BTN.com staff, BTN.com staff, October 30, 2013
Big Ten basketball media day is Thursday, so it's time for the BTN.com team to release their All-Big Ten Teams, predicted standings and predictions. See what Stephen Bardo, Tom Dienhart, Sean Merriman, Brent Yarina and the Big Ten Geeks have in store for the 2013-14 season.
[ MORE: Big Ten beat writers' All-Big Ten teams, superlatives ]
STEPHEN BARDO, BTN analyst
FIRST TEAM: Aaron Craft, Ohio State; Tim Frazier, Penn State; Gary Harris, Michigan State; Mitch McGary, Michigan; Adreian Payne, Michigan State.
SECOND TEAM: Keith Appling, Michigan State; Yogi Ferrell, Indiana; Andre Hollins, Minnesota; LaQuinton Ross, Ohio State; Glenn Robinson III, Michigan.
THIRD TEAM: Sam Dekker, Wisconsin; Branden Dawson, Michigan State; Aaron White, Iowa; Noah Vonleh, Indiana; A.J. Hammons, Purdue.
B1G STANDINGS: 1. Michigan State; 2. Ohio State; 3. Michigan; 4. Wisconsin; 5. Iowa; 6. Purdue; 7. Indiana; 8. Illinois; 9. Minnesota; 10. Penn State; 11. Nebraska; 12. Northwestern.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gary Harris, Michigan State
BOLD PREDICTION: Purdue will make the NCAA tournament.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Nnana Egwu, Illinois
***
TOM DIENHART, BTN.com senior writer
FIRST TEAM: Aaron Craft, Ohio State; Gary Harris, Michigan State; LaQuinton Ross, Ohio State; Mitch McGary, Michigan; Adreian Payne, Michigan State.
SECOND TEAM: Keith Appling, Michigan State; Yogi Ferrell, Indiana; Tim Frazier, Penn State; Glenn Robinson III, Michigan; Sam Dekker, Wisconsin.
THIRD TEAM: Andre Hollins, Minnesota; Branden Dawson, Michigan State; Aaron White, Iowa; Noah Vonleh, Indiana; A.J. Hammons, Purdue.
B1G STANDINGS: 1. Michigan State; 2. Ohio State; 3. Michigan; 4. Wisconsin; 5. Indiana; 6. Iowa; 7. Purdue; 8. Illinois; 9. Minnesota; 10. Penn State; 11. Northwestern; 12. Nebraska.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gary Harris, Michigan State
BOLD PREDICTION: Iowa will make a run to the Sweet 16. The Hawkeyes are loaded with veteran talent like Aaron White and Roy Devyn Marble. Iowa hasn?t made the Big Dance since 2006, and it hasn?t been to the Sweet 16 since 1999. But it all will come together in Fran McCaffrey?s fourth season in Iowa City.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Ronnie Johnson, Purdue. Johnson will emerge as one of the Big Ten?s top point guards. The diminutive Johnson showed flashes last season as a true freshman, doing most of his damage as a penetrator. He will add a steady outside shot to become a true lead guard force.
***
SEAN MERRIMAN, BTN.com web editor
FIRST TEAM: Aaron Craft, Ohio State; Gary Harris, Michigan State; Sam Dekker, Wisconsin; Mitch McGary, Michigan; Adreian Payne, Michigan State
SECOND TEAM: Keith Appling, Michigan State; Tim Frazier, Penn State; LaQuinton Ross, Ohio State; Glenn Robinson III, Michigan; Noah Vonleh, Indiana
THIRD TEAM: Yogi Ferrell, Indiana; Devyn Marble, Iowa; Drew Crawford, Northwestern; Branden Dawson, Michigan State; A.J. Hammons, Purdue.
