SB Nation - Trevon Hughes

Learning more about the Blue Devils: A few good questions with Crazie Talk

Zach B — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:26:30 -0000

Wisconsin's defensive efforts on Lance Thomas and the rest of Duke (besides Kyle Singler) keyed the Badgers upset victory. Gonzaga will have to do the same if it hopes to take down the Blue Devils. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

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Even though you can probably catch every Duke game on national television, it's always nice to hear about an opponent from an insider's perspective. For that reason, we decided to reach out to Amogh and Jake of "Crazie Talk". They do an outstanding job covering Duke basketball from a student's perspective, much like us. We were able to ask them five questions about their squad this year and they really provided us with some outstanding information about the Blue Devils.

We also answered a few of their questions about Gonzaga which you can see by clicking here.

The Slipper Still Fits: The one blemish on Duke's very nice looking resume right now is a loss at Wisconsin. What did Wisconsin do to upset the Blue Devils? Was it just too much Trevon Hughes or can you blame it on Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith's poor offensive efforts?

Crazie Talk: At home in Madison; Wisconsin was able to dictate the tempo of the game. Once they hit their shots early, Duke was never really able to get back into the flow of the game. Everyone was out of rhythm offensively, except for Kyle, who exploded with a career high. Nolan had himself a decent game, but Jon completely disappeared offensively and had no answer for Hughes on defense. But if you were to pick out one thing that stood out to me over the course of the game, it would have to be the lack of production from the seniors, Zoubek and Thomas, in the post. Help defense was poor (especially on Hughes) rebounding was subpar, low post scoring was nowhere to be found. That's a recipe for a loss, especially against a hungry Wisconsin team.

TSSF: One of the things that got a lot of attention over the summer was Kyle Singler's move to the outside at small forward. How has Kyle looked at his natural position and what sort of impact has him moving outside had on Duke's front court.

CT: Kyle's move to small forward has helped our squad in a variety of ways. For one, Kyle creates mismatch problems for the opposing defense. At 6'8'', he often has a smaller player guarding him. This also allows him to conserve energy; you don't fatigue as much guarding smaller players than banging down low with bruisers. As the star of our team, we need him in for 35+ minutes most games, and it's important for him to be as fresh as possible. Also, he has been able to play outside-in a lot more than in previous seasons. Kyle has a knack for drawing contact and getting to the rim, and his jumper has become very consistent, especially from mid range. The move to the perimeter, his more natural area on the court, has allowed him to showcase both of these skills. Kyle can still bang down low and get offensive boards, but now we have three 6'10+ guys to do that too.

continue reading our Q&A with Crazie Talk after the jump...

TSSF: Speaking of position changes, there were also a lot of questions about Jon Scheyer starting his first full season as the Blue Devil's point guard. From an outsider's perspective, it appears that he is exceeding expectations with his ridiculous assist-to-turnover ratio. From a Duke perspective, are you as blown away as I have been?

CT: Honestly, I'm not surprised at all that Jon has thrived at the point thus far. He's one of the smartest players Duke has ever had, and his height(6'5) allows him to see the court a lot better than other shorter guards. He's a very heady player who minimizes turnovers - which is probably the most important statistic for a point guard. It seemed kind of strange to me that all the pundits were questioning Scheyer's abilities at the point when it was very clear at the end of the season that the team was much, much better with the ball in his hands.

TSSF: Gonzaga's defense lends itself to allowing their opponent to shoot the three-point shot at will. I'm assuming Mark Few will make some changes for Saturday but how worried should Gonzaga fans be about guys like Scheyer and Andre Dawkins who have been outstanding from beyond the arc.

CT: Scheyer is coming off a career night in Cameron in which he shot 11-13 from the field, including 7-9 from beyond the arc. I don't expect him to be allowed those kind of shots against Gonzaga. But a hot shooting Scheyer makes this team a lot better. Jon has proven himself an incredible playmaker this year, mainly with the pass. With the emergence of Nolan Smith as a go-to scorer, many thought that Scheyer would be the third offensive option behind Smith and Singler. But as his 36 point outing Tuesday night proved, he can still fill it up-especially from beyond the arc.

Dawkins has been an outstanding shooter. I didn't expect him to contribute this much this fast, especially being so clutch in the Connecticut and Wisconsin games. At the Kohl Center he singlehandedly gave us a chance with four consecutive threes. He currently shoots over 50% from distance. Accordingly, his minutes have increased to 20 per game. He's instant offense if his shot is on.

As for defending these two guys, Scheyer is the king of the shot fake. He draws a lot of fouls by getting his defender up in the air and shooting into the contact. Dawkins is more of a catch-and-shoot guy. If you leave him open, he'll take it. Both have a solid mid-range game as well, and can take one dribble into space and knock down an 18 footer.

So I would say that Few must adjust his defense. If our guys get good looks and get hot early, it could be a long night for the Bulldogs.

TSSF: How is the pulse of Blue Devil nation going into this game? Is this a game that you guys are really worried about or do you expect to go into MSG and win and if you can, what really worries you about this Gonzaga team?

We're pumped. Tuesday's win against Gardner-Webb was a solid tune-up, and the team looked exceptional the team had been through a lot in the past week - from the passing of Andre's sister to the rigors of final exams. That said, Gonzaga will be the toughest test yet for this Duke team. Bouldin is a fine player, and will be a handful for whoever ends up matching up with him on defense. What worries me the most, however, is the battle on the blocks. They have been excellent thus far-we really enjoyed their play in the Maui title game against Cincy. But Miles and Mason Plumlee, along with the improved Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek, are a formidable post presence as well. If Duke can control the glass, our size should win the game. But if Gonzaga gets a lot of second chance shots for guys like Bouldin and Gray, this could be a Bulldog win. I expect Kyle Singler to be the X-factor. If he plays like he did at Wisconsin, Duke should take this by 10. If he disappears, we may lose by 10. It will be a great game either way.

Prediction: Duke 75, Gonzaga 70 in a nail biter.

We'd like to thank the guys over at Crazie Talk for helping us (and you) learn more about Duke!

Wisconsin maintains urgency, steamrolls over Cal Poly

Jbharris87 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:49:47 -0000

More photos » by Andy Manis - AP

6 days ago: Cal Poly's Will Donahue (44) and Wisconsin's Keaton Nankivil (52) and Trevon Hugh go after a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

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MADISON, Wis. -- Shawn Lewis scored the first points of the game.

