Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/200613
6 INDIANA 29-7, 14-4 (first) The Hoosiers had quite the run in 2012-13, winning the Big Ten championship and advancing to the Sweet 16, but they won't be the same team in 2013-14. Tom Crean's bunch needs to establish an identity, and that could take some time with reserve players needing to transform into primary roles. Indiana not only lost four starters from last season's team — they combined to produce 70 percent of the offense that scored more points than any team in the league. Point guard Yogi Ferrell (7.6 ppg, 4.1 apg) had a solid freshman season, but he also had plenty of weapons to distribute the ball to. This year, he'll need to shoot better and cut down on his turnovers. With the exception of Will Sheehey (9.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg), perhaps the most promising scoring option is someone who didn't play for the team last season: Transfer Evan Gordon, who averaged 10.1 points per game for Arizona State. It's likely the Hoosiers will rely heavily on their freshman class, which includes talent 6-8 Noah Vonleh. 7 WISCONSIN 23-12, 12-6 (tied fourth) This would seem another season in which to count Wisconsin out considering it needs to replace three incredibly productive seniors in the frontcourt (2,414 points, 1,658 rebounds in career). But is that wise to do for a Bo Ryan-coached team? Remarkably in Ryan's 12 seasons, the Badgers have never finished worse than fourth in the Big Ten. Still, this could be the season the streak is snapped. There are no post players back this season who made a significant contribution last year. Sam Dekker was only the fourth true freshman to start under Ryan, and he was solid, averaging 9.6 points and 3.4 rebounds as more of a shooter than a big man despite being 6-7. But Wisconsin should be able to, at least, rely on its defense. The Badgers limited opponents to 29 percent three-point shooting last season, the eighth-best mark in the country. 50 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 2 8 ILLINOIS 23-13, 8-10 (tied seventh) John Groce has never had this many unknowns entering a season. "I hope to never have it again," he told the Champaign Post-Gazette. "Our learning curve right now is pretty steep." The second-year coach has to replace four seniors, including top scorers Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson, has five freshmen and four transfers entering the program and has only three scholarship players on Illinois' roster who played last season. Already, the Illini took a blow when Oregon State transfer Ahmad Starks' waiver to play immediately was denied. He'd have been an important cog as a play-making guard who can score (10.4 ppg). Instead, 6-4 junior combo guard Rayvonte Rice could develop into the team's stud. He averaged 16.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in 2011-12 at Drake and has the reputation for being a nasty defender. Likely it will be tough for the Illini to duplicate a 23win season while it takes time for this young group to learn its roles and gain chemistry. 9 MINNESOTA 21-13, 8-10 (tied seventh) After his team won 21 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, Tubby Smith got fired because the AD wanted a "fresh set of eyes" on the program. He got those with Richard Pitino, a 31-year-old upand-comer who led FIU to a 21-win season and NCAA Tournament berth in first head coaching job last season. Pitino will have some talent in the backcourt to run his preferred uptempo style. Junior Andre Hollins (14.6 ppg) is a scoring-minded point guard but still takes care of the ball and made 42 percent of his three-pointers a season ago. He's joined by senior Austin Hollins (10.7 ppg). The key piece, though, could be a transfer. Guard Malik Smith was awarded a waiver to play immediately after following Pitino from FIU, and he averaged 14.7 points and made 96 three-pointers. But those guards must take care of the ball better — the Gophers had more turnovers than anyone in the Big Ten last season (13.7 pg) — and Pitino must find help in a thin frontcourt. f