Winter break is fast approaching, and when students return in January, the Big Ten season will be in full swing. As the non-conference schedule begins to wind down for most Big Ten teams, here at Courtside we thought we would take a look at just how things are shaping up so far. While some teams and players are surpassing expectations, others are not playing as well as many people thought they would.
Surprise Team: Purdue
The Boilermakers were expected to be an afterthought to Wisconsin and Ohio State's battle for the league title, especially as traditional powerhouses like Illinois and Michigan State were able to reload their supply of talent. However, Purdue has run out to an 8-1 record, led by Milwaukee native Carl Landry, who is scoring over 19 points per game. While the Boilermakers may lack height, they make up for it with depth, as eight of their players average more than 20 minutes per game. Purdue's next game is against No. 14 Butler, and a victory there could set the Boilermakers up for a run at the NCAA tournament.
Most Disappointing Team: Minnesota
No major conference team should start their non-conference season 4-7, and that is just what the Gophers did. Head coach Dan Monson resigned seven games into the season. This may have been the right choice, since only a fraction of this terrible season can be attributed to him. One bright spot is junior guard Lawrence McKenzie, who is leading Minnesota in scoring with 16.7 points per game, good for fourth in the conference. However, the Gophers have already lost to Marist, Montana and the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Minnesota does not have a senior on their roster and it shows. Most people expected this team to be bad, but the depths to which they have sunk are beyond what many predicted.
Surprise Player: Ron Lewis (Ohio State)
Entering the season all of the talk about Ohio State centered on their freshman class, especially their big man, Greg Oden, and his high school teammate, Mike Conley. The forgotten man was senior guard Ron Lewis, who is having a great season despite not getting the publicity of his younger teammates. Lewis is averaging almost 18 points and four rebounds per game, and is shooting 57 percent from the field and 48 percent on threes. Lewis has averaged over 11 points per game in each of his first three seasons, but this season he is stepping up as a senior leader.
Most Disappointing Player: Jamar Butler (Ohio State)
Butler lands here not because he is having a bad season, but because he has not taken the jump that many expected him to take this season. With the huge departure of experienced talent from Ohio State, Butler was expected to take a leading role and contend for all Big Ten honors. Last season Butler led the team in assists, but this season he has been supplanted by freshman Mike Conley. Likewise, his scoring has dropped from 10 points per game to less than eight per game, and his shooting percentage and 3-point shooting percentages also have fallen.
MVP: Alando Tucker (Wisconsin)
As the Big Ten's leading scorer with over 20 points per game, this is a no-brainer. Tucker has helped lead the Badgers to a 9-1 record, including their first win at Marquette since 2000. Beyond the points, Tucker is also pulling down almost four rebounds per game and dishing out two assists per game. Tucker has scored in double digits in every game this season, including a season high of 28 against the Golden Eagles. Most importantly for the Badgers, Tucker has remained injury-free so far this season.
Top Freshman: Daequan Cook (Ohio State)
Cook has been one of the key cogs in an Ohio State team that has put up an 8-1 record, and has done so without super prospect Greg Oden. Cook is second on the Buckeyes with 16.3 points per game, and he is also pulling down over six rebounds per contest. The 6'5' native of Dayton, Ohio had one of his better games against No. 6 North Carolina, scoring 14 points and posting nine rebounds. This freshman, along with his talented teammates, should keep the Buckeyes in contention for the Big Ten title for years to come, provided he does not leave early for the NBA.