That was about the lone highlight for Cal Poly, as the Badgers more than doubled up on the Mustangs, 90-42, at the Kohl Center.

Cal Poly came into Madison having won its last three games, but played in South Dakota less than 24 hours before this one. Head coach Joe Callero admitted fatigue was an issue, but said even an "A effort" would have only narrowed the margin of defeat.

Trevon Hughes scored his 1,000th career point, becoming just the 34th Badger to reach that mark. Hughes had 20 points on the night. Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil and Jason Bohannon joined him in double figures in points.

Every Badger on the roster saw playing time, including J.D. Wise for the first time. A dunk by JP Gavinski in the waning minutes fired up the remaining fans.

Jordan Taylor played 24 minutes and had seven assists with no turnovers.

Wisconsin put up offensive numbers not seen in some time. The Badgers scored their most points since December 27, 2006, against Gardner-Webb, their most in a half since that same game, and recorded their largest margin of victory in over two years. They made 13 three-pointers.

This year's team has shown no letdown following big games, blowing out Grambling State after a monumental win over Duke and, now, crushing Cal Poly after an important victory over Marquette.

The numbers tell the story of just how dominant Wisconsin was over an undermanned Big West opponent. With two more home games left against non-BCS foes, the Badgers' odds of heading into the Big Ten season with ten wins look solid.

-Jake Harris

Badgers earn bragging rights in win over Marquette

Jbharris87 — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:14:01 -0000

More photos » by Andy Manis - AP

Jason Bohannon blocks a shot from behind during Wisconsin's 72-63 victory over Marquette Saturday at the Kohl Center. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

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MADISON, Wis. -- After a stunning overtime loss to UW-Green Bay Wednesday night, the Wisconsin men's basketball team suddenly found itself in danger of dropping two straight games to in-state rivals.

The upset loss three days ago appeared to have no ill effect on the collective psyche of the Badgers, however, as they raced to a 17-point first-half lead and held on to preserve a 72-63 victory over Marquette at the Kohl Center.

Junior forward Jon Leuer said the loss to a smaller system school motivated the team as it prepared for the Golden Eagles.

"That one definitely stung a bit," Leuer said. "We wanted to get that taste out of our mouths. We were just looking forward to getting back on the court."

The Badgers got off to a hot start, shooting 58 percent from the field in the first half. They led by nine at the break and then kept pace with Marquette throughout the second period to win by the same margin.

Golden Eagles head coach Buzz Williams said he believes his team's approach during the first few minutes sealed its fate.

"We didn't handle the excitement in the right way initially," Williams said. "You can't play from behind against a great team."

Wisconsin senior point guard Trevon Hughes said his team's attitude heading into the game was not at all similar to the overconfidence with which it approached Green Bay.

"We had a lot more energy today," Hughes said. "We knew we had to win this game."

Leuer was nothing short of dominant against an undersized Marquette roster. He finished with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, with 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. He only saw the bench for two minutes.

Leuer said using his size advantage was part of the script.

"We definitely knew that we wanted to get the ball inside," Leuer said. "The guards did a great job of getting us the ball down low."

Head coach Bo Ryan credited Leuer's improvement as a player with his increased role in point production.

"He worked hard to get open in the post, he cut hard, and he is stronger this year," Ryan said. "He's getting in position a little better and he gets rewarded because his teammates know that he can do something with [the ball] when he gets it."

As for Leuer's teammates, Wisconsin's guards were again effective, as they have been most of this season. Ryan employed a three-guard lineup at times, which has been a common occurrence this year. Jordan Taylor came off the bench and was on the floor simultaneously with Hughes and Jason Bohannon for several stretches.

The results were positive. Hughes and Taylor scored 13 points apiece and combined for five assists. Hughes continued to drive to the basket and get to the charity stripe, where he attempted 12 free throws.

Ryan was particularly impressed with Taylor, which has been demonstrated by the sophomore's significant playing time in big games this season, and the young guard never turned the ball over Saturday.

"He's as tough-minded as any player I've ever coached," Ryan said. "He doesn't waver. He knows what needs to get done. He's going to take care of the ball."

The performances of Leuer and of the three guards were all part of a solid offensive day for the Badgers, who turned the ball over just seven times. Wisconsin has now scored at least 70 points in each of its last five games. Three of those games were wins over Maryland, Duke and, now, Marquette. That is an encouraging trend, considering many wondered where the Badgers' scoring would come from this season. They have answered their critics thus far, averaging 71.7 points per game.

Forward Lazar Hayward led the scoring for Marquette, with 21 inefficient points on 8-of-21 shooting. Hayward scored 15 of those points in the second half and also led the team with 12 rebounds. He never sat and was one of only two Golden Eagles in double figures.

Wisconsin got Marquette in foul trouble early. Jimmy Butler and Darius Johnson-Odom both fouled out in the waning minutes of the game, while Maurice Acker committed four infractions and three other Golden Eagles played with three fouls each. The Badgers made more free throws (23-of-33) than Marquette attempted (21).

"You can't let a team attempt 33 free throws," Williams said. "I don't know if you can win on the road or at home, regardless of the opponent, doing that."

Hughes said the disparity in foul shooting is something Wisconsin needs to see more of as the season progresses.

"That's Wisconsin basketball, trying to make more free throws than opponents attempt," Hughes said.

The Golden Eagles shot 41 percent from the field and put up 32 points in each half. They were never able to take the lead, much less make any kind of game-changing run, despite cutting into the Badgers' edge several times. It wasn't enough to overcome the early hole they had dug for themselves. The opening minutes featured poor shot selection by Marquette, and the Badgers pulled down 20 defensive rebounds, many of them easy collections of Golden Eagle bricks.

"We got them to take some tough shots," Leuer said. "Any time you're doing that, you give yourself a good chance to be successful."

This was the first of five straight home games for Wisconsin, which hopes to head into Big Ten play on New Year's Eve with ten wins, including top-of-the-resume victories over Arizona, Maryland, Duke and Marquette.

With the way this team has played against top competition in the early going, there is every reason to believe it will dispatch Cal Poly with considerable more ease than the football team did on the gridiron last year, when the Mustangs come to the Kohl Center Wednesday night.

