Indiana (9-5, 2-0)

This season marks Hoosiers coach Mike Davis' first year as head coach without the interim label next to his name. Hoosiers fans will also hope it marks the end of Indiana's recent tournament troubles. They have been ousted in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in each of their last two seasons and haven't made the Sweet 16 since 1993. A difficult schedule that included five non-conference teams that have seen time in the Top 25 should help them prepare for that level of competition.

When forward Kirk Haston made the decision to skip his senior year for the NBA, the torch was officially passed to sophomore small forward Jared Jeffries, a preseason All-Big Ten selection. Jeffries, another in a string of Indiana Mr. Basketball's to play for the Hoosiers, is considered a superstar in the making, and is working toward meeting those expectations by averaging 16.2 points per game thus far.

"I'm real excited to be in that role," Jeffries said at Big Ten Media Day in October. "Any competitive basketball player wants to have a majority of the offense, and have a chance to shine."

The Hoosiers will also be relying on experienced, solid guard play from junior Tom Coverdale and senior Dane Fife.

Starters: Coverdale, Jr., 11.1 ppg, 4.5 apg; Fife, Sr., 8.9 ppg, 2.4 apg; G Kyle Hornsby, Jr., 5.9 ppg; Jeffries 16.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg; C George Leach, So. , 4.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg.

Key Bench Players: F Jarrad Odle, Sr., 7.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg; F Jeff Newton, Jr., 6.9 ppg 5.1 rpg.

Collegian Prediction: 4th

Iowa (12-4, 1-1)

Iowa is coming off a year where at one point they went from being atop the Big Ten conference to being in jeopardy of making the tournament. They then went on to win four games in four days to win the conference tournament and secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

"We've kind of exploded on the scene," third-year coach Steve Alford said at Big Ten Media Day in October. "In year two we win the Big Ten tournament championship. In year three, the expectations are out of the roof. That's not a normal ascending process. That's a concern. . . We haven't been there long enough for all this to happen. It's going to be a big test to our guys."

The Hawkeyes return four starters from the team that lost to Kentucky in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and more importantly it looks like senior guard Luke Recker is healthy. Recker is leading the Big Ten in scoring at 18.7 points per game.

The nation's leading rebounder from one year ago, senior forward Reggie Evans returns to the Hawkeye hardwood and is the force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten. He currently is second in the Big Ten in scoring at 18.1 points per game.

Freshman Pierre Pierce has beaten out sophomore Brody Boyd in the battle to replace Dean Oliver at point guard.

With two of the top players in the country in Evans and Recker, Alford figures to be playing in late March.

Starters: Pierce, 8.4 ppg, 3.5 apg; Recker, 18.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg; C Jared Reiner, So., 4.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg; F Duez Henderson, Sr., 4.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg; Evans, 18.1 ppg, 11.9 rpg.

Key Bench Players: G Chauncey Leslie, Jr., 7.1 ppg, 2.69 apg; G Ryan Hogan, Sr., 6.0 ppg; F Glen Worley, So., 7.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg.

Collegian Prediction: 2nd

Michigan (6-5, 2-0)

Maybe the biggest news in Big Ten basketball during the offseason was the hiring of former Seton Hall coach Tommy Amaker to coach the Michigan Wolverines.

So far it looks as if the change has paid off as the Wolverines have started 2-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

Junior Forward LaVell Blanchard is a premier Big Ten player and, to go along with his 14.7 points per game, he is second in the Big Ten with 7.5 rebounds per game.

Sophomore Forward Bernard Robinson Jr. is another high flyer who gives some punch to the Wolverine lineup.

Blanchard and Robinson, Jr. give the Wolverines one of the most athletic teams in the Big Ten and the ability to play with any team they encounter.

Senior Chris Young is a solid center and sophomore Avery Queen is the best passer on the team. Queen does not start but sees the majority of the minutes at the point.

For the team to stay successful Blanchard will have to have an All-Big Ten first team season and Amaker will need to find a lineup that can rebound the ball in the Big Ten.

Starters: G Mike Gotfredson, Sr., 0.8 ppg, 1.45 apg; G Gavin Groninger, Jr., 8.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg; Young, 11.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg; Robinson Jr., 12.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg; Blanchard, Jr., 14.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg.

Key Bench Players: G Avery Queen, So., 5.2 ppg, 3.6 apg; G Dommanic Ingerson, Fr., 11.0 ppg; F Chuck Bailey, Fr., 6.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg.

Collegian Prediction: 7th

Purdue (8-8, 0-2)

After going to the NCAA Tournament for eight straight seasons, Purdue Coach Gene Keady had to deal with a trip to the NIT. With 10 letterwinners returning, Purdue will look to its experience to win the close games in the Big Ten.

Junior guard Willie Deane, averaging 18 points per game, has more than offset the loss of Carson Cunningham to graduation.

Sophomore point guard Austin Parkinson runs the show and leads the Big Ten in assists at 5.79 per game.

Senior center John Allison, a prototypical big man, is the leader of a veteran team that will attempt to return Keady to the "big dance" for the 17th time at Purdue.

Starters: Parkinson, 3.1 ppg, 5.79 apg; Deane, 18.0 ppg, 3.0 apg; G Darmetreis Kilgore, Jr., 11.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg; F Rodney Smith, Sr., 9.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg; Allison, 10.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg.

Key Bench Players: G Lewis Maynard, Sr., 10.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg; F Brett Buscher, So., 4.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg.

Collegian Prediction: 9th

Wisconsin (8-7, 1-1)

A lot has changed for the Badgers since they were upset by Georgia State, 50-49, in the first round of last year's NCAA tournament. They added a new coach in Bo Ryan, taking over for Brad Soderberg who served as interim coach after Dick Bennett's retirement, and they lost four of five starters.

The Badgers have had some tough losses thus far at the hands of UNLV, Weber State and Hawaii among others, but their recent upset of Illinois may bring them new life.

Junior guard Kirk Penney has stepped in as the Badgers' go-to offensive option, leading the squad with 14.7 points per game.

Starters: Penney, 14.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg; G Devin Harris, Fr., 13.6 ppg; G Travon Davis, Sr., 7.9 ppg, 4.47 apg; F Charlie Wills, Sr., 8.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg; F Dave Mader So., 2.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg.

Key Bench Players: F Mike Wilkinson, Fr., 9.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg; G Freddie Owens, So., 9.4 ppg.

Collegian Prediction: 8th