GBMWolverine: Michigan Basketball -- Big Ten Basketball -- Tournament Probable Teams in the Conference

Posted at 6:00am — 1/4/2011

GBMWolverine: Michigan Basketball — Big Ten Basketball — Tournament Probable Teams in the Conference

The second installment of the Big Ten preview involves the teams not predicted to be elite (Ohio state and Michigan State) but still very likely to make the NCAA Tournament. The four teams to be discussed are Wisconsin, Purdue, Illinois, and Minnesota.

There may be very little difference between Purdue and Wisconsin, assuming both teams do not suffer injuries like last year, or in Purdue’s case, early this season. Both of these teams will be more than happy to move up the food chain if Michigan State continues to struggle.

Wisconsin’s basketball team, like its football counterpart, is simple, tough, physical, and not full of surprises; what you see is what you will see for the entire season. Wisconsin will isolate a weakness of an opponent very well while on offense and play that card until the opposition counters.

Bo Ryan teaches a controlled game, one that values the ball and attacks with intelligent design. The Badgers like to get to the line by going inside, like most good teams, even in the age of the three.

Jon Leuer is another big, rugged, physical Big Ten inside player. He is a senior averaging almost 20 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He controls the middle well enough at both ends and does not shy away from contact. If the Badgers make a strong run, Leuer will be a big part of the reason. The Big Ten has several prime-time big men this year and Leuer will have to continue his success to be considered in the top three or four Big Ten centers.

Jordan Taylor is a very solid Big Ten guard, averaging about 16 points per game. He does a nice job of reminding opponents that Wisconsin is more than a couple of big bodies. His assist to turnover margin is much improved, as is his foul shooting.

The rest of Wisconsin is by committee, but a solid committee. Keaton Nankivil, a big senior, is hitting at near 8 points per game, chipping in with good rebounding, and like Leuer is hitting threes at a good clip. Josh Gasser is a promising freshman hitting over 6 points per game. Mike Bruesewitz is a big 6’6” sophomore that is hitting near 6 points per game and like the other supporting cast members rebound pretty well. His turnovers have been numerous. Jared Berggren, a red-shirt sophomore, is yet another big Badger at 6’10.” He is chipping in with about 5 points per game. Ryan Evans and Tim Jarmusz are 6’ 6” upperclassmen hitting about 5 points per game and supplying some rebounding help.

This Badger team has hit plenty of threes considering the number of players with good size and the foul shooting has been excellent. Wisconsin, as always, will be very tough at home, and on most nights a team will have to beat the Badgers as Wisconsin gives very few presents to opponents. Solid is the operative word for Wisconsin; the names change but the beat goes on.

Purdue, like Wisconsin, plays tough defense, very tough defense. The Gene Keady toughness on defense and on the boards tactic is still part of Purdue basketball DNA as sub-planted by Coach Painter.

Purdue has lost Robbie Hummel for the season and John Hart for a few weeks. But Purdue is deep enough to adjust with the play of others on the roster. Still, Purdue has been a big two this season, actually one of the very best duos in the nation. JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore are averaging near 20 points per game. Johnson will be one of those big bruisers who will go to war often with his league counterparts this season.

Purdue is a balanced team excepting the big two of Johnson and Moore. The Boilers have seniors, juniors, sophomores, and a freshman or two that play plenty of minutes. Purdue is a team that seeks out weaknesses and exploits the related opportunities. The contributors include D. J Byrd, Terone Johnson, Kelsey Barlow, Ryan Smith and Lewis Jackson. All of these players are scoring and rebounding enough to be considered important contributors. John Hart’s return will make Purdue even tougher.

Illinois is a mystery to this writer, recently ranked high every year, with plenty of talent, hitting hot and cold streaks, and finishing near the middle of the Big Ten. Illinois is 10-3 heading into the Big Ten with some big wins and a puzzling loss. The preseason schedule was not steep but very respectable. Texas, Gonzaga, Maryland, North Carolina and Missouri are a nice five-some for any college team to take on early.

There are some familiar names on this roster led by seniors Demetri McCarney, Mike Davis, and Mike Tisdale. McCarney is averaging over 16 points and 7 assists per game. Big men Davis and Tisdale and hitting at 11 and 10 points and both contribute over 7 rebounds per game. Another senior, Bill Cole has been a good part-time starter chipping in about five points per game.

The Illini have some solid young contributing players. Along McCarney at guard is sophomore D. J. Richardson hitting about 12 points a game, giving Illinois a good scoring back-court. Sophomore swing-man Brandon Paul is averaging nearly nine points per game. Jereme Richmond, a 6’ 7” freshman, is contributing very well for a true freshman averaging almost 8 points and 5 rebounds a game.

That is a lot of scoring and a deep team, two strengths that should help the Illini compete against the top teams in the conference. The foul shooting is again just ok, and may make a difference in the big games.

Tubby Smith does not have the most talent in the league, far from it. But his style of coaching demands hard play, balance and teamwork. The Gophers again enjoyed preseason success, but the real question remains will this team be able to crack anything above a 9-9 conference record?

Minnesota has sufficient experience led by senior Blake Hoffaber, who is averaging about 14 points per game. Al Nolan, a second senior has not played in all games but is hitting about 8 points.

The junior class is contributing heavily to Minnesota’s early success. First up is Trevor Mbakwe, a 6’ 8” big man, who is averaging about 13 points and 10 rebounds per game. He will get the tough boards for the Gophers. Second is Devoe Joseph, a swing-man hitting 12 points per game. Third, is highly watched big man Ralph Sampson III. The big junior is contributing about 12 points and 7 rebounds per game. Finally, Coltan Iverson, a 6’ 10” big man, is giving the Gophers a boost in both scoring and rebounding; averaging about 6 of each.

This team will be interesting and dangerous, with enough spunk and talent to score big upsets, or lose easily on an off night.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff

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