-Jake Harris

Yes, that is really the final score; Green Bay tops UW 88-84

Adam Hoge — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:48:13 -0000

More photos » by Mike Roemer - AP

13 days ago: Wisconsin-Green Bay players and fans celebrate their overtime win over Wisconsin in an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Dec . 9, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Green Bay won 88-84. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

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I just had a buddy of mine in Chicago text me, "Was that the real Wisconsin score I just saw??"

Yes. Yes it was. At least that's what they are telling us. Green Bay won its first game in 16 tries over the Badgers with an 88-84 win Wednesday night at the Resch Center.

This won't be your typical recap/reaction from us here at Bucky's 5th Quarter. Because of the snow storm and some other reasons beyond our control, we did not have anyone in Green Bay covering the game for us Wednesday and since it wasn't on TV, it would be unprofessional of me to really give an opinion on any specifics that transpired.

It's kind of like that saying about the tree falling in the forest. If we weren't there and the game wasn't on television, did it really happen? Unfortunately, I think it did, but this might be the first time in two years that I feel like I need to read a newspaper in the morning.

In a moment I'll pass along some links from other reporters who were actually at the game, because we have a better chance of solving a Rubik's Cube tonight than figuring out what the hell happened in Green Bay.

You're telling me Trevon Hughes scored 27 points, while Jon Leuer added 26 points and 12 rebounds and the Badgers lost? You're telling me a team that hasn't allowed 70 or more points in any game this season despite playing Arizona, Gonzaga, Maryland and Duke allowed 88 to Green Bay? I know it went to overtime -- I'm sorry, I heard it went to overtime -- but still, 88 points?

My only guess is that the real Badgers got lost in the snow storm somewhere. Folks in Waupun, Wis., if you see any tall people wearing full red jumpsuits who look lost, please return them to the Kohl Center, 601 W. Dayton St., Madison, WI 53715. Thank you.

OK, let's see if we can make some sense of all this:

My guy Rob Schultz from Madison.com has his recap here and includes some key numbers I was very curious about after the game. He mentions that Green Bay's 88 points are the most UW has given up since Arizona scored 94 in that ugly NCAA first round game in 2006. Green Bay is also only the second team to score more than 80 points against Wisconsin since the 2006-07 season.

Now you know why random people from Chicago were texting me to see if that was really the final score.

Schultz also reminds us that Green Bay improved to 1-15 all-time against Wisconsin and mentions that the Phoenix's leading scorer, Rahmon Fletcher (17.2 ppg) did not play in overtime "after banging knees with UW senior point guard Trevon Hughes on a drive." He says player of the game honors go to Bryquis Perine who scored a career-high 22 points for the Phoenix.

Meanwhile, Jeff Potrykus from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says UW got what it deserved. He also says Green Bay deserves kudos for winning the game.

If you are wondering what Bo Ryan has to say then you can check out some of his post-game quotes here.

Finally, the Green Bay coverage reminds us that this was the game of the season for the Phoenix. Much like the Badgers had been looking forward to Duke all summer long, this was Green Bay's biggest home game in years and they were ready. Give them credit.

For Badger fans, this is nothing new. Bo Ryan's teams typically lose one baffling game each season. The last two seasons have lacked a bad non-conference loss, but most fans remember tough losses to Pepperdine, North Dakota State and Missouri State in a recent three year stretch. The good news? All three of those teams reached the NCAA Tournament, one of them made the Elite Eight and another went on a 17-game winning streak after the "bad loss" and ended up being ranked the AP's No. 1 team at one point in the season.

I've already had people ask me if this "negates" the Duke win. No it doesn't. This team is much better off having beat Duke and lost to Green Bay than the other way around.

But I'm still not convinced this game really happened.

Heck, the beat writers aren't even sure where the game was played! Rob Schultz says the game was played in Ashwaubenon, while Potrykus claims it was really in Green Bay.

And what is more frustrating than trying to figure out this game? How I always want to put the "e" before the "o" in the word "Phoenix."

Maybe that should be the players punishment for allowing 88 points Wednesday night. They should each have to write the word "Phoenix" on the chalkboard 100 times.

Nah. They should probably just worry about Marquette. A good win against the Eagles Saturday and most people will probably forget this loss ever happened. Did it?

Zags too much to handle for cold Badgers

Adam Hoge — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:47:40 -0000

More photos » by Eugene Tanner - AP

It was a long night for Trevon Hughes and the Badgers.(AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

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Anu. That's "cold" in Hawaiian. And that's excactly what the Badgers were down the stretch in their 74-61 loss to Gonzaga Tuesday night in the semifinals of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Unfortunately for Wisconsin, the Bulldogs' starters were hot for most of the night and scored 67 of the team's 74 points, including a team-high 18 points from Matt Bouldin. Gonzaga consistently pushed UW out of their game and got easy fast break baskets -- a big reason why the Zags made 48 percent of its field goals.

But despite Gonzaga controlling the tempo for most of the night, the Badgers creeped back into the game late before falling into a late drought that proved to be the dagger.

After a Jon Leuer putback cut the Gonzaga lead to 60-54 with 7:54 left in the game, UW did not hit a field goal until they were down 17 with 1:34 left in the game. It was a stretch that featured poor shot selection and a 14-4 run by the Zags. UW missed seven shots in that time period -- including five threes.

Of course that wasn't the only stretch in which the Badgers went cold. That was just stretch that cost them a chance at a comeback. UW was playing from behind because of a six minute period in the first half in which it didn't hit a field goal and gave up a 13-5 run. A one-point deficit became a 32-23 Gonzaga lead in a hurry and left Wisconsin in catch-up mode the rest of the night.

There were a lot of things one could pick on Tuesday night but two common themes were poor shot selection and the failure to hit wide open shots.

Down seven with 1:45 left in the first half, UW had the ball but freshman Ryan Evans took a bad shot from the baseline and airballed it. Bouldin then hit a three just seconds later and UW trailed by 10 at the half. Evans didn't play much after that and failed to score a point.

Then to open the second half, Keaton Nankivil missed a wide open dunk that would have cut the lead to eight and sent an emphatic message to Gonzaga that UW wasn't going anywhere. Instead, Elias Harris threw down a dunk on the other end of the court and put the Zags up 12.

Over the next two minutes, Nankivil missed a wide open 15-footer and a wide open three. That's seven points left off the scoreboard.

Eventually Wisconsin worked itself back into the game by feeding the ball to Leuer in the point. The junior forward was hot, hitting 8-of-17 shots to finish with 18 points.

