Big Ten finds itself in transition

By Michael Kern

Daily Sports Writer

CHICAGO - Unlike last year, when experienced lineups at Michigan State, Ohio State and Purdue dominated the Big Ten, this year will be a season of transition.

None of last season's All-Big Ten first-team players return to their respective schools. Only one player who finished in the top five in scoring - senior guard Joe Crispin of Penn State - will play in 2000-01.

Every team, from last year's co-Big Ten champions Michigan State and Ohio State to last-place finisher Northwestern, has new faces and personnel to adjust to.

Iowa coach Steve Alford has eight new players on his roster - including junior transfer Luke Recker, who played his first two years at Indiana.

Meanwhile, the Big Ten has three new coaches this season - Bill Self at Illinois, Mike Davis at Indiana and Bill Carmody at Northwestern.

"New coaches mean new surprises," Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said. "I don't know a lot about their coaching styles, so I'll be watching a lot of tape in the preseason."

One of the few things that has remained consistent from last season is Michigan State's place atop the conference. At Big Ten media day in Chicago, the coaches named Michigan State as their favorite to win the Big Ten this year and voted Illinois second. The two teams reversed roles in the media poll, with the Fighting Illini taking top honors.

"Until somebody beats Michigan State, they should be the favorite every year," Self said.

While most coaches often try to downplay preseason rankings, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo welcomed the accolades.

"I'm not going to complain about someone thinking we're pretty good," Izzo said. "Are we worthy of some of the rankings I've seen? I don't think so, but instead of worrying about it like I have in past years, I'm going to embrace it and see it as a challenge for us - to be as good as you guys think we are."

Wisconsin was voted third in both preseason polls. The Badgers return eight players from last year's Final Four team, including seniors Mike Kelley and Mark Vershaw.

"You never look forward to going to Wisconsin," Ellerbe said. "They are the darkhorse of this league."

Last season's co-Big Ten freshman of the year, LaVell Blanchard, garnered preseason all-conference honors for the Wolverines, making both the coaches and media all-conference teams.

The sophomore was joined on the coaches team by senior center Ken Johnson from Ohio State, senior guard Charlie Bell of Michigan State, junior guard Cory Bradford from Illinois and junior forward Kirk Haston from Indiana. Crispin replaced Haston as the only difference on the media team.

"Naturally, there is going to be a lot more attention paid to" Blanchard, Ellerbe said. "If you are an opponent, you are going to feel like he has the ability to take over a game in certain situations and really hurt you.

"Hopefully, he'll understand that he is going to have to do a lot more to get the same statistics he had last year."

Let it ride

At Big Ten media day in Chicago, the writers and coaches released their preseason predictions for the top three finishers in the conference, as well as their picks for the all-conference team.

Media poll Coaches poll

1. Illinois 1. Michigan State

2. Michigan State 2. Illinois

3. Wisconsin 3. Wisconsin

All-Conference team (media)

Cory Bradford, G, Illinois

Charlie Bell, G, Michigan State

Joe Crispin, G, Penn State*

LaVell Blanchard, F, Michigan

Ken Johnson, C, Ohio State

*Indiana forward Kirk Haston replaced Crispin on the coaches' all-conference team.