, 8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.1 spg)
Team Leaders
Points: Claxton
Rebounds: Claxton
Assists: Ben Luber (3.4 apg)
Starters leaving
G Ben Luber (graduating)
Key players returning
F Geary Claxton (senior, 16.3 ppg, 8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.1 spg)
F Jamelle Cornley (junior, 13.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.7 apg)
G Danny Morrissey (junior, 9.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.1 apg)
2007-08 Conference Outlook
There are several major stories to follow as the coming season nears, and the influx of new coaches nabs top billing. How did Minnesota land Tubby Smith, and how will his presence change the stale climate in Gopher country? Will John Beilein be able to play his style in the Big Ten, and can he elevate Michigan back to the territory it once claimed? Will Iowa fans rally behind new coach Todd Lickliter? Can this writer wait six months for the season to begin? One of the answers is no.
The conference made a much-needed move, adding two games to the conference schedule in an effort to even out the schedule. Does it ultimately solve the problem of the unbalanced schedule? No. But it’s a step in the right direction. And you can’t complain about getting two more conference games to watch.
The biggest factor for the upcoming Big Ten season: how will teams fare without their departed stars. Ohio State suffered a big blow this month with the departure of Oden, Conley, Jr., and Cook, although it’s unclear whether eligibility will be compromised in the draft process. They also lose starters Ron Lewis and Ivan Harris. Wisconsin loses Alando Tucker and Kammron Taylor. Iowa says goodbye to Adam Haluska. Michigan will have to press on without four starters, Purdue without three, and Indiana and Illinois each lose two key contributors. Even Northwestern, to be thorough, loses the head-scratching but productive Tim Doyle. Which team seems to be the beneficiary of these departures? Michigan State. All five starters return, and Drew Neitzel could be ready to lead Tom Izzo’s club back to the top of the Big Ten heap.
