Illinois

(10-5 Big Ten, 22-7 overall)

Key Players: Frank Williams, junior guard - 16.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 4.0 apg;

Brian Cook, junior forward - 12.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 1.3 bpg;

Williams can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, from wherever he wants on offense. Cook is a sporadic force capable of blowing up with an offensive assault just as easily as he could not be a factor.

Player to watch: Robert Archibald, senior forward - 10.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 1.0 bpg;

Archibald is a tough pivot player with polished low-post moves.

Woike - Why they’ll win: Not only are they unfairly talented, they may be the hottest team in the country. Illinois has won seven straight, putting themselves right back into the thick of the Big Ten Championship hunt.

Rice - Why they won’t win: The Fighting Illini might have the leading offense in the league, but they aren’t always able to put together two halves of basketball.

Ohio State

(10-5 Big Ten, 19-7 overall)

Key Players: Brian Brown, senior guard - 15.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 3.2 apg;

Brent Darby, junior guard - 12.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 1.8 apg;

Brown is lethal spotting up for open jumpers or creating off the dribble, and Darby has the ability to slice through defenders on the perimeter and baseline.

Player to watch: Boban Savovic, senior guard - 11.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 3.8 apg;

Savovic is a pure scorer who is deadly behind the arc. He’s great at moving without the ball and gets plenty of open looks.

Rice - Why they’ll win: Ohio State’s guard duo of Brown and Darby are arguably the most potent in the nation.

Woike - Why they won’t win: Ohio State relies heavily on their guards, and rightfully so. But, Ohio State lacks a prominent post player. Without someone they can go to in the post during crunch time, the Buckeyes will have to wait for the NCAAs to grab more than two tournament wins.

Indiana

(10-5 Big Ten, 18-10 overall)

Key Players: Jared Jeffries, sophomore forward - 15.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 1.3 bpg;

Tom Coverdale, junior guard - 12.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 4.8 apg;

Jeffries is the front-runner for Big Ten Player of the Year, and is the most well-rounded player in the conference. Coverdale is a good passer who can hit big shots from all over the floor.

Player to watch: Jarrad Odle, senior forward - 9.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 0.2 bpg;

Odle is a good shooter who gives defenders matchup problems with size.

Rice - Why they’ll win: Jeffries, otherwise known as the future Big Ten Player of the Year, is also the future of basketball as we know it. Jeffries is the reason the Hoosiers will win the tourney.

Woike - Why they won’t win: There’s little question about Jeffries’ superstar status. But can Coverdale, Odle, forward Kyle Hornsby and the rest of the mediocre supporting cast continue to play at the level they have? Believers in teams of destiny would say “yes.” My voice of reason says “no.”

Wisconsin

(10-5 Big Ten, 17-11 overall)

Key Players: Kirk Penney, junior guard - 14.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 1.6 apg;

Charlie Wills, senior forward - 9.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 1.9 apg;

Penney is the only returning starter from last year’s squad. The 6-foot-5 guard can present matchup troubles and score in bunches. Wills doesn’t score often, but gives opponents headaches with defense.

Player to watch: Travon Davis, senior guard - 7.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 1.9 apg;

Davis low-error style is ideal for a low-scoring offense like Wisconsin’s.

Woike - Why they’ll win: Penney can flat-out shoot, especially in high-pressure situations. Wills, Penney and Davis provide solid leadership for a young team that hasn’t realized they shouldn’t be contending.

Rice - Why they won’t win: Wisconsin is a solid team, but it’s vulnerable to an upset. Their record is in the upper echelon of the Big Ten, but that’s