PHILADELPHIA – The charity for troubled youths started by Jerry Sandusky more than three decades ago – and through which the retired Penn State assistant football coach met the boys he is charged withThe Big Ten preseason poll is playing out pretty close to form.
Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State were the predicted top three in the preseason poll. Each is near the top at the midway point of the conference schedule. Ohio State is first, with the Spartans a half game back. Wisconsin and Michigan are tied for third.
Purdue reached the midway point Saturday, beating Northwestern. Indiana played its 10th conference game Sunday, topping Iowa. So it’s a perfect time to take a look back and ahead at the Big Ten:
MVP
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State: The sophomore held off on the NBA for a chance to lead the Buckeyes to a national title. Ohio State is ranked No. 3 in the country and is 7-2 in the Big Ten. Sullinger is averaging 17.1 points (No. 4 in the league) and 9.1 rebounds (No. 2). Michigan State’s Draymond Green also deserves consideration. He leads the 6-2 Spartans in scoring (15.3, No. 5) and rebounds (a league-leading 10.4 per game).
Freshman of the Year
Cody Zeller, Indiana: The 6-foot-11 forward has been the centerpiece of the Hoosiers’ resurgence. He has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week five times and is one of three freshmen named to the midseason list for the Wooden Award. Zeller is averaging 15.2 points and 6.1 rebounds. He scored a career-high 26 points Sunday against the Hawkeyes. Michigan’s Trey Burke also deserves consideration. He has gained Freshman of the Week honors four times. Burke is averaging 14.1 points and 5 assists.
Coach of the Year
Tom Crean, Indiana: Most thought IU was a year away from returning to the national stage. But Crean has guided this year’s Hoosiers back to the top 25. IU became the first Big Ten team since Minnesota in 1952-53 to defeat the top two ranked teams in the same season. The Hoosiers handed No. 1 Kentucky its only loss this year and beat then-No. 2 Ohio State. Michigan State’s Tom Izzo has the Spartans back on track after a 9-9 finish last season. Michigan State ran off 15 consecutive wins this season to get into the top 10 in The Associated Press rankings.
Purdue outlook
The Boilermakers are in fifth place in the league with a 5-4 mark (15-7 overall). Robbie Hummel has led the way. The senior is eighth in the conference in scoring, averaging 15.2 points. He’s sixth in the conference in rebounding (6 per game). Four of Purdue’s next six games are at Mackey Arena, starting Saturday against Indiana. The Boilermakers have to regain that home-court edge, after dropping two of their last three in West Lafayette, as they look to make the NCAA tournament for the sixth straight season.
Indiana outlook
The Hoosiers are tied for sixth in the conference at 5-5 (17-5 overall). Zeller leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Indiana has had its struggles on the road, going 1-4 in Big Ten action. IU has two more road games this week, Wednesday at Michigan and Saturday at Purdue. The Hoosiers have four at home and four on the road in their final eight Big Ten games. A couple of road wins could go a long way in seeding as IU attempts to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008.
