Penn State: The Lions enter the Big Ten championships ranked No. 5, the team's lowest ranking this season. Despite having just one conference title, Penn State is one of the favorites, as the team even entered the year as the team to beat, according to the conference's coaches in the preseason poll. This will be the first action for Penn State since a disappointing loss to Stanford in a triangular meet nearly three weeks ago.
Top Gymnast: This is senior captain Matt Cohen's final opportunity to win a conference championship. Cohen is yet another Big Ten gymnast in the running for the Nissen-Emery award, given annually to the top senior gymnast in the country.
Michigan: Like Penn State, No. 2 Michigan comes in on the heels of a rare loss, a defeat by the rival Buckeyes, the first dual-meet defeat for the Wolverines this year. But Michigan does have two impressive victories this year. The first was a victory over two-time defending national champion Oklahoma. The second huge win was 216.750-215.800 at Penn State in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown.
Top Gymnasts: Junior co-captain Andrew Elkind was named Big Ten co-Gymnast of the Week this year and has been ranked No. 1 in the country on parallel bars for much of the season.
Ohio State: The No. 1 Buckeyes enter on a roll, as noticed by the team's stunning upset win over previously conference-undefeated and former No. 1-ranked Michigan. Ohio State posted a season-high team score in the victory. Despite a 7-4 record, the Buckeyes' win over the rival Wolverines on senior night means that the team is performing at its best at just the right time.
Top Gymnast: Nissen-Emery finalist Willie Ito has led the Buckeyes to back-to-back conference titles. An All-American, Ito has twice posted an Ohio State-record 9.900 on pommel horse.
Illinois: The Illini head to Minneapolis ranked No. 7 in the country, not bad for a team without a senior on the roster. After a slow start to the season because of youth and injuries, Illinois is peaking at the right time, with only a loss to Michigan blemishing March. Illinois has the most team conference championships in the Big Ten with 23 titles, the last coming in 2004.
Top Gymnast: All-around competitor and junior Tyler Yamauchi is one of only five that is not a freshman or sophomore on the roster. He has won two career Big Ten Gymnast of the Week awards.
Minnesota: The Gophers are currently No. 6 in the nation, the second-lowest ranking amongst the competing teams. But Minnesota is a team to keep an eye on, considering it will be at home for the meet. It has only one loss at home this year, an exciting yet heartbreaking loss to Michigan by .050 points. In its history, the Gophers have the most individual all-around Big Ten champions.
Top Gymnast: Senior Jason Lee posted four scores more than 9.000 against Nebraska earlier this season and is a finalist for the Nissen-Emery award, one of five finalists representing the Big Ten.
Iowa: The Hawkeyes are the lowest-ranked Big Ten team, but they still are No. 9. Coached by former All-America Nittany Lion gymnast, Tom Dunn, Iowa comes in with a balanced roster, with an almost equal number of gymnasts for each class year.
Top Gymnast: Senior captain Jacques Bouchard currently holds the school record on rings with a 9.50. He is a finalist for the Nissen-Emery award. Bouchard has been academic All-Big Ten all of his years at Iowa.
With all six teams currently ranked in the top 10 nationally, the Big Ten is the deepest conference in the country. This could make for a wide-open competition this year.
The Daily Collegian offers a team-by-team breakdown of the men's gymnastics teams competing at the Big Ten championships in Minneapolis.
