The Big Ten tournament tips off Thursday, with Illinois and Michigan State in the running for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. At least three more teams–Ohio State, Indiana and Wisconsin–will make the NCAA tournament, and if Iowa and Penn State do well this weekend, they too could be playing next week. Tribune staff writers Andrew Bagnato, Fred Mitchell and Gary Reinmuth look at the teams (in order of conference seeding).
1. Illinois
Record: 23-6 (13-3 Big Ten)
Key performer: Frank Williams. After two shaky early-season outings (9 turnovers against Duke, 1-for-14 shooting against Texas), Williams averaged 15 points, 4 assists and matured into inspirational leader and Big Ten player of year.
Season story: Faced with one of nation’s toughest non-conference schedules, they beat Maryland, Seton Hall and Arizona. Defeated Michigan State at home. Only letdown: OT loss at Penn State that prevented outright league title.
Postseason ambitions: No. 1 or No. 2 seed. Anything less than school’s first trip to Sweet 16 since 1989 would be considered major disappointment.
2. Michigan State
Record: 24-3 (13-3)
Key performer: Marcus Taylor. Has shown dazzling skills at point guard and his jump shot is deadly. But March can be harsh on freshmen, and MSU needs Taylor to play like a veteran.
Season story: The defending national champs beat all three of last year’s Final Four teams-North Carolina, Florida and Wisconsin (twice)-and won a share of their fourth straight Big Ten title.
Postseason ambitions: MSU comes to Chicago seeking its third straight Big Ten tourney crown and a No. 1 seed. A third straight trip to the Final Four would cement State’s place among the national elite. A repeat national championship isn’t out of the question.
3. Ohio State
Record: 20-9 (11-5)
Key Performer: Center Ken Johnson alters opponents’ games with his shot-blocking (nearly 7 a game) ability. The team’s well-balanced attack allows Johnson to concentrate on his specialty without sacrificing other aspects of the game.
Season story: Ohio State enjoyed its third-straight 20-win season and expects another NCAA bid. Jim O’Brien earned his second Big Ten Coach of the Year honor after guiding a team that had lost its top three scorers from the previous season. The Buckeyes finished strong with an impressive victory at Penn State, overcoming a 20-point deficit. Johnson blocked 118 shots to become the Big Ten career leader in blocked shots with 437, which ranks 4th all time in NCAA history.
Postseason ambitions: Intimidating defense and unselfish offensive play give Buckeyes the ability to surprise one of the top seeds in the Big Ten tournament and advance far into the NCAA Tournament.
4. Indiana
Record: 19-11 (10-6)
Key performer: Kirk Haston. The 6-10 junior center has quietly become the Big Ten’s dominant post player. His hook shot may bring back memories of the days when players wore tight satin shorts, but try stopping it.
Season story: Stunned by the firing of Bob Knight one month before camp opened, Indiana struggled to adjust to interim coach Mike Davis’ vastly different approach. But by season’s end the Hoosiers had become a solid fourth-place finisher in the nation’s toughest conference.
Postseason ambitions: Make its first Saturday appearance in the Big Ten tourney. And then win an NCAA tourney game. Without Mr. Knight driving them into the ground, the Hoosiers have a chance to achieve both goals.
5. Wisconsin
Record: 18-9 (9-7)
Key performer: Kirk Penney. The sophomore guard from New Zealand is the Big Ten’s best three-point marksman, hitting almost 50 percent of his attempts. If Penney can heat up from beyond the arc, the Badgers can beat anyone in the field.
Season story: The Badgers had to regroup after coach Dick Bennett announced his retirement two weeks into the season. Wisconsin beat Maryland, Temple and Marquette in non-conference play and finished fifth in the conference.
Postseason ambitions: The Badgers are not easily intimidated; they took Michigan State to overtime in East Lansing and nearly upset Illinois in Champaign. But they might not have enough offensive weapons to make another run to the Final Four. Of course, that’s what people thought last year.
6. Iowa
Record: 18-11 (7-9)
Key performer: Dean Oliver. When Luke Recker, Iowa’s leading scorer, broke his kneecap in January, Oliver tried to take the team on his shoulders. It’s too much to ask, but Oliver is a tough senior who isn’t about to quit.
Season story: After beating Illinois in January, the Hawkeyes looked as if they might contend for the Big Ten title. But Recker’s injury wrecked them. Iowa’s once-potent offense stalled and the Hawkeyes lost seven of their last eight games to plummet to sixth place.
Postseason ambitions: Try to grab a win on Thursday in the United Center. If not, go home to Iowa City and begin praying. Without Recker, the Hawkeyes have no business being in the NCAAs, but the selection gods may show mercy if they believe he could return.
7. Penn State
Record: 17-10 (7-9)
Key performer: Guard Joe Crispin became the first player in Penn State history to score 1,000 points in Big Ten games. He shoots 37 percent from three-point range and nearly 86 percent from the free-throw line.
Season story: Penn State blew a 20-point lead and a chance to finish .500 in the Big Ten when it lost its final regular-season game at home to Ohio State. Crispin led the conference in scoring and senior forward Gyasi Cline-Heard can be a dominant inside force. Penn State has road wins at Kentucky, Yale, Minnesota, Ohio State and Iowa, as well as neutral-site wins over Princeton and Hofstra.
Postseason ambitions: Coach Jerry Dunn’s Nittany Lions probably need to perform well in the conference tournament to have a shot at an NCAA berth. Otherwise they could be NIT-bound.
8. Purdue
Record: 14-13 (6-10)
Key performer: Until he went down with season-ending broken foot it was junior forward Rodney Smith, who had averaged 14.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 21 games. Carson Cunningham scored 17 last week against Michigan.
Season story: After surprising 11-3 start that included an upset of Arizona, Purdue went into freefall when Smith and center John Allison (broken foot) went down. Boilermakers lost seven of last eight games.
Postseason ambitions: Only place Boilermakers are going is NIT unless they win Big Ten tourney.
9. Minnesota
Record: 17-12 (5-11)
Key performer: Terrance Simmons. Gophers guard is thriving in new spread offense coach Dan Monson went to when John-Blair Bickerstaff and Mike Bauer were lost with injuries. Simmons had 34 points against Michigan State and 30 vs. Michigan.
Season story: Battling back from NCAA sanctions, Gophers got off to shocking 12-1 start before reality (Big Ten play) set in. Without Bickerstaff and Bauer, Minnesota lost 9 of last 11.
Postseason ambitions: Expected trip to NIT a major accomplishment for team that had every excuse to mail it in this year.
10. Michigan
Record: 10-17 (4-12)
Key performer: Sophomore forward LaVell Blanchard has been a one-man highlight reel for Wolverines, averaging 18 points and nearly 8 rebounds to rank among Big Ten leaders.
Season story: Non-conference blowout losses to Maryland, St. John’s and Duke. An upset of Iowa on road. Then it was all downhill for Brian Ellerbe, whose days as head coach have dwindled to precious few.
Postseason ambitions: Hire a new coach, find some more players, resurrect Michigan’s once-proud program.
11. Northwestern
Record: 11-18 (3-13)
Key performer: Guard Jitim Young supplies the energy for a team that is wont to fire up three-pointers and stand around if they are not falling. Although he is only 6-2, Young is not averse to working the baseline for shots, rebounds and steals.
Season story: In Bill Carmody’s first season as coach, the Wildcats ended a 32-game Big Ten regular-season losing streak with a 69-61 victory over Iowa on Feb. 10 at Welsh-Ryan Arena as the Wildcats finished with a winning home record (8-7).
Postseason ambitions: The conference tournament represents the Wildcats’ final postseason destination.
