Big Ten Fantasy Preview

Big Ten

This is the fourth of six annual fantasy stats projections of BCS conference starters. The lineups are based on the Starting Fives series of articles released two weeks ago, along with a couple of changes due to recent developments.

For an idea of whether I know what I'm talking about, check out last year's Big Ten Stats Projection. Here's last year's Wisconsin projections compared to reality:

Wisconsin Projected vs 2007-08 Reality

G Michael Flowers - 9, 4, 4  vs 9, 4, 3
G Trevon Hughes - 8, 3, 3  vs  11, 3,  3
F Joe Krabbenhoft - 10, 5, 2  vs 8, 7, 3
F Marcus Landry - 10, 6, 1  vs 11, 5, 1
C Brian Butch - 12, 7, 1  vs  12, 7, 1
6 Jason Bohannon - 9, 3, 2  vs 8, 2, 1

Keep in mind stats are highly dependent on minutes. My biggest misses are always guys who either win or lose starting spots unexpectedly.

THE BIG TEN

ILLINOIS

G Demetri McCamey - 12, 4, 4
G Trent Meacham - 12, 3, 3
G Alex Legion - 14, 3, 2
F Mike Davis - 8, 5, 1
F Mike Tisdale - 8, 5, 1
6 Chester Frazier - 5, 4, 4

Notes: Legion will get a lot of chances to score, but his efficiency %'s probably won't be the best. Don't expect big fantasy numbers out of any of their bigs.


INDIANA

G Devan Dumes - 11, 3, 3
G Verdell Jones - 9, 4, 4
G Nick Williams - 12, 3, 2
F Kyle Taber - 6, 7, 1

C Tom Pritchard - 7, 6, 1
6 Malik Story - 6, 3, 2

Notes: Dumes and Williams will probably end up being IU's leading scorers. The forwards don't offer much on the stat-sheet.


IOWA
G Jeff Peterson - 6, 3, 4
G Matt Gatens - 9, 2, 2
G Jake Kelly - 9, 3, 2
F Cyrus Tate - 12, 8, 0
F Jarryd Cole - 10, 7, 0
6 Anthony Tucker - 6, 2, 3

Notes: Its hard to see any Hawkeye being a major BCS fantasy contributor outside of Tate.


MICHIGAN

G Manny Harris - 18, 4, 4
G Laval Lucas-Perry - 12, 3, 2

F Anthony Wright - 8, 5, 2
F DeShawn Sims - 14, 6, 1
C Zack Gibson - 8, 6, 0
6 Kelvin Grady - 5, 2, 3

Notes: Harris should get a slight boost in production, but Sims is the guy who could really be in for a breakout season.


MICHIGAN STATE

G Kalin Lucas - 12, 3, 6
G Chris Allen - 12, 3, 2
F Raymar Morgan - 16, 7, 3
F Delvon Roe - 12, 7, 2
C Goran Suton - 9, 10, 2
6 Marquise Gray - 7, 5, 1

Notes: Allen will have to emerge as a go-to outisde threat, while Roe figures to see 25-30 mpg.


MINNESOTA

G Al Nolen - 6, 4, 5
G Lawrence Westbrook - 12, 4, 3
F Devron Bostick - 13, 3, 3
F Damian Johnson - 9, 6, 1
C Ralph Sampson - 7, 6, 1
6 Blake Hoffarber - 11, 3, 2

Notes: Bostick is the big X-factor. Can he come in and be a legitimate scoring threat as I've predicted?


NORTHWESTERN

G Michael Thompson - 15, 3, 4
G Craig Moore - 13, 3, 3
F John Shurna - 6, 5, 1
F Kevin Coble - 16, 6, 2
C Kyle Rowley 7, 7, 1
6 Sterling Williams - 5, 3, 2

Notes: Thompson has potential to emerge as a go-to scorer. Coble's numbers should level off with more talent surrounding him.

OHIO STATE

G Anthony (Noopy) Crater - 8, 2, 5
G William Buford - 10, 3, 2
F Evan Turner - 13, 6, 3
F David Lighty - 10, 4, 2
C BJ Mullens - 18, 9, 2
6 Jeremie Simmons - 6, 2, 3

Notes: Mullens will be one of the few freshman who puts up All-American numbers from the outset.

PENN STATE

G Talor Battle - 14, 4, 4
G Danny Morrissey - 10, 2, 2
G Stanley Pringle - 9, 3, 3
F David Jackson - 9, 5, 1
F Jamelle Cornley - 15, 7, 2
6 Andrew Jones - 6, 5, 1

Notes: Cornley should see a slight up-tick in production, but the Talor Battle will make a major jump this year. His fg% was very low last year, but should improved

PURDUE

G Chris Kramer - 8, 3, 4
G Keaton Grant - 12, 3, 3
G E'Twaun Moore - 17, 4, 3
F Robbie Hummel - 14, 7, 3
C Nemanja Calasan - 8, 6, 1
6 JaJuan Johnson - 7, 6, 1

Notes: Moore emerged as a big-time scoring threat late in the season, and that should carry over into 08-09..

WISCONSIN

G Trevon Hughes - 13, 4, 3
G Jason Bohanon - 12, 3, 2
G Joe Krabbenhoft - 9, 7, 3
F Marcus Landry - 12, 7, 1
F Keaton Nankivil - 5, 6, 1
6 Jon Leuer - 7, 3, 1

Notes: Wisconsin should feature a balanced attack. Landry's scoring numbers could even approach the 15 ppg mark. He's that good.

Projected Big Ten Leaders

Top PPG
1) BJ Mullens (18)
2) Manny Harris (18)
3) E'Twaun Moore (17)

Top RPG
1) Goran Suton (10)
2) BJ Mullens (9)

3) Cyrus Tate (8)

Top APG
1) Kalin Lucas (6)
2) Al Nolen (5)

3) Anthony Crater (5)

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