Current record: 6-1

2000-01 record: 27-8 overall, 13-3 Big Ten

Best players: G Frank Williams, G Cory Bradford, F Brian Cook

Top newcomers: C Nick Smith, G Luther Head

Overview: The Illini are stocked with talent and their loss to Maryland looks like nothing more than an early-season letdown to a good team. Head coach Bill Self has a two-deep rotation as good as any team in the nation and his squad doesn’t have to play at Iowa - the only team in conference near its level. Illinois went 8-0 in home Big Ten games last season and could duplicate that this year.

Current record: 6-2

2000-01 record: 23-12, 7-9

Best players: F Reggie Evans, G Luke Recker,

F Duez Henderson

Top newcomers: G Pierre Pierce, G Chauncey Leslie

Overview: Iowa started its march toward league dominance by winning the Big Ten Tournament in March and the Hawkeyes will be even better this year. Super-rebounder Evans is a strong, natural player in the post and Recker seems as if he has been playing college basketball since the first Bush administration. Iowa will play a huge role in the Big Ten championship race and will make noise in March as well.

Current record: 4-1

2000-01 record: 18-14, 5-11

Best players: F Dusty Rychart, F Michael Bauer, G Shane Schilling

Top newcomers: F Rick Rickert, F Jerry Holman

Overview: Here’s a vote for Minnesota as this year’s surprise team of the Big Ten. The Golden Gophers are deeper than they have been in years and have two great defensive guards in Kevin Burleson and Kerwin Fleming . Rychart is one of the most underrated scorers in the conference and Rickert is a lock for the league’s all-rookie team. The only thing the team lacks is winning experience and it should pick up plenty of that this season.

Current record: 4-2

2000-01 record: 21-13, 10-6

Best players: F Jared Jeffries, G Tom Coverdale, G Dane Fife

Top newcomers: G Donald Perry, G Mark Johnson

Overview: Head coach Mike Davis, in his second season, has the Hoosiers headed back to league prominence. Sure, Fife still whines too much, but Jeffries is a solid second-year player and can score bunches within Indiana’s system. But IU’s stock will rise and fall with its defense - which held opponents to an all-time league-low 38.2 percent shooting rate last season.

Current record: 4-2

2000-01 record: 28-5, 13-3

Best players: G Marcus Taylor, F Al Anagonye, F Adam Ballinger

Top newcomers: G Kelvin Torbert, G Chris Hill

Overview: Last year, we said MSU had earned the Big Ten’s top spot until they are officially displaced. Well, we lied. The Spartans are not as talented, strong or polished as they have been in their four-year championship run. Look for Tom Izzo to squeeze as much as he can out of this team, but don’t expect the world this season.

Current record: 4-0

2000-01 record: 20-11, 11-5

Best players: G Brian Brown,

G Boban Savovic, G Brent Darby

Top newcomers: F Terence Dials,

G Brandon Fuss-Cheatham

Overview: The Buckeyes have the potential to be very good if their interior offense and defense shapes up. On the perimeter, Ohio State can compete with any team in the country, led by slashing Brown and sharp-shooters Savovic and guard Sean Connolly. But somebody is going to have to fill the 6-foot-11 void left by departed center Ken Johnson if the Buckeyes have a chance at the league title. Bet on an NCAA bid though.

Current record: 4-2

2000-01 record: 17-15, 6-10

Best players: F Rodney Smith,

C John Allison, G Kenneth Lowe

Top newcomers: G Darmetreis Kilgore,

G Brandon McKnight

Overview: Head coach Gene Keady returns 84 percent of his scoring, 81 percent of his rebounding and 68 percent of his assists from a team that went to the NIT final eight last season. Purdue always plays tough, which is usually enough drudge out an extra win or two in the Big Ten season. But Keady has also had far more talented teams and far better chances to compete for the league crown than this season.

Current record: 2-3

2000-01 record: 10-18, 4-12

Best players: F LaVell Blanchard, F Bernard Robinson Jr., G Gavin Groninger

Top newcomers: G Dommanic Ingerson, F Chuck Bailey

Overview: The Wolverines return four of five starters from last year’s team, including Preseason All-Big Ten selection Blanchard. While LaVell is good, he is not good enough to win games by himself. He needs strong play from his supporting cast to free up his talents, so look for new head coach Tommy Amaker to try to spread the ball around a relatively veteran squad.

Current record: 4-1

2000-01 record: 11-19, 3-13

Best players: F Tavaras Hardy, G Winston Blake,

G Collier Drayton

Top newcomers: F Vedran Vukusic, F Davor Duvancic

Overview: The Wildcats should improve this season, but it won’t be enough to fully escape the clutches of the conference cellar. Northwestern actually has two seniors on this year’s roster - the first time in three years the team has had even one senior. The Wildcats take care of the ball and have long-range shooters, but don’t have enough talent or athleticism to compete with the league’s big boys.

Current record: 2-5

2000-01 record: 18-11, 9-7

Best players: G Kirk Penney, F Charlie Wills, G Travon Davis

Top newcomers: G Devin Harris, F Mike Wilkinson

Overview: If we could put Wisconsin lower, we would, but Penn State is just too bad to move up. We’ll see how the young Badgers respond to the bump and grind of the Big Ten season, but it looks like it could be ugly. Six of Wisconsin’s top eight scorers from last season are gone, and they took most of the team’s (limited) offensive capabilities with them. To be successful, Wisconsin will have to dominate defensively and count on Penney to shoot the lights out.

Current record: 1-4

2000-01 record: 21-12, 7-9

Best players: F Tyler Smith, G Brandon Watkins, G Jamaal Tate

Top newcomers: F Daren Tielsch, C Kevin Fellows

Overview: If anybody can relate to MSU’s plight, it’s Penn State. The Nittany Lions lost three players who averaged 15 points or more per game last year and have second-rate offensive tools. Plus, the Crispin brothers are gone, which means Jerry Dunn’s team has no identity and no chance.