That's why it's hard to fathom why five of the seven shots UW missed in its crucial six minute second half drought were three point attempts. Instead of continuing to feed Leuer, the Badgers started shooting lower percentage shots and eventually Leuer moved out of the post.

Considering UW only hit 5-of-24 three-point attempts, it was a recipe for disaster. Jason Bohannon ended up hitting only 1-of-7 threes, while Tim Jarmusz went 0-for-2 from the behind the arc and Nankivil and Leuer each missed three 3-point attempts as well. UW is now shooting only 24 percent from behind the arc this season.

One bright spot was the play of sophomore guard Jordan Taylor who scored a career high 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting.

Wisconsin will now face Maryland at 3:30 p.m. CT Wednesday in the third place game. The game can be seen on ESPN2.

The TDG Big Ten Basketball Preview

GopherNation — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:45:15 -0000

I have intentionally held off with a Big Ten basketball preview, waiting until we could see a few games and get a feeling for how teams are adjusting to the key gains and losses from a year ago. Gopher Nation has plenty to look forward to this season. As we all know everything is returning with some key additions added. An NCAA tournament bid and likely a win or two is expected. But what about the road before the NCAA Tournament. The long and difficult Big Ten season comes first and this team has a chance to really be a factor in the B10 title race. Let's take a brief look at each team in my expected order of finish.

1 - Purdue (NCAA) - Were it not for Purdue having injury issues a year ago they could very likely be defending a Big Ten title this year. Robbie Hummel was last year's preseason B10 POY and he should not be fully healthy to lead the rest of a very talented roster. The bulk of the talent lies in the junior class for the Boilermakers and this team is athletic and deep. Injuries and other uncontrollables aside, what may be the difference between a Big Ten title and a top 2 finish could come down to coaching. Matt Painter is an excellent coach but who knows if he'll be capable of steering his team accurately to win a Big Ten regular season title. Guys like Tom Izzo, Bo Ryan, Bruce Weber and Tubby Smith have the resume of winning multiple titles. I think after this year Matt Painter adds a Big Ten regular season title to his resume.

Likely Starting lineup
PG - E'Twaun Moore
SG - Chris Kramer
SF - Keaton Grant
PF - Robbie Hummel
C - JJ Dawson

2 - Michigan State (NCAA) - I know that Michigan State is the consensus title team and for very good reason. Tom Izzo is a great coach, his team is coming off a national runner-up season and he returns the vast majority of his roster. But my gut tells me they have a great season but one that ends the regular season looking up one spot in the B10 standings. It is really hard not to like Michigan State. They too are deep, very athletic, play great defense and as I mentioned they are very well coached. But I think the one key loss will be the loss that makes the difference. Goran Suton meant a lot to the Spartans a year ago and while this team still has very talented players like Kalin Lucas, Chris Allen and Durrell Summers (with guys like Raymar Morgan and Delvin Roe off the bench); Suton will be missed. Freshman Garrick Sherman may be very good but he's not the same thing. From year to year team's take on different personalities and even the loss of just one player can change the dynamic of a team. Michigan State will be great, they'll be extremely dangerous in the NCAA Tournament but I think they fall a game or two short of Purdue this year.

Likely Starting lineup
PG - Kalin Lucas
G - Chris Allen
G - Durrel Summers
PF - Draymond Green
C - Garrick Sherman

3 - Ohio State (NCAA) - In this early season the Buckeyes have looked fairly strong. And leading their early season charge is the outstanding play of Evan Turner, who looks like the early favorite for Big Ten POY (very early, I know). Turner has notched a double-double in all four games averaging 21.7 ppg and 14.7 rpg. OSU has a lot of very nice pieces outside of Turner, which isn't surprising considering the recent string of very highly ranked recruiting classes in the Thad Matta era. OSU has some offensive weapons but they are lacking in a couple key areas. First of all they are not an overly deep team. Jon Diebler is a lights out shooter and Turner might be the best player in the conference but they can only carry them so far. Matta has been going with an eight man rotation so far this year with heavy minutes for the starting five. Secondly this team is not overly strong in the paint. Their perimeter is as good as anybody's in the conference but Kyle Madsen and Dallas Lauderdale will not strike fear into the hearts of the conference's coaches.

Likely Starting lineup
PG - William Buford
SG - Jon Diebler
SF - Evan Turner
PF - David Lighty
C - Kyle Madsen

4 - Minnesota (NCAA) - There was a time when my maroon goggles would have had me rank the Gophers one spot higher. The potential (probable?) losses of Royce White and Trevor Mbakwe greatly lessened my optimism. But then the impressive play of Rodney Williams to start the year has me thinking big things again, just not as grand as before. As we all know the Gophers are deep and defend very well. I think the improvement of the sophomores and the athleticism that Williams brings to the table makes this team dangerous. Over the course of a long season I don't think we have what it takes to finish in the top 2 but this team is good enough to beat anybody on their schedule.

Likely Starting lineup
PG - Al Nolen
SG - Lawrence Westbrook
SF - Rodney Williams
PF - Damian Johnson
C - Ralph Sampson III

5 - Illinois (NCAA) - this might be the team I know the least about but I do know enough to know that this team is well balanced and has the roster make-up that is well suited for Bruce Weber. Demitri McCarney, Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale are known quantities around the Big Ten. These guys averaged a combined 33 points, 14.7 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game last year. They compliment each other well and this year they add a couple dynamic freshmen to the backcourt in DJ Richardson and Brandon Paul. In the early goings these kids have 11.3 and 16.7 respectively, although they have yet to play any team of substance. Overall this will be a very good team that will only get better as the season goes along.

Likely Starting lineup
G - Brandon Paul
G - DJ Richardson
G - Demitri McCamey
PF - Mike Davis
C - Mike Tisdale

6 - Michigan (NCAA) - Manny Harris is such a great player who can win a game on his own and probably has the best pro potential in the conference. A lot of people would put the Wolverines as high as third on their prediction list based mostly on the talent of Harris and DeShawn Sims. But I'm not 100% sold on the rest of the team. John Beilein is a great coach and in year three he should really have his guys and his system working well. But once again I'm not sold on the rest of the roster and in this year's Big Ten a guy like Manny Harris will win you a few but on the nights when teams slow him down Michigan will be rather vulnerable. Decent depth, great scoring and not great interior size. A sixth place finish may seem very low but the difference between the 4th through 7th place teams could really only be a couple games.

