Ohio State picked to win Big Ten hoops title

Defending champion Ohio State was chosen as the top team and the Buckeyes’ Jared Sullinger the Player of the Year in the Big Ten preseason poll.

Wisconsin was picked second and Michigan State third in the preseason poll. Besides Sullinger, Michigan State’s Draymond Green, Minnesota’s Trevor Mbakwe, Purdue’s Robbie Hummel and Wisconsin’s Jordan Taylor were first-team picks.

With Sullinger leading the way, the Buckeyes appear poised for another run after going 34-3 and winning the conference regular-season and tournament championships. The Big Ten and national Freshman of the Year, Sullinger averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds and was an All-American.

He probably would have been a top 10 pick in the NBA draft but decided to stay in school.

“Jared had told me a year ago last summer that he was going to be here for at least two years,” coach Thad Matta said. “And so there was no shock and awe in my mind when he announced that he was coming back. He had told me that all along. And even throughout the course of the season we would have halfheartedly joke about it. And he was very true to his word. It’s a great young man. It’s a great family. He’s grounded and true to his word.”

The Buckeyes lost three key contributors from last year’s team — record-setting 3-point shooter Jon Diebler, versatile defender David Lighty and shot-blocker Dallas Lauderdale. They have one senior (four-year starting shooting guard William Buford) and just a single junior on scholarship in Boston College transfer Evan Ravenel, with everyone else either in their first and second year in the program.

But those young players are impressive, with Sullinger at the top of the list.

Not only did he drop 25 pounds and add muscle, he added some more versatility to his game.

“He appears to be, in my mind, moving more fluidly,” Matta said. “The thing we talked to him through the preseason going through the rigors of the Big Ten, if we can move him around a little more, they won’t be able to beat on him as much. Along with that he’s taken to improving his ballhandling, improving his outside shooting. And I think more of a complete player, more of a power forward with a touch of skill.”

That’s not exactly good news for the rest of the league, but Purdue coach Matt Painter said as impressive as Sullinger’s skills might be, the mental aspect is what sets him apart.

“He’s also got a high basketball IQ,” Painter said. “I think sometimes that gets lost in discussions when people talk about improvements. You can get better, but are you getting better at thinking the game? Jared Sullinger, his dad’s a good guy, he’s a good coach. He’s brought him up in the game, thinking the game, and that to me causes us more problems.”