The Starting Fives: Big Ten

Big Ten

Unlike the NBA, where most starting lineups are set in stone weeks before the season, NCAA starting fives are highly unsettled and constantly in flux. Going through the BCS leagues this week, I'll be projecting the starting fives for each team. Also included is the team's most important bench option, and some notes on other possible lineups.

In the case where a quality player is ineligible for the fall semester or suspended for the opening few games, I've still included them in the projections. These are really supposed to be projections of how lineups will look in February and March.

Next week, based on these lineups, I'll be throwing out statistical projections for major BCS contributors.


BIG TEN


ILLINOIS

G Demetri McCamey  So
G Trent Meacham Sr
G Alex Legion So
F Mike Davis So
F Mike Tisdale So

6 Chester Frazier (PG)

The team is going nowhere this year, so you might as well start young, which is why Frazier won't end up in the starting five. Besides Frazier, the other dangerous bench player is wing Calvin Brock. Bill Cole and one of the newcomers will provide frontcourt help.


INDIANA

G Devan Dumes Jr
G Verdell Jones Fr
G Nick Williams Fr
F Kyle Taber Sr

C Tom Pritchard Fr

6 Malik Story Fr

Notes: Don't feel bad if you have no clue who these guys are. Die-hard Indiana fans are struggling to figure out their roster as well.  Story could start over Williams, and the loser of that battle will be the sixth man. Pritchard should probably win the starting spot over Juco transfer Tijan Jobe, who will end up giving Crean 10-15 mpg a game. SG Matt Roth will probably be the other component of IU's regular rotation.


IOWA

G Jeff Peterson So
G Matt Gatens Fr
G Jake Kelly So
F Cyrus Tate Sr
F Jarryd Cole So

6 Anthony Tucker (G)

Notes: Outside of Tate, Iowa's playing rotation is loaded with youth, but short on talent.  Besides Tucker, the other quality reserves are also guards.  Devan Bawinkel and Jermain Davis are both off-guards from the Juco ranks.  In the frontcourt, David Palmer should likely see more than just mop-up duty this year, while one of freshmen Andrw Brommer and Aaron Fuller will emerge as the go-to forward off the bench. Finally senior JR Angle should see 10-15 mpg as a wing.


MICHIGAN

G Manny Harris So
G Laval Lucas-Perry Fr

F Anthony Wright So
F DeShawn Sims Jr
C Zack Gibson Jr

6 Kelvin Grady So

Notes: Lucas-Perry isn't eligible for the first month, but should emerge as the eventual partner to Harris in the backcourt.  Jevohn Shepherd will see time backing up Wright, but the roster's biggest issue is a lack of front-court depth. Freshman newcomer Ben Cronin or walk-on Eric Puls will have to be the main 4/5 off the bench, but neither seems ready to contribute much.


MICHIGAN STATE

G Kalin Lucas So
G Chris Allen So
F Raymar Morgan Jr
F Delvon Roe Fr
C Goran Suton Sr

6 Marquise Gray (PF)

Notes: Roe is by no means a lock to start, as Gray has been a starter at times in the past. Travis Walton will back up Lucas, while Durrell Summers will see substantial time as the reserve 2 & 3. Tom Herzog or Idong Ibok will emerge as Suton's understudy.


MINNESOTA

G Al Nolen So
G Lawrence Westbrook Jr
F Devron Bostick Jr
F Damian Johnson Jr
C Ralph Sampson Fr

6 Blake Hoffarber (SG)

Notes: If Nolen falters as the PG, Tubby Smithh could start Westbrook at the 1 and Hoffarber at the 2. Besides Hoffarber, the other quality reserve will be another young guard, Devoe Joseph.  Up front, Jonathan Williams and Paul Carter will see time as well.


NORTHWESTERN

G Michael Thompson So
G Craig Moore Sr
F John Shurna Fr
F Kevin Coble Jr
C Kyle Rowley Fr

6 Sterling Williams (G/F)

Notes: In various publications, you'll see Northwestern's lineup projected in various ways. Rowley will battle fellow freshman Luka Mirkovic in the post.  Small forward is also a potential revolving door, as Shurna will have to fight off Jeff Ryan, Williams, and perhaps back up guard Jeremy Nash for the final starting spot.

OHIO STATE

G Anthony (Noopy) Crater Fr
G William Buford Fr
F Evan Turner So
F David Lighty Jr
C BJ Mullens Fr

6 Jeremie Simmons (G)

Notes: This is another team whose lineup is anything but certain. What we do know is that besides the six guys listed, the other main contributors will be sophomore's Jon Diebler (SG) and Dallas Lauderdale (PF), and Juco forward Nikola Kecman (although Kecman's eligibility is still uncertain at this point). Simmons will battle Crater for the starting PG role, but there's also a slim chance neither Crater of Buford start. Matta could play Turner at the 2, Lighty at the 3, and give Lauderdale or Kecman the starting PF job.

PENN STATE

G Talor Battle So
G Danny Morrissey Sr
G Stanley Pringle Sr
F David Jackson So
F Jamelle Cornley Sr

6 Andrew Jones (F)

Notes: Besides those six, return forward Jeff Brooks and newcomer Chris Babb should emerge as the usual backups. Morrisey could end up as the sixth man, with Jackson sliding into his more natural small forward spot, and Jones helping do the dirty work up front with Cornley.

PURDUE

G Chris Kramer Jr
G Keaton Grant Jr
G E'Twaun Moore So
F Robbie Hummel So
C Nemanja Calasan Sr

6 JaJuan Johnson (F)

Notes: While Marcus Green and newcomer Lewis Jackson provide depth in the backcourt, Purdue has no other real option besides Johnson up front. Walk-on senior Chris Reid is the only other play taller than 6'4".

WISCONSIN

G Trevon Hughes Jr
G Jason Bohanon Jr
G Joe Krabbenhoft Sr
F Marcus Landry Sr
F Keaton Nankivil So

6 Jon Leuer (F)

Notes: Four of Wisconsin's five starters are set. Nankivil and Leuer will battle for the right to start alongside Landry. In the backcourt, talented freshman Jordan Taylor will see substantial time, while little used sophomore Tim Jarmusz could also see 10-12 mpg as a 2 or a 3.

Think my projections are off, let me know below where you differ! Also, let me know if there's any recent roster changes I've missed.