Likely Starting lineup
PG - Darius Morris
G - Manny Harris
G - Laval Lucas-Perry
F - Zack Novak
F - DeShawn Sims

7 - Wisconsin (NCAA) - Rule #1 in Big Ten basketball, never underestimate Bo Ryan and the Badgers. This isn't a great Badger team but there is some talent here with Trevon Hughes, Jason Bohannon and even Jon Leuer is having a pretty good season thus far. It may be easy for Gopher fans to overlook Wisconsin since we did sweep them last year (that was fun to write), but this team is capable of not only beating the Gophers but finishing at least a few spots higher than this. Maybe this is wishful thinking or maybe I'm not sold that the talent is there, not even for Bo Ryan.

Likely Starting lineup
PG - Trevon Hughes
SG - Jason Bohannon
SF - Tim Jarmusz
PF - Jon Leuer
C - Keaton Nankivil

8 - Penn State (NIT) - The Talor Battle show will be a lot of fun to watch in Happy Valley. Penn State is perfectly demonstrates why I wanted to wait a couple weeks before I started my B10 preview. I once would have put PSU a spot or two higher, but after losses to UNC-Wilmington, Tulane and a 2-pnt win over Davidson (Steph Curry is no longer there folks) I am thinking that 7th might be too high. This team will go as far as Taylor Battle will lead them but the development of freshman Tim Frazier at PG and how well their interior rebounds is what could be the difference between another NIT run and the NCAA Tournament. Their Big Dance resume is already in bad shape, they'll will have to finish a lot higher in the conference standings to avoid the NIT again.

Likely Starting lineup
PG - Tim Frazier
SG - Talor Battle
SF - David Jackson
PF - Jeff Brooks
C - Andrew Jones

9 - Indiana (NIT) - Great recruiting class and I am a huge Tom Crean fan, but this year will be tough for a young Hoosier squad to make much noise in the Big Ten. The conference is the deepest and most talented that it has been in a very long time. Other years a hot, young team like Indiana could make a run into the top 5, but not this year. This will be the sheik team next year and this year you'll likely seen them stun a few top 4 teams along the way. But learning to play at the Big Ten level is not an easy adjustment no matter how talented you are. I wouldn't be completely shocked to see them finish higher, but not likely this year.

Likely Starting lineup
PG - Verdell Jones III
G - Jeremiah Rivers
G - Maurice Creek
PF - Tom Pritchard
C - Christian Watford

10 - Northwestern - This may have been the year for the Wildcats to make the tournament, but the loss of Kevin Coble effectively ended that dream. This is a surprisingly talented NU roster and with the way they defend and execute their precision offense they should never be taken lightly. But with Coble out for the season they'll rely on Michael Thompson and John Shurna. There are a couple intriguing freshmen to go along with Thompson and Shurna

Likely Starting lineup
PG - Michael Thompson
SG - Jeremy Nash
SF - Drew Crawford
PF - John Shurna
C - Luka Mirkovic

11 - Iowa - The outlook for the Hawkeye season is so bleak that they cannot help but surpass expectations this year. Scoring has been the problem this year for Iowa. There will be games when they are hot from behind the arc and maybe they'll get a few conference wins. But for the most part you can expect a lot of losses for Iowa (that too was fun to type).

Likely Starting lineup
PG - Cully Payne
SG - Anthony Tucker
SF - Matt Gatens
PF - Jarryd Cole
C - Brennan Cougill

I know that people hate preseason polls and predictions but at the conference level this is a lot of fun. Everyone has much hope and optimism for the season, except Iowa fans. There are eight teams capable of making a run to the NCAA Tournament (although Penn State is already on life support). The Big Ten should be a blast to watch this year.

Since I'm taking a wild stab at the standings here is my best guess at some post season individual awards.

All Big Ten First Team

PG - Kalin Lucas
SG - Manny Harris
SF - Evan Turner
PF - Robbie Hummel
F - DeShawn Sims

All Big Ten Second Team

G - Taylor Battle
G - Demetri McCamey
F - Jon Diebler
F - Damian johnson
C - JJ Dawson

Big Ten All Freshman Team

G - Brandon Paul - Ill
G - D.J. Richardson - Ill
F - Rodney Williams - Minn
F - Christian Watford - Ind
F - Garrick Sherman - MSU

While you were sleeping... the Badgers gutted out the win

Adam Hoge — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:20:18 -0000

More photos » by Eugene Tanner - AP

Fouls were a common theme Monday night in Maui.(AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

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Well, the good news is that Wisconsin's front court should be well rested for Gonzaga's big men. Heck, Keaton Nankivil and Jon Leuer will basically enter tomorrow's game on five days rest.

The UW men's basketball team battled through foul trouble Monday evening at Lahaina Civic Center and somehow pulled out a 65-61 win over Arizona behind a team-high 24 points from Trevon Hughes.

A ridiculous 55 combined fouls were called in the game, leaving Leuer and Nankivil in foul trouble for most of the night. Leuer ended up fouling out with over 10 minutes remaining in the game and the two combined for only 27 minutes.

Monday's game was certainly not normal for a Bo Ryan coached team. UW led by eight at the half despite shooting only five free throws -- and making two of them -- in the first half compared to Arizona's 19 free throw attempts. Then in the second half, as the fouls evened out -- the Wildcats ended up with 30 fouls in the game -- Wisconsin actually lost the lead.

The Badgers ended up shooting only 17-of-29 from the free throw line, but they made six of their last eight attempts to help seal the win. Ironically, it was a play off a missed free throw that was arguably the biggest play of the game.

With UW leading 63-61 with five seconds remaining, Nankivil made his first free throw before missing the second. Arizona grabbed the rebound but Hughes knocked the ball loose and dove on the ground, creating a jump ball that gave possession back to the Badgers. He was then fouled and made 1-of-2 at the line to seal the 65-61 win.

Hughes, who has already been challenged by coaches and fans to play more consistent this season, came up big on both ends of the floor Monday night to make up for an small, low-scoring lineup that Ryan was forced to put on the floor.

On top of scoring 24 points and coming up with the big steal at the end of the game, he also blocked a Derrick Williams shot with 2:30 left in the game and the score tied at 55. Williams led all scorers with 25 points and appeared to have an easy short jumper in the lane before Hughes came from behind and swatted the ball loose. The UW point guard ended up making two free throws on the ensuing possession, which began the final 10-6 run for the Badgers that included two emphatic dunks by Nankivil.

