The 2013 Big Ten Men's gymnastics championships will be held Friday and Saturday at the Sports Pavilion on the U campus.

Team and all-around competition will be tonight. Individual event finals will be Saturday.

Competition starts at 7 p.m. and, for couch potatoes, will be televised live on BTN.

Illinois is the gold standard in the conference. The Illini have won the last four team titles.

No team has won five consecutive since the Gophers from 1976-1980. Illinois leads all conference squads with 27 team championships, followed by theGophers with 21.

There are three defending individual champions in the field:

* Sam Mikulak, Michigan, parallel bars, high bars

* Craig Hernandez, Penn State, pommel horse

* Scott Rosenthal, Penn State, still rings

LOADED FIELD

Seven of the nation's top 10 gymnastics teams will be competing. Penn State is rated No. 1, the Gophers, who lost to the Nittany Lions in their last meet, No. 6.

Some of the Gophers to watch are: Steve Jacik in the high bar, Matt Frey in parallel bars, Adam Kem on vault, Jack Metcalf on still rings and Ellis Mannon on pommel horse.

Team scores a year ago:

Illinois 352.950

Michigan 351.850

Penn State 350.000

Minnesota 345.800

Ohio State 343.650

Iowa 342.800

Nebraska 340.700