Michigan State guard Kalin Lucas named preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, Spartans top team
ROSEMONT, Ill. - He came back for his senior season after rupturing an Achilles' tendon in the NCAA tournament. Now, Michigan State senior guard Kalin Lucas is the Big Ten Conference's Player of the Year, according to a media poll.
Lucas headlines the league's preseason All-Big Ten team along with Illinois guard Demetri McCamey, Purdue forward JuJuan Johnson, Purdue guard E'Twaun Moore and Wisconsin forward Jon Leuer.
Michigan State senior guard Kalin Lucas is the preseason Big Ten Conference Player of the Year.
Associated Press
Michigan State is also the league favorite, followed by Ohio State and Purdue.
On the women's side, Ohio State center Jantel Lavender is the media and coaches' Player of the Year and the Buckeyes were tabbed as the league's top team.
Iowa was second in the women's polls, followed by Michigan State. In the media poll, Michigan State and Purdue were tied for third.
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein
Comments
saginaw
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 6:02 p.m.
I told everyone that Iowa would beat MSU easily. They did 37 - 6. Enough said.
Yelmonian
Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 12:46 p.m.
Spartydidyoursister, See... the way things have worked, is over the past decade (excuse me... until RR showed up)... UM would go to a New Year's Day Bowl and MSU would go have a decent chance at making a Final Four. So MetricSU was pretty much on the money with the statement... UM can't hope for either anymore. And yes... MSU is a perennial national championship contender every year in basketball. UM used to be (under Carr) a perennial national championshipo contender in football.
Ram
Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 1:44 a.m.
MSU sure has had an easy schedule...that game in Ann Arbor was a waste of time. Everyone knows U of M is the cupcake team of the Big Ten - they couldn't even make Indiana a two possession game!
spartyisyourlilsister
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 8:07 p.m.
"Wouldn't it be nice if either U-M football or basketball had expectations beyond making a lower-level bowl and playing in the NIT?" Wow, State may finally be playing in their first high profile bowl in decades, and suddenly they are perennial national title contenders. That is after a 6-7 season last year of course.
Yelmonian
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 12:57 p.m.
Spartyisyourlittlesister, While I realize that when you have a handle that you have, that Spartan fans of the world must accept it gleefully... I don't understand how the fact that I agree with Saginaw has upset you so. It is plainly stated that MSU has an incredibliy easy schedule by Saginaw. Detroitrocks indicates the only tough school MSU played was Wisconsin. I just followed that logic. If I wrote anything that was not in line with the previous posts, and I wrote anything offensive... please let me know, so that I can steer away from that mode of opinion on further posts. Go State!
MetricSU
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 11:45 a.m.
I love the way the tide has turned in football -- especially because U-M fans don't even realize that they're basically conceding that it has turned. Three years ago an article like this would've been elicited comments about how great U-M football is and how bad MSU is in football -- the sport that really matters. Now all people like saginaw can do is hope MSU finally loses its first game of the season. And notice how saginaw mentioned football almost immediately after raising the issue -- of course -- whether MSU could live up to expectations in basketball. MSU football is on his mind, and lots of other U-M fans. Wouldn't it be nice if either U-M football or basketball had expectations beyond making a lower-level bowl and playing in the NIT?
spartyisyourlilsister
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 11:17 a.m.
Yelmonian is a perfect example why I don't cheer for any other teams in the Big Ten other than Michigan. People say, "Awww come on, you gotta support the Big Ten, when Michigan is not playing." No, I don't, just read that post and understand why I would never root for the Spartys in any situation!!
Detroitrocks
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 11:12 a.m.
Wow Saginaw - you are really letting your jealousy show! This is a story about Big 10 basketball, and the top teams and players. Michigan is mentioned throughout the article - oh, wait..........
Yelmonian
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 11:10 a.m.
I totaly agree... UM's football team is awful. I guess MSU can only beat the teams they play. And oh yeah, on topic, did you know Basketball Season starts shortly? Another final four, and a run to the championship for MSU again!
spartyisyourlilsister
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 11:05 a.m.
Why is this story posted in the Michigan Wolverines section. Who gives a crap about Sparty!!!
saginaw
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 10:56 a.m.
@ Detroitrocks, You're right in that Wisconsin is a good football team. MSU played Wiscy at home -- and the Badgers two top receivers had just returned from injury. Wisconsin had many "drops" in that game and were really rusty. Wisconsin would crush MSU today. Also, MSU could not run against ILL or NW, as injuries mount on the "O-Line" -- they will never run against Iowa. Iowa will go after Cousins with a 4 man rush, and this is the worst case scenario for a very much over-rated MSU team.
Detroitrocks
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 9:50 a.m.
Other than Wisconsin, I would agree with Saginaw: State has not played a good football team this year. As for basketball, the sky is the limit. There is a great mix of veterans vs youth that they have not had for a while. The wild card is Summers - if he steps up as a leader and plays to his ability, this team will be great. Since he will be playing for his NBA contract, I expect good things from him. The only problem is that this team is so deep with talent, issues could arise over playing time.
saginaw
Thu, Oct 28, 2010 : 8:36 a.m.
Much good news (predictions) for little brother here -- now we will see if they can live up tp expectations. I look for Iowa to easily win against MSU in football this weekend -- MSU hand an incredibly easy schedule up until this Saturday. Sorry Spartans.