Hughes finished with seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks to go along with four turnovers.

The Badgers will now have to regroup for a tough game tomorrow night against an underrated Gonzaga team that struggled against Colorado Monday. The game tips off at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN. Maryland will face Cincinnati in the first semifinal game at 7 p.m., also on ESPN.

Badgers win second straight, head to Hawaii with momentum

Jbharris87 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:55:23 -0000

More photos » by Andy Manis - AP

about 1 month ago: Oakland, Mich.'s Travis Bader, left, looks to pass the ball against Wisconsin's Jon Leuer (30), Ryan Evans, top right, and Jordan Taylor during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

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Buoyed by a strong defensive effort, the Wisconsin men's basketball team dispatched Oakland, 58-42, Wednesday night at the Kohl Center. The Badgers built a 24-point second-half lead over their Summit League opponent, en route to their second victory in as many games this season.

In addition to holding Oakland to just 42 points, the Badgers frustrated the Golden Grizzlies by allowing them to convert just 3-of-19 three-point attempts. The Grizzlies' propensity to take ill-advised shots from beyond the arc led to 26 defensive rebounds for Wisconsin. Oakland head coach Greg Kampe had no answer for his team's woes from three-point land.

"It's perplexing," Kampe said. "We did not shoot the ball well. We're a team that has a history of having really good three-point shooting teams."

Wisconsin forward Jon Leuer said the Badgers' success on defense is by design.

"[Defense] is what our whole system is predicated off of - getting stops defensively, forcing teams to take tough shots," Leuer said.

Johnathon Jones and Keith Benson combined for 27 points for the Grizzlies, while their teammates could only account for 15 among themselves. Overall, Oakland shot just 27.3 percent from the field.

Wisconsin's big men again took advantage of their size, as Keaton Nankivil and Jon Leuer combined to go 10-of-19 from the floor, scoring 21 of their points after halftime. The two also recorded six of the Badgers' eight blocks on the night. After blocking 11 shots as a team against IPFW in the season opener, Wisconsin has now rejected 19 shots in its first two games.

Trevon Hughes produced another solid performance, leading the team with 15 points, while dishing out four assists. He gave head coach Bo Ryan "a headache" because of his four turnovers, but the coach on the other bench was impressed.

"I thought Trevon Hughes, late in the first half, really dictated the game," Kampe said. "He had some great plays and was able to open the score up so we really didn't have a chance."

Hughes especially found success by penetrating the defense, driving by defenders and getting the Grizzlies' big men in foul trouble. Oakland held an early 8-4 lead before Kampe put Keith Benson and Will Hudson on the bench with two fouls apiece.

"That changed the whole game," Kampe said. "We had to go with smalls and we couldn't guard them."

Redshirt freshman Ryan Evans continues to see the most time off the bench for Wisconsin, logging 22 minutes. Evans again impressed with his energy, snagging seven rebounds and chipping in four points as well.

Poor shooting remains a concern for the Badgers, who went just 3-of-14 from three-point range. Tim Jarmusz and Jason Bohannon, who figure to be the team's biggest contributors in that area this season, struggled again, combining to hit just 1-of-5 shots from beyond the arc. Still, Ryan doesn't seem too concerned, because the team is creating opportunities.

"People are trying to find their rhythm right now," Ryan said. "We really had some great open looks tonight. Hopefully, we'll have some nights when somebody's going to have to pay for the open looks we get. I think we can knock those down in the future."

The Badgers will not play another game in Madison for two weeks, as they travel to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. Wisconsin's first game is Monday against Arizona. Ryan said he believes the experience will prove to be a barometer of how competitive his team is.

"[Maui] is where a lot of things are found," Ryan said. "What we're looking for is to try and take care of Arizona. Then we'll take care of the next opponent. We won't get our normal preparation, and neither will the other team."

The competition generally figures to get much tougher for Wisconsin. After two relatively easy wins, the Badgers enter a tournament featuring teams from several major conferences. They then return home, only to face Duke in the most highly-anticipated game on their regular season schedule.

The Badgers have shown their followers a lot against weaker opponents, but the conclusions will certainly be clearer in 14 days.

-Jake Harris

BtB 2009-10 Big Ten Preview

Chris Dobbertean — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:44:34 -0000

For all of the beating that the Big Ten took during a particularly rough and tumble regular season, the conference really validated itself in the postseason. Those March and April performances bode well for this season, especially considering that the Big Ten's main contenders didn't lose as much as the contenders in other conferences. For example, all five players on the coaches' All-Big Ten team from last season are back.

The two teams who progressed furthest in the NCAAs, national runner-up Michigan State and regional semifinalist Purdue are the clear favorites in the league, and both teams could make a serious run at a MIdwestern Final Four. Penn State, the NIT champions, will look to improve their standing enough to get into the Big Dance this time around. And of course, Northwestern will look to really shake things up in the league and make it to the NCAAs for the first time. In between, the Big Ten's other five NCAA entrants will attempt to stay in the field. The biggest thing for the conference this year is separating itself from the other BCS leagues, especially in non-conference play. With the Big Ten being hyper-competitive this year, its members really need to distinguish themselves during the early part of the season. Otherwise, teams will be clumped together on lines 8 through 12 of the bracket like last year, which doesn't bode well for sustained tourney runs. More on all 11 teams after the jump.

To refresh your memory, let's take a look at how the Big Ten standings looked at the end of the 2008-09 regular season.

Big Ten Conference Standings

(updated 4.7.2009 at 12:23 AM EDT)

	Conf		Overall
	W	L	W	L
Michigan St. Spartans	15	3	31	7
Purdue Boilermakers	11	7	27	10
Illinois Fighting Illini	11	7	24	10
Penn St. Nittany Lions	10	8	27	11
Ohio St. Buckeyes	10	8	22	11
Wisconsin Badgers	10	8	20	13
Minnesota Golden Gophers	9	9	22	11
Michigan Wolverines	9	9	21	14
Northwestern Wildcats	8	10	17	14
Iowa Hawkeyes	5	13	15	17
Indiana Hoosiers	1	17	6	25

Now, here are my picks for 2009-10, presented in reverse order. If a school's name appears in red, that's a link to its SBNation site. You can go there for more detailed analysis throughout the season.