B1G STANDINGS: 1. Michigan State; 2. Ohio State; 3. Michigan; 4. Wisconsin; 5. Iowa; 6. Indiana; 7. Minnesota; 8. Purdue; 9. Illinois; 10. Northwestern; 11. Penn State; 12. Nebraska
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gary Harris, Michigan State
BOLD PREDICTION: Michigan State's Adreian Payne will lead the Big Ten in 3-point percentage.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Troy Williams, Indiana
***
BRENT YARINA, BTN.com senior editor
FIRST TEAM: Aaron Craft, Ohio State; Gary Harris, Michigan State; Glenn Robinson III, Michigan; Mitch McGary, Michigan; Adreian Payne, Michigan State.
SECOND TEAM: Tim Frazier, Penn State; Devyn Marble, Iowa; LaQuinton Ross, Ohio State; Sam Dekker, Wisconsin; A.J. Hammons, Purdue.
THIRD TEAM: Keith Appling, Michigan State; Andre Hollins, Minnesota; Drew Crawford, Northwestern; State; Aaron White, Iowa; Noah Vonleh, Indiana.
B1G STANDINGS: 1. Michigan State; 2. Ohio State; 3. Michigan; 4. Wisconsin; 5. Iowa; 6. Indiana; 7. Purdue; 8. Illinois; 9. Penn State; 10. Nebraska; 11. Minnesota; 12. Northwestern.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Adreian Payne, Michigan State
BOLD PREDICTION: Someone who didn't play a Big Ten minute last season will lead the conference in scoring.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Sam Thompson, Ohio State. Blessed with incredible athleticism and springs for legs, it's only a matter of time before Thompson develops a more polished all-around game. Right? He has to, and I think he'll make significant strides toward doing that this year.
***
MIKE PORTSCHELLER, Big Ten Geeks
FIRST TEAM: Andre Hollins, Minnesota; Tim Frazier, Penn State; Gary Harris, Michigan State; Sam Dekker, Wisconsin; Adreian Payne, Michigan State.
SECOND TEAM: Yogi Ferrell, Indiana; Devyn Marble, Iowa; Drew Crawford, Northwestern; Mitch McGary, Michigan; A.J. Hammons, Purdue.
THIRD TEAM: Aaron Craft, Ohio State; Keith Appling, Michigan State; Glenn Robinson III, Michigan; Aaron White, Iowa; Noah Vonleh, Indiana.
B1G STANDINGS: 1. Michigan State; 2. Ohio State; 3. Michigan; 4. Iowa; 5. Indiana; 6. Wisconsin; 7. Purdue; 8. Minnesota; 9. Illinois; 10. Northwestern; 11. Penn State; 12. Nebraska.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gary Harris, Michigan State
BOLD PREDICTION: Ohio State will be the nation's top defensive team.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Denzel Valentine, Michigan State. His playmaking from a frontcourt spot will push Michigan State's offense to the next level.
***
JOSH REED, Big Ten Geeks
FIRST TEAM: Gary Harris, Michigan State; Andre Hollins, Minnesota; Sam Dekker, Wisconsin; Glenn Robinson III, Michigan; Adreian Payne, Michigan State.
SECOND TEAM: Yogi Ferrell, Indiana; Devyn Marble, Iowa; LaQuinton Ross, Ohio State; Mitch McGary, Michigan; A.J. Hammons, Purdue.
THIRD TEAM: Keith Appling, Michigan State; Nik Stauskas, Michigan; Will Sheehey, Indiana; Jeremy Hollowell, Indiana; Aaron White, Iowa.
B1G STANDINGS: 1. Michigan State; 2. Michigan; 3. Wisconsin; 4. Iowa; 5. Ohio State; 6. Indiana; 7. Purdue; 8. Illinois; 9. Minnesota; 10. Northwestern; 11. Penn State; 12. Nebraska.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
BOLD PREDICTION: Last year's Wisconsin team had the 8th-best offense and best defense in the Big Ten. Those will be flipped this season.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Jeremy Hollowell, Indiana. Players that shoot that many 3s as freshmen tend to improve a lot, and he's also a strong offensive rebounder.
