Indiana picked to win Big Ten basketball race

With

Indiana receiving pre-season national accolades, it comes as no surprise that the Hoosiers are also a heavy

favorite to dominate the Big Ten.

IU, which is seeking its first Big Ten title since 2002,

received 21 of 24 first-place votes in a poll of 24 Big Ten sportswriters, two

from each school. Herb Gould and Neil Hayes, who cover the Illini and

Northwestern, respectively, for the Sun-Times were among the voters.

The

Illini were picked to finish ninth in the league, just one vote ahead of

10th-place Northwestern.

Michigan

received the three first-place votes that were not cast for Indiana. Ohio

State, Michigan State and Wisconsin, rounded out the top five. That quintet

also is receiving top-25 pre-season attention in what’s expected to be a strong

season for Big Ten Basketball.

Indiana

is top-ranked in the inaugural coaches poll, and is joined by No. 4 Ohio State,

No. 5 Michigan, No. 14 Michigan State and No. 21 Wisconsin.

The

complete poll:

Team

(1st)

Pts

1. Indiana (21) 285

2. Michigan (3) 256

3. Ohio State 237

4. Michigan St 223

5. Wisconsin 191

6. Minnesota 159

7. Iowa

134

8. Purdue

121

9. Illinois

90

10.

Northwestern 89

11.

Penn State 62

12.

Nebraska 25