Iowa (last NCAA: 2006) The long rebuilding process continues for Todd Lickliter. It looks to be another long year in Iowa City, especially since the Hawkeyes have real point guard issues after Jake Kelly (transfer to Indiana State for family reasons) and Jeff Peterson (transfer to Arkansas) left the program. 6-1 frosh Cully Payne will have to adjust to the Big Ten game fast, as he will have to be the main option. If he doesn't, expect sophomore Anthony Tucker (10.4 ppg, 0.6 apg) to move over from shooting guard. The team's only other returning double-digit scorer, Matt Gatens (10.8 ppg), will be a force as he can really shoot the ball (40.3 % from the perimeter and 90.4 % from the free throw line). The Hawkeyes really need more contributions inside, where Jarryd Cole has battled injuries and struggled offensively, which has also been a problem for the rest of Iowa's frontline players.

Indiana (last NCAA: 2008) Tom Crean is also in a rebuilding situation, but he loaded up on recruits this offseason, something Lickliter couldn't quite do. Jeremiah Rivers, son of Boston Celtics coach Doc and a Georgetown transfer, is now eligible and will run the offense. Rivers' steady hand should improve a team that rated near the bottom of Division I in assist/turnover ratio. Meanwhile, the incoming freshmen are so highly regarded that last year's leaders may see reduced playing time. Rivers' arrival, and that of freshman Jordan Hulls, will eat into Verdell Jones' playing time (11 ppg, 3,6 apg). 6-5 Maurice Creek will take time away from Devan Dumes (12.7 ppg). In the frontcourt, Tom Pritchard (9.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg) will still see significant time, and he'll be joined by freshmen Bobby Capobianco, Derek Elston, Bawa Muniru, and Christian Watford. Considering that Crean's returning frontcourt players not named Tom Pritchard only average 0.8 ppg, they should see plenty of action. If they adjust to the Big Ten quickly, the Hoosiers may win some of those close games they tended to lose in 2008-09.

Penn State (last NCAA: 2001) You rarely see teams as happy about winning the NIT than the Nittany Lions last year. PSU had a real case for an NCAA bid, thanks to 10 league wins, but a non-conference schedule full of cupcakes cost them. On that front, the Lions hope they can get some big wins in the Charleston Classic to help their case this time around. In terms of personnel, the good news is that all-Big Ten first teamer Talor Battle (16.7 ppg, 5 apg) is back. The bad news is that his backcourt mates, Stanley Pringle (12.8 ppg) and Danny Morrissey (5.3 ppg) are gone and so is star forward Jamelle Cornley (14.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg). The effectiveness of their replacements will dictate the Nittany Lions' chances of moving up. Sophomores Chris Babb (2.8 ppg) and Cammeron Woodyard (2.2 ppg) will have to step it up to replace Pringle, but incoming freshman Tim Frazier will also play a big role in the backcourt. In the frontcourt, 6-9 Andrew Jones (6.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg) is expected to increase his production to make up for Cornley's graduation, so will David Jackson. Both Jones and Jackson played key roles in PSU's NIT run. Serbian freshman Sasa Borovnjak and redshirt frosh Billy Oliver will also see lots of time inside.

Wisconsin (last NCAA: 2009) The Badgers struggled on offense and defense last year. However, Bo Ryan's team was able to right the ship after dropping six in a row in January to sneak into the tournament and grab a first round win over Florida State. However, Ryan lost two key performers off that team, swingman Joe Krabbenhoft and F Marcus Landry. Jason Bohannon (10.3 ppg, 1.7 apg) and Trevon Hughes (12.1 ppg, 2.8 apg) are back, however, so the backcourt remains in good shape, typical of a Ryan-coached team. The returning frontcourt players, led by 6-10 F Jon Leuer (8.8 ppg, 3.8 ppg) and 6-8 Keaton Nankivil (4.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg) will have to be tougher to adequately replace Landry and Krabbenhoft. Look out for the Badgers' two redshirt freshmen, Jared Berggren and Ryan Evans, as they should see significant frontcourt time as well. If the frontline improves significantly, the Badgers could go dancing for the 12th straight year.

Northwestern (last NCAA: None) While Wisconsin (and the rest of the league) has become a consistent NCAA performer, the Wildcats are the complete opposite. Once again, NU is the only team in a BCS conference to fail to qualify for a single NCAA tournament. On March 4, the men from Evanston stood at 17-11, after winning at Indiana, against Iowa at home, and at Purdue. They then managed to lose at Ohio State by 5 to finish 8-10 in the conference. If that wasn't bad enough, they then fell to Minnesota by 13 in the opening round of the conference tournament. The Wildcats cannot let something similar happen this season. Personnel-wise, the Wildcats bring back nearly everyone from last year, most importantly all-Big Ten second teamer Kevin Coble (15.5 ppg, 4.8 apg) and point guard Michael Thompson (9.9 ppg, 3.7 apg), a deadly three-point shooter (41.7%). The major loss is guard Craig Moore (14.3 ppg, 2.7 apg) who graduated. Incoming frosh Drew Crawford could slide into Moore's slot on the roster. He's the son of NBA referee Danny Crawford. If coach Bill Carmody can squeeze a little more from his returnees, who provided solid, if unspectacular and inconsistent performances throughout last season, the Wildcats will finally make the field of 65.

Minnesota (last NCAA: 2009) Expectations are high for Tubby Smith's third season in the Twin Cities. The Gophers will have to find a way to play Michigan State and Michigan better, as they didn't manage to win a single game against those two teams (0-5). The Gophers return all of their key performers from last season, including leading scorer Lawrence Westbrook (12.6 ppg), second leading scorer Damian Johnson (9.8 ppg), point guard Al Nolen (6.5 ppg, 4.3 apg), and big men Ralph Sampson III (6.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and Colton Iverson (5.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg). Sampson and Iverson should see more time at center thanks to the arrival of 6-7 freshman Royce White and JC transfer Trevor Mbakwe, if he's ever cleared to play. Mbakwe is due to go on trial for assault in South Florida in December. Nolen could also see the bench if he's as inconsistent as he was during Big Ten play, thanks to the arrival of freshman PG Justin Cobbs. The Gophers are drawn against Butler in the 76 Classic in Anaheim, which should be a good indicator of how well this team will perform in 2009-10.

