Badgers eye third straight Big Ten title

Three things are certain in life -- death, taxes and the Wisconsin men winning yet another Big Ten track title.

Not so fast says Badger coach Ed Nuttycombe. Despite coasting through the season and earning the No. 11 ranking in the country -- higher than any other conference team -- Nuttycombe said the Badgers should not be the favorites to capture a third straight league championship. The Big Tens will be hosted by Iowa and start Saturday.

"We've had some disappointing injuries this season which have prevented us from performing like we're capable of," Nuttycombe said. "I don't see us as being the favorite. Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan will be very formidable. I think Illinois should be the favorite to win right now."

Despite its injuries, Wisconsin has enjoyed a solid season, highlighted by the standout effort of Reggie Torian.

Torian has qualified for NCAAs in the 55-meter hurdles and the long jump. He captured Big Ten track and field athlete of the month honors in January for his efforts.

Torian's performance in the hurdles has been downright scary. His time of 7.47 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles is the 10th-fastest time in world track and field history. When converted to a 55-meter mark for NCAA seeding purposes, Torian's mark would be 6.91, just .09 seconds shy of the world record set by Renaldo Nehemiah in 1982.

Nuttycombe said Torian is a special kind of athlete.

"I've been here 17 years, and he's the most talented and physically gifted athlete I've ever coached," he said. "We've only seen a smattering of what he can do. He's got the potential to be an elite professional performer."

Three teams that may have the best shot of unseating the champion Badgers are Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan.

The No. 21 Fighting Illini, led by All-American Dorian Green, are loaded. Barry Pearman (3,000-meters), Chris Jones (400-meters) and freshman sensation Babatunde Ridley (high jump and 55-meters) are, along with Green, among the favorites to win their events at Big Tens.

Illinois held its own against the Badgers earlier this season at the Wisconsin Invitational. In fact, the Illini captured six firsts at the meet as compared to the Badgers' four.

Minnesota is a team on the rise. The Golden Gophers have gotten off to an impressive start this season after taking third in the conference a year ago, their highest finish since 1968.

Minnesota's strength is in the field events, where four Gophers have already earned provisional NCAA qualifying status. Ben Jensen and Tye Harvey could go 1-2 in the pole vault. If it can find a way to replace Chris Darkins in the sprints, Minnesota just may take home the championship.

Michigan brings one of the most talented teams to the Big Tens, but coach Jack Harvey said the Wolverines may be too thin to win a title.

"With the exception of the pole vault we have a solid guy at every event. Our problem is that we don't have a lot of depth," Harvey said. "We'll have to rely on quality points to finish high at the meet."

Michigan State coach Darroll Gatson is confident his Spartans can rebound from a disappointing ninth-place finish at Big Tens last year.

"Our goal is to finish in the top five in the Big Ten," Gatson said. "That is a team goal and a reachable goal. We are going to reach that goal."

The Spartans will be leaning on the performance of junior transfer Kyle Baker. Baker has been virtually unbeatable in the 3,000-meter run this season.

Baker said he thinks Michigan State is ready to break through at Big Tens.

"The atmosphere here is very competitive," he said. "We push each other every day. Everybody is very committed and, as long as you have commitment, you'll have a winning season."

Ohio State, Iowa, Indiana, Penn State and Purdue round out the Big Ten. Both the Buckeyes and the Hawkeyes shine in the sprints but their lack of depth could be their downfall. The Hoosiers and Boilermakers will be trying to build for next year.