A look at the Big Ten Conference in predicted order of finish:
Michigan State
• Coach: Tom Izzo (88-41, fifth year; same overall).
• Key player: 6-2 point guard Mateen Cleaves (11.7 ppg, 7.2 apg). The reigning two-time Big Ten player of the year will be out eight to 10 weeks with a broken foot but should be back by the start of conference play. When he’s healthy, he’s as good a playermaker as there is in college basketball.
• Outlook: The two-time defending Big Ten champs should make another Final Four run if Cleaves is healthy. Super sixth-man Morris Peterson (13.6 ppg) moves into the starting lineup, and the rest of the roster remains stacked.
Ohio State
• Coach: Jim O’Brien (35-31, third year; 270-248, 18th overall).
• Key player: 5-10 point guard Scoonie Penn. The engine that turned the Buckeyes around last year is matched only by Cleaves in his playmaking ability — and Penn is a better scorer (16.9) and shooter. He returned for his senior year to make another national championship run.
• Outlook: After last season’s surprising run to the Final Four, the sky’s the limit. Active defender Jason Singleton is gone from the frontcourt, but this team can go as far as Penn and guard Michael Redd take it. The Bucks will need muscular play up front from senior center Ken Johnson and senior forward George Reese.
Illinois
• Coach: Lon Kruger (59-38, fourth year; 296-223, 18th overall).
• Key player: 6-foot guard Cory Bradford. The Big Ten freshman of the year last season averaged 15 points and shot 40 percent from 3-point range playing out of position as a point guard. With highly touted point man Frank Williams in the fold, Bradford can move back to shooting guard.
• Outlook: The addition of high school All-Americans Williams, Marcus Griffin and Brian Cook has bumped the Illini from a conference also-ran to a legitimate contender. Bradford proved his credentials by taking the Illini to the conference title game, and a solid core returns as more than a supporting cast. This group could make a run deep into March.
Purdue
• Coach: Gene Keady (415-181, 20th year; 453-200, 22nd overall).
• Key player: 6-3 guard Jaraan Cornell (15.2 ppg). Good outside shooter on track to stardom.
• Outlook: The Boilermakers had all kinds of chemistry problems late in the season, then surprised many by making a run to the Sweet 16. Their talent is among the league’s best — if they get consistent perimeter shooting and rebounding.
Indiana
iCoach: Bob Knight (641-231, 29th year; 743-281, 35th overall).
• Key player: Guard A.J. Guyton (16 ppg). A bomb-range shooter with elusive moves, he wanted the ball more last year and may get it since Luke Recker has transferred.
• Outlook: Recker left with his team-high 16 points a game, so the Hoosiers need someone to fill the void — and it could be the 6-10 Haston, who averaged 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds last year as a freshman. Guyton remains the key outside, but Dane Fife will be counted on to score more.
Michigan
• Coach: Brian Ellerbe (37-28, third year; 71-75, sixth overall).
• Key player: Freshman forward LaVell Blanchard. The 6-7 freshman was Gatorade National Player of the Year last season as a high school senior.
• Outlook: The Wolverines will miss the combined 34 points of guards Louis Bullock and Robbie Reid, but UM’s recruiting class may be its best since the Fab Five, and its inside game is getting better behind towers Josh Asselin and Peter Vignier.
Wisconsin
• Coach: Dick Bennett (69-54, fifth year; 429-243, 24th overall).
• Key player: Guard Roy Boone. A junior-college transfer who has the potential to be an explosive scorer — at least by offense-challenged Wisconsin standards.
• Outlook: Steady guards Sean Mason and Ty Calderwood and their combined 27 points are gone, but Boone is a good penetrater and guard Mike Kelley is a great defender. Bennett’s teams always play exceptional defense.
Penn State
• Coach: Jerry Dunn (63-51, fifth year; same overall).
• Key player: 6-7 forward Jarrett Stephens. Two years ago, he averaged 13.7 points and led led the Big Ten with 64 percent shooting, then missed most of last year with a knee injury.
• Outlook: The Lions must replace shot-blocking center Calvin Booth and guard Dan Earl, though they’ll be more athletic. Guard Joe Crispin (14.3 ppg) must be a clutch shooter if Penn State has any NCAA hopes.
Iowa
• Coach: Steve Alford (first year here; 156-77, ninth overall).
• Key player: Guard Dean Oliver (11.9 ppg), the Hawkeyes’ leading scorer and assist man last year, is the only returner with much scoring experience.
• Outlook: Alford doesn’t have much to work with — graduation and the transfer of guard Joey Range to a junior college hit hard — but his teams are known for good defense. Alford worked wonders with lesser talent at Southwest Missouri State.
Northwestern
• Coach: Kevin O’Neill (25-31, third year; 147-140, 11th overall).
• Key player: 5-11 point guard David Newman (8.3 ppg, 7.7 apg) must run an offense that doesn’t revolve around the center anymore.
• Outlook: The Wildcats won’t have all-conference center Evan Eschmeyer to clog the middle and open up shots for others, so guards Ben Johnson, a freshman, and Newman won’t see as many open looks.
Minnesota
• Coach: Dan Monson (first year here; 52-17, third overall).
• Key player: 7-1 center Joel Przybilla blocked 84 shots last season, more than the team totals of Iowa and Wisconsin.
• Outlook: All-conference guards Quincy Lewis and Kevin Clark are gone, and Monson inherits a mess in the wake of the Gophers’ academic scandal. The backcourt is a key question.
