Big Ten basketball tipoff
Greetings from beautiful downtown Rosemont, where the midwest media horde has descended en masse on this foggy Thursday morning to grill the Big Ten's coaches and players.
We just learned that Indiana coach Tom Crean banned dribbling at one of last week's practices because his guys were being "dribble-abusive."
As always with days like this, we have predictions and lists to provide.
From the official 24-person Big Ten preseason poll:
1. Michigan State
2. Purdue
3. Ohio State
Preseason player of the year:
MSU junior PG Kalin Lucas (last year's POY)
Rest of the first team:
Michigan G Manny Harris
Purdue F Robbie Hummel
Ohio State G Evan Turner
Penn State PG Talor Battle
From the official 31-coach ESPN/USA Today national Top 25 preseason poll:
1. Kansas
2. Michigan State
7. Purdue
15. Michigan
17. Ohio State
18. Minnesota
27. Illinois
From my official Associated Press preseason ballot (the entire poll should be out later today):
1. Kansas
2. Texas
3. Villanova
4. Purdue
5. Michigan State
6. Kentucky
7. North Carolina
8. California
9. Duke
10. West Virginia
11. Georgia Tech
12. Tennessee
13. Ohio State
14. Butler
15. Dayton
16. Oklahoma
17. Syracuse
18. Michigan
19. Oklahoma State
20. Connecticut
21. Georgetown
22. Maryland
23. Illinois
24. Siena
25. Northern Iowa
All-Americans:
C Cole Aldrich, Kansas
F Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
F Patrick Patterson, Kentucky
G Evan Turner, Ohio State
G Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
LW
Bo Ryan always has his team ready to play. Great defense is what keeps the Badgers hanging around. Never count out the Badgers!!!
Well, let's put it this way.
When I asked Bruce Weber today for his take on who consistently has been the best player in the practice gym, he started with junior Demetri McCamey...then said D.J. Richardson is a close second. Brandon Paul was the only other name he mentioned.
Richardson will start from Day 1. Paul might not start immediately (especially if Alex Legion keeps filling up the hoop), but he'll be the first perimeter guy off the bench and play a ton of minutes.
Tyler Griffey should be the second big man off the bench (after Dominique Keller) while Joseph Bertrand is still getting back into shape. If he does that and keeps progressing, he could turn out to be the second perimeter guy off the bench and get decent minutes.
LW
Hasn't Scotty Reynolds been at Villanova since 2002??? Seems like he's been there a LONG LONG time.
Lindsey, What's your take on the new Illinois freshmen and what kind of immediate impact do you think they will have on the team?