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Posted: Wednesday November 03, 1999 01:48 PM
Points taken
Star guards pace Spartans, Buckeyes, rest of Big Ten
By Mark Ambrogi, Special to CNN/SI
The transfer's arrival last season helped spark Ohio State's run to the Final Four.Allsport |
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Top storylines
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Several teams open with a cloud over their programs. Purdue is awaiting an appeal of harsher-than-expected recruiting penalties, which forced assistant Frank Kendrick to be reassigned, while Minnesota is waiting to see how the NCAA views its self-imposed penalties from the academic fraud scandal. Michigan waits to see if the NCAA will investigate alleged payments to players by a booster. On the court, Michigan State is the clear favorite but must see how it can function without Mateen Cleaves, who is expected to miss the non-conference season with a stress fracture in his foot. |
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How they will spend Selection Sunday
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| Relaxing |
Sweating |
Fishing |
Ohio State
Michigan State
Purdue
Illinois |
Indiana
Wisconsin
Michigan
Iowa |
Penn State
Minnesota
Northwestern |
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Players to Watch
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| Top Three Frontcourt Players |
Brian Cardinal, Purdue
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Best known for diving on the floor for loose balls or mixing it up in the lane but can also shoot the "3."
Morris Peterson, Michigan State
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Became the first non-starter in Big Ten history to earn first-team, all-conference honors.
Joel Przybilla, Minnesota
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The 7-1 Przybila sophomore made his presence felt as a frosh by blocking 84 shots.
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| Top Three Backcourt Players |
Scoonie Penn, Ohio State
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The 5-10 point guard is one of the leaguer's top shooters and has the knack for hitting clutch shot.
Michael Redd, Ohio State
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Explosive scorer -- when his outside shot is on, he is nearly unstoppable.
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Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State
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Two-time Big Ten Player of the Year expected to miss the entire nonconference season with a stress fracture in his right foot.
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| Top Three Newcomers |
Marcus Griffith, Illinois
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The former McDonald's All-American center was named Junior College Division II Player of the Year.
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LaVell Blanchard, Michigan
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Fans are expecting big things from the smooth, hometown 6-7 swingman.
Frank Williams, Illinois
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Partial academic qualifier expected to step right in as the starting point guard.
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Coaches
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| Hot Coach |
Jim O'Brien, Ohio State
• Turned a foundering Ohio State program (8-22 his first year) into a Final Four team in his second season.
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| Coach on the Hot Seat |
Jerry Dunn, Penn State, and Bobby Knight, Indiana
• Dunn might be done if he can't get Lions into the postseason. Knight is under some fire as well -- and it's not coming from his own hunting rifle.
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Schedules
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| Toughest Schedule |
Michigan State
• The Spartans have games with North Carolina (away), Kansas (home) and Arizona (away) before Big Ten begins and host Connecticut Feb. 5.
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| Quickest-Way-to-20-Wins Schedule |
Ohio State
• Buckeyes play in Preseason NIT and at Kansas, but also have Vermont, Florida A&M, Coastal Carolina, Oakland, Eastern Kentucky and American.
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Mark Your Calendar
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Nov. 30, Illinois vs. Duke
• Perhaps the best ACC-Big Ten Challenge duel.
Dec. 16, Ohio State at Kansas
• Easily the Buckeyes' toughest nonconference game.
Dec. 21, Indiana vs. North Carolina
• Firsr meeting between the two schools since Nov. 25, 1988.
Dec. 30, Purdue at UCLA
• Steve Lavin, a former Purdue assistant, coaches the Bruins.
Jan. 20, Michigan State at Ohio State
• The first of two meetings. Will Cleaves be back in form?
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Mark Ambrogi covers the Big Ten for The Indianapolis Star. Look for his CNN/SI conference insiders during the season.
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