Michigan (last NCAA: 2009) Much like with Tubby Smith's Minnesota team. great things are expected in Ann Arbor during John Beilein's third season. Beilein's offensive and defensive philosophies usually take consistent hold in that third season, and the team's performance improves as a result. One of the Wolverines' biggest needs is in the frontcourt, where DeShawn Sims (15.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg) was often left on an island last season. Seven-foot, redshirt freshman Ben Cronin should provide some help, as should 6-8 frosh Jordan Morgan, if he plays. Beilein may redshirt him depending on how well he's recovered from offseason knee surgery. 6-10 frosh Blake McLimans and 6-6 junior Anthony Wright may be called into duty frequently. The backcourt is the strength of this UM squad, led by all-Big Ten performer Manny Harris (16.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.4 apg). Harris should get more time to drive to the hoop (and get to the foul line), thanks to the arrival of freshman Darius Morris, who is expected to take over at the point. The reserve backcourt players need to show more consistency, as none averaged more than 6.7 ppg, despite some impressive shooting nights.

Illinois (last NCAA: 2009) While the Illini lost guards Chester Frazier and Trent Meacham, the returnees and Bruce Weber's best ever recruiting class should keep the squad near the top of the Big Ten. Demetri McCarney (11.5 ppg, 4.6 apg) already has plenty of experience at the point to replace Frazier. Incoming freshman D.J. Richardson will be called on to replace Meacham, especially from the defensive perspective. Brandon Paul, another heralded recruit, will be an inside-outside threat. In the frontcourt, Mike Davis very nearly averaged a double-double last season (11.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg), so he'll continue to be a force. Mike Tisdale could be a star if he's more aggressive. He has plenty of room to improve on the 10 points and 4 boards he averaged last season.

Ohio State (last NCAA: 2009) The Buckeyes did pretty well last season, winning 22 games and making the Big Ten title game despite losing G/F David Lighty in the seventh game of the year. With Lighty back and all-Big Ten selection/jack-of-all-trades Evan Turner still around, the Buckeyes should be even better this time around. Joining Turner as offensive forces are guards William Buford and Jon Diebler who both averaged a little more than 11 points a game. While Thad Matta has a lot of guys who can shoot, he doesn't have a true point guard. Not that this issue really stopped the Buckeyes last year. Jeremie Simmons (6.8 ppg, 2.5 apg) and P.J. Hill (3.2 ppg, 1.9 apg) saw some time at the point after Anthony Crater's departure for South Florida, with Hill making more of an impact. If the two have issues, Turner, who averaged 4 assists per game last year, could spend some time running the offense. Turner will also see time in the frontcourt, where Lighty will serve as OSU's power forward (9.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg). 6-8 junior Dallas Lauderdale and 7-foot UAB transfer Zisis Sarikopoulos will occupy the post. OSU will be tested early, thanks to a matchup with defending National Champion North Carolina at the Coaches vs. Cancer event in New York, followed by a game with either California or Syracuse.

Purdue (last NCAA: 2009) The Boilermakers bring back nearly everyone from last season's team, which fell to UConn in the West regional semifinals. Thanks to the graduation of Nemanja Calasan, Matt Painter has only two returning post players. However, they're two good ones. Robbie Hummel (12.5 ppg, 7 rpg) should be fully recovered from a stress fracture in his back that cost him five games last season. Meanwhile, 6-10 junior JaJuan Johnson (13.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg) is one of the most electrifying players in the country. They'll be backed up by a crop of freshmen, led by 6-10 Croatian C Sandi Marcius. Purdue's backcourt remains intact. Chris Kramer will provide the defense, E'Twaun Moore the scoring--and some assists (13.8 ppg, 3.0 apg), while Lewis Jackson (5.9 ppg, 3.3 apg) will run the show. The Boilermakers' commitment to defense, led by Kramer, Johnson, and Jackson, is a major reason why they will seriously threaten to make the short trip to Indy this season. If they avoid the health issues of last season, they should get a seed that will help their path.

Michigan State (last NCAA: 2009) While the Boilermakers will attempt to do what the Spartans did last year, make a short trip in state to play in the season's final weekend, don't discount MSU, a team that has plenty of history of its own in Indianapolis. Tom Izzo has a team that may be able repeat Sparty's 2000 triumph. Kalin Lucas, the Big Ten Player of the Year is back at the point. Raymar Morgan is back in the frontcourt. But the biggest questions are how well the Spartan frontcourt plays without Goran Suton and who replaces Travis Walton's defensive prowess in the backcourt. Junior Tom Herzog and incoming freshmen Derrick Nix and Garrick Sherman will be given every chance to fill Suton's shoes. Meanwhile, Lucas will have to play more of a defensive role this season than in the past, to make up for Walton's absence. While Lucas is the unquestioned star of the team, he'll need lots of support from players like guards Chris Allen (8.4 ppg) and Durrell Summers (8.6 ppg), and F Delvon Roe (5.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg) to make a second straight Final Four run.

So, the Spartans will hold the Big Ten's auto bid in my 2009-10 Final Preseason Bracket, which I will release on November 9. Check in then to see what other teams from the conference I've penciled in at the start of the season. To wrap up this preview, here is my preseason All-Big Ten team, featuring the best returning players from last season.

Preseason All-Big Ten Team

Player of the Year: Evan Turner, 6-7 G/F, Jr. (Ohio State)

Remainder of the Team
Talor Battle, 5-11 G, Jr. (Penn State)
Manny Harris, 6-5 G, Jr. (Michigan)
JaJuan Johnson, 6-10 F, Jr. (Purdue)
Kalin Lucas, 6-0 G, Jr. (Michigan State)

Poll

Who is your pick to win the Big Ten this season?

Illinois

72 votes

Indiana

4 votes

Iowa

5 votes

Michigan

12 votes

Michigan State

106 votes

Minnesota

9 votes

Northwestern

5 votes

Ohio State

14 votes

Penn State

20 votes

Purdue

49 votes

Wisconsin

4 votes

300 votes | Poll has closed

Bucky's YouTube Series, Vol. X

Adam Hoge — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:50:09 -0000

We won't go to far into the past to get our next edition of Bucky's YouTube Series. In fact, we are only going back a couple of months as we take a look at Trevon Hughes' big shot that beat Florida State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament:

We want you to help us find the best Wisconsin Badgers videos out there. Post your favorite Wisconsin Badgers videos as FanShots. Later this summer we will select the Top 10 Wisconsin YouTube videos. If your video is voted No. 1, you will win a $50 gift certificate to Bucky's Locker Room.

Don't know how to post a FanShot? Check out our easy how-to guide.