Staff writer Amelia Rayno takes a team-by-team look at the Big Ten as conference play begins Tuesday. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish as determined by conference media members in October.

OHIO STATE (12-1)

Jared Sullinger is back after missing most of three games, but coach Thad Matta's squad didn't skip a beat in his absence, showing it has plenty behind the sophomore big man. Deshaun Thomas recently made 17 consecutive two-point shots and the Buckeyes have three players averaging at least 15 points in Thomas, Sullinger and William Buford.

MICHIGAN (10-2)

The Wolverines lost to Duke and Virginia in November but have notched five consecutive victories since. Tim Hardaway Jr. has led the way by averaging 15.4 points, but point guard Trey Burke also has been a big part of the solid start, averaging 33.1 minutes and is contributing 13.0 points and 5.0 assists per game. Coach John Beilein called Burke "atypical of most freshmen."

WISCONSIN (11-2)

Jordan Taylor is "slumping," sure, but he hasn't exactly been a nonfactor. The senior guard and Benilde-St. Margaret's graduate is averaging 12.2 points, but the biggest key has been that the Badgers have had a balanced attack through his struggles. Five different players have led the team in scoring, including sophomore guard Ben Brust, who has been a big contributor off the bench with his long-range shooting.

MICHIGAN STATE (11-2)

Draymond Green has helped the Spartans to a nice start despite a tough schedule. They lost to North Carolina and Duke but followed with victories over Florida State and Gonzaga. Green scored 34 points at Gonzaga, and the senior forward has become what coach Tom Izzo called one of the most complete players he has had at MSU. Derrick Nix (7.2 ppg, 4.1 rebounds per game) also has been stepping up big in the frontcourt.

PURDUE (10-3)

The Boilermakers lost to Alabama, Xavier and Butler, though they came within three points of the latter two. Even so, the emotional letdowns have been hard to bounce back from, coach Matt Painter said. In the past couple of weeks, Purdue has struggled shooting from both the floor and the free-throw line. Robbie Hummel (17.5 ppg) is having an excellent season, but he has been going through shooting difficulties lately.

ILLINOIS (11-2)

With six freshmen and a transfer on the roster, the Illini had a lot of unknowns heading into this season, but the transition has been fairly smooth. Coach Bruce Weber said the team needs to limit mistakes. Sophomore big man Meyers Leonard (13.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg) has been a force, which Weber attributes to maturity, toughness and learning to stay inside, where his 7-1 frame can do damage.

GOPHERS (12-1)

The Gophers don't have a signature victory, but one thing most everyone can agree on: It has been impressive the way the team has adjusted after losing top scorer and team leader Trevor Mbakwe to a season-ending knee injury in November. Tubby Smith's squad has used a three-guard lineup and is finding new leaders in transfer Julian Welch and veteran Rodney Williams.

NORTHWESTERN (10-2)

Is this the season Northwestern reaches the NCAA tournament for the first time? After getting "smacked around," in coach Bill Carmody's words, against Baylor on Dec. 4, the Wildcats rebounded to win three consecutive games before dropping their nonconference finale to Creighton. Senior forward John Shurna is having another strong season, averaging a team-leading 19.4 points and 6.0 rebounds.

INDIANA (12-0)

The Big Ten's only unbeaten team is one of the early surprises in college basketball, having already knocked off then-No. 1 Kentucky. "It was truly one of those moments in time -- you get a win like that -- everybody will remember for a very long time," coach Tom Crean said. Cody Zeller has won four Big Ten freshman of the week honors, and the 6-11 forward is averaging 15.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

IOWA (8-5)

The Hawkeyes haven't been able to win more than three consecutive games all season, as they struggle with finding consistency. For now, coach Fran McCaffery is sticking with his starting five and hoping things turn around. Devyn Marble (10.9 ppg) and Melsahn Basabe (9.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg) have provided a lift of late, but injuries have played a role in Iowa's inconsistent start.

NEBRASKA (8-3)

In his own words, coach Doc Sadler is not looking forward to the Big Ten schedule, but the Cornhuskers will start off with a challenge anyway -- at home vs. Wisconsin on Tuesday. They enter conference play with a four-game winning streak but could be without center Jorge Brian Diaz (foot) and guard Dylan Talley (thigh) against the Badgers.

PENN STATE (8-5)

First-year coach Patrick Chambers has been handed a young team. The Nittany Lions still are getting to know each other on the court, he said, and the chemistry is not yet airtight. Tim Frazier -- who at 17.2 points per game has proven to be an even better scorer than Chambers anticipated -- is one of the bright spots, helping lead the squad to two consecutive victories after a three-game skid.