Big Ten men: Spartans are favorites despite key player losses

A 24-member media panel picked the Spartans to win the Big Ten title.

By MYRON P. MEDCALF, Star Tribune

Last update: October 30, 2009 - 12:17 AM

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CHICAGO - Michigan State's run to the national title game a year ago in nearby Detroit is old news entering the 2009-10 college basketball season.

That's the message the Spartans delivered during Thursday's Big Ten men's basketball media day.

The Spartans, the defending Big Ten champions, were picked to win the league by a 24-member media panel. Purdue and Ohio State were chosen second and third, respectively.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who has orchestrated five Final Four appearances in 11 seasons, said in spite of the lofty preseason expectations, the Spartans will have to find a way to compensate for the loss of versatile forward Goran Suton and Travis Walton, last season's Big Ten defensive player of the year. Izzo also said he's looking for more production from Raymar Morgan, who was hampered because of mononucleosis during Big Ten play in 2008.

"We lost more than I think people give us credit for," Izzo said.

Spartans junior guard Kalin Lucas, this season's preseason Big Ten player of the year, said his team expects to be even more of a target after last year's Final Four trip. He's joined on the preseason All-Big Ten team by Michigan's Manny Harris, Ohio State's Evan Turner, Purdue's Robbie Hummel and Penn State's Talor Battle.

"We're excited," Lucas said. "Yeah, we know we're gonna have a bull's-eye on our back, but as far as our team, I think our team loves pressure and we're gonna be ready for anything."

• Purdue enters the season in the top 10 of most preseason rankings. Every key member of a squad that made it to the Sweet 16 and won the Big Ten tournament last year returns.

The Boilermakers are hoping to mimic Michigan State by making a run to the Final Four, which will be held 65 miles away in Indianapolis next spring.

JaJuan Johnson, an All-Big Ten center (media) in 2008 and an Indianapolis native, said the proximity to the Final Four should motivate the Boilermakers.

"We saw what [Michigan State] did ... it just had to be a great feeling for their team to do that for the city," Johnson said. "Hopefully, we can do something like that for Purdue fans."

• Gophers coach Tubby Smith missed Thursday's event to attend his father's funeral in Maryland. Guffrie Smith Sr. died Sunday night following a lengthy illness. He was 88. Assistant coach Ron Jirsa attended Big Ten media day in his place.

• Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said former Henry Sibley player and 2008 Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year Mike Bruesewitz, a 6-7 forward, will help the Badgers fill in the gaps left by the departures of Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft.

"He's done some really good things," Ryan said. "He loves to play."