TEAM/COACH: ILLINOIS
Bruce Weber
(215-82 overall, 112-28 in four years at Illinois)
LAST YEAR: 23-12
(9-7)
Lost in first round of NCAA tournament
WELCOME ABOARD: F Rodney Alexander, G Demetri McCamey, C Mike Tisdale, F Bill Cole, F Mike Davis, G Jeff Jordan. Alexander, a 6-7 junior college transfer, steps into the starting lineup and should provide instant scoring and stability.
HATE TO SEE ‘EM GO: F Warren Carter, G Rich McBride, F Marcus Arnold. Carter was a second-team all-Big Ten selection who led the Illini at 13.7 points a game.
NCAA/NIT BOUND? WHY? YES
Preseason all-Big Ten first-team center Shaun Pruitt is learning how to deal with the attention defenses will give him, and senior Brian Randle is a complete player primed for a big finish–if he can stay healthy.
LAST THING: The Illini are no lock for the NCAAs but should get there. Early schedule will toughen them and help their RPI.
TEAM/COACH: INDIANA
Kelvin Sampson (300-120 overall, 21-11 in one year at Indiana)
LAST YEAR: 21-11
(10-6)
Lost in second round of NCAA tournament
WELCOME ABOARD: G Eric Gordon, G Jordan Crawford, G/F JaMarcus Ellis, C Eli Holman, F Brandon McGee. Gordon, the McDonald’s All- American, could be the conference’s best player.
HATE TO SEE ‘EM GO: G Roderick Wilmont, G Earl Calloway. Secondand third-leading scorers on last year’s team, but the newcomers should more than compensate.
NCAA/NIT BOUND? WHY? YES
The Hoosiers have an inside presence in D.J. White, who averaged 13.8 points on 51 percent shooting last season. Now teams shouldn?t be able to double-team White with the firepower on the perimeter.
LAST THING: Sampson refuses to talk about the latest round of illegal recruiting phone calls, but it will taint his success until further notice.
TEAM/COACH: IOWA
Todd Lickliter
(131-61 overall, first year at Iowa)
LAST YEAR: 17-14
(9-7)
No postseason
WELCOME ABOARD: G Jake Kelly, G Jeff Peterson, F Jarryd Cole. Cole averaged 19.1 points and 13.7 rebounds as a prep senior and likely will be needed in the paint immediately.
HATE TO SEE ‘EM GO: G Adam Haluska, F Tyler Smith. Haluska graduated and Smith transferred, and there went 35 of the 67 points Iowa averaged per game last year.
NCAA/NIT BOUND? WHY? NO
Far too much was lost with too little left to make significant strides in Lickliter’s first season. Where Iowa finds its scoring is a burning question.
LAST THING: Lickliter wants his team to defend “with purpose.” Given the lack of proven scoring options, the “purpose” is “having a remote chance to win.”
TEAM/COACH: MICHIGAN
John Beilein
(551-318 overall, first year at Michigan).
LAST YEAR: 22-13
(8-8)
Lost in second round of NIT
WELCOME ABOARD: G Kelvin Grady, G Corperryale “Manny” Harris, F Eric Puls. Harris was Michigan’s Mr. Basketball, and he and Grady were McDonald’s All-American nominees. They’re Beilein’s future.
HATE TO SEE ‘EM GO: G Dion Harris, F Courtney Sims, G Lester Abram, F Brent Petway. Those were the Wolverines’ top four scorers a year ago.
NCAA/NIT BOUND? WHY? NO
Prime recruits stuck around despite Tommy Amaker’s ouster after last season, but that doesn’t mean they’ll acclimate to Beilein’s style immediately. Michigan lost too much experience to win consistently.
LAST THING: Beilein thinks the Wolverines have some inherent advantages in picking up his system, thanks to the versatility of being “not too big … and not too small.”
TEAM/COACH: MICHIGAN STATE
Tom Izzo
(278-121 overall, all at Michigan State).
LAST YEAR: 23-12
(8-8)
Lost in second round of NCAA tournament
WELCOME ABOARD: G Kalin Lucas, G Chris Allen, F Austin Thornton, G Durrell Summers. Lucas and Allen give the Spartans depth enough to rev up the tempo.
HATE TO SEE ‘EM GO: F Maurice Joseph. And he averaged just 5.9 points per game. Everyone else is back.
NCAA/NIT BOUND? WHY? YES
It’s simple. The Spartans return their top five scorers, including G Drew Neitzel (18.1 ppg), and add a true point guard in top-30 recruit Lucas. It should result in runs at the league title and playing deep into March.
LAST THING: The Spartans don’t have to face a suicidal nonconference schedule this season, which should leave a veteran cast fresh for the Big Ten grind.
TEAM/COACH: MINNESOTA
Tubby Smith
(387-145 overall, first year at Minnesota).
LAST YEAR: 9-22
(3-13)
No postseason
WELCOME ABOARD: G Blake Hoffarber, G Al Nolen. Both are nice players, but neither is expected to be a difference-maker as a freshman.
HATE TO SEE ‘EM GO: G Limar Wilson, F Bryce Webster. Actually, “hate” is inaccurate. Both departures may be addition by subtraction, and all five starters from last year return.
NCAA/NIT BOUND? WHY? YES
The Gophers may wind up with a top recruiting haul from the Class of 2008, but right now the talent isn?t there for an NCAA berth. That said, Smith should coax the team past the .500 mark and into the NIT.
LAST THING: Access to Smith has been virtually non-existent, so the program hasn?t been sold to disillusioned fans. It may take a year or two to fill Williams Arena.
TEAM/COACH: NORTHWESTERN
Bill Carmody
(187-138 overall, 95-113 at Northwestern).
LAST YEAR: 13-18
(2-14)
No postseason
WELCOME ABOARD: F Mike Capocci, G Michael Thompson. Hard to see either being the difference early, but they continue a trend of Chicago-area recruits.
HATE TO SEE ‘EM GO: G Tim Doyle, C Vince Scott. Doyle, the team’s second-leading scorer last year, leaves a leadership vacuum.
NCAA/NIT BOUND? WHY? NO
The Wildcats have some young talent, but it may be another year or two before the central figures are mature enough to lock up a postseason berth.
LAST THING: The Wildcats play four non-neutral-site road games in the nonconference portion of the schedule, which could toughen them for Big Ten play or set them back significantly.
TEAM/COACH: OHIO STATE
Thad Matta
(183-53 overall, 81-22 at Ohio State).
LAST YEAR: 35-4
(15-1)
Lost in national championship game
WELCOME ABOARD: G Jon Diebler, C Kosta Koufos, F Dallas Lauderdale, F Evan Turner, F Eric Wallace. It’s the “Thad Five” revisited, another high-profile, likely high-production freshman class.
HATE TO SEE ‘EM GO: C Greg Oden, G Mike Conley Jr., F Daequan Cook, G Ron Lewis. Gone are the top four scorers and stars from the Final Four run. Enough said.
NCAA/NIT BOUND? WHY? YES
Matta has proved more than apt at restocking. While the Buckeyes may not enjoy the sheer dominance of last season, the freshman crop will contribute and might match the athleticism of the class that preceded it.
LAST THING: The Preseason NIT as well as non-conference games with North Carolina, Butler and Tennessee will give a developing team everything it can handle outside of the usual Big Ten rigors.
TEAM/COACH: PENN STATE
Ed DeChellis
(147-169 overall, 42-76 at Penn State).
LAST YEAR: 11-19
(2-14)
No postseason
WELCOME ABOARD: F Schyler King, G Talor Battle, F Jeff Brooks, G Stanley Pringle. King and Pringle are junior college transfers who give the Nittany Lions added depth and experience from the start.
HATE TO SEE ‘EM GO: G Mooch Jackson, F Ben Luber. But they were merely the fourth- and seventh-leading scorers a year ago. Four starters return.
NCAA/NIT BOUND? WHY? YES
With guards Geary Claxton and Jamelle Cornley plus experience and depth throughout the roster, the Nittany Lions probably have enough to climb out of the Big Ten cellar. To the NCAAs? Unlikely. But the NIT is a realistic step forward.
LAST THING: Quietly, Claxton was the fifth-leading scorer in the Big Ten a year ago at 16.3. Only Michigan State’s Drew Neitzel returns with a better average from a year ago.
TEAM/COACH: PURDUE
Matt Painter
(56-36 overall, 31-31 at Purdue).
LAST YEAR: 22-12
(9-7)
Lost in second round of NCAA tournament
WELCOME ABOARD: G Robbie Hummel, F/C JaJuan Johnson, G/F Scott Martin, G E’Twaun Moore, F Chad Sutor. The Boilermakers welcome one of the best recruiting classes in the nation, which should help ease the loss of their top two scorers.
HATE TO SEE ‘EM GO: F Carl Landry, F David Teague. Purdue will miss two players responsible for more than 35 points per game.
NCAA/NIT BOUND? WHY? YES
The Boilermakers have some veterans to mix with very versatile, talented youths. It may not be a formula for dominance along the lines of Ohio State a year ago, but it should be enough to navigate toward an NCAA berth.
LAST THING: Non-conference dates include a road game at Clemson and neutralsite games with Louisville, Iowa State and Alabama. Purdue might be an interesting case study in NCAA tournament seeding after that.
TEAM/COACH: WISCONSIN
Bo Ryan
(525-158 overall, 142-55 at Wisconsin).
LAST YEAR: 30-6
(13-3)
Lost in second round of NCAA tournament.
WELCOME ABOARD: C Jon Leuer, F Keaton Nankivil. Nankivil was Wisconsin’s Mr. Basketball, Leuer averaged 23 points per game as a senior, and both should provide size and depth.
HATE TO SEE ‘EM GO: F Alando Tucker, G Kammron Taylor. Tucker was simply everything for the Badgers a year ago, and filling the void he leaves will be nearly impossible.
NCAA/NIT BOUND? WHY? YES
It is incumbent on various Badgers like Marcus Landry to step forward to give Ryan his seventh straight season of 19 wins or better in Madison. The return of Michael Flowers from an undisclosed health issue would be significant.
LAST THING: The Badgers will be black and blue by the end of this season. Non-conference foes include Colorado, Georgia, Duke, Marquette and Texas.
