Chicago - In the race for the Big Ten Championship, conference superstars emerge to lead their team to rise above the competition.
Illinois point guard Frank Williams looks to be the big dog of the conference again, as the media and coaches tabbed him as the 2001 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year.
But Williams already announced his intention to leave the Illini for NBA riches after this season, so who will be the conference’s next great guard?
It could be MSU sophomore Marcus Taylor.
Despite not being a preseason All-Big Ten selection, Taylor is one of the conference’s top returnees from last season.
“We didn’t see much of Marcus last year because we just played them once,” Illinois head coach Bill Self said at Sunday’s Big Ten Conference Basketball Media Day. “But he’s one of the most talented guys in America. He can score, he can run the team, he had a very, very good freshman campaign.
“I think that Marcus Taylor will emerge as one of the premier players in America.”
In the summer, Taylor and Williams were roommates at the USA Basketball tryouts in Colorado Springs, Colo. It was there that the players became friends and gained plenty of respect for one another, Taylor said.
“I’ve played against him and played with him this summer in the USA Basketball tryouts,” Taylor said. “I had a chance to talk to him a lot. He’s cool. I didn’t know too much about him before that and he’s a great person.
Williams said the bond between him and Taylor formed instantly.
“We kind of just clicked,” Williams said. “I don’t know what it is, but we didn’t get the chance to go and hang out. We just sat around the room and just basically talked a lot.”
And with MSU and Illinois, the defending Big Ten co-champions, meeting twice this season, Williams said the chatter between him and Taylor will continue.
But the talk won’t be as friendly on the court, he said.
“I don’t think it will be a grudge match (when we play),” Williams said. “But it will be a fun match. I know a little bit about him now and he probably knows a little about me. There will probably be a lot of trash talking, too.”
Self said he looks forward to watching Williams and Taylor clash.
“I think it will be a great match-up,” Self said. “The one thing about all Michigan State guys is that they’re strong and (strength is) one of Frank’s biggest strengths. So from my standpoint, I think it will be a fun matchup to watch.”
MSU head coach Tom Izzo said he won’t focus on the one-on-one matchup, but he recognizes Williams and Taylor as two of the best guards in the Big Ten.
“There’s no doubt Marcus is going to be our key player as a guard and Frankie is their’s,” Izzo said. “I love Frankie Williams. I think Bill (Self) has done a great job with him, bringing him along.
“(But) I don’t think playing against one guy makes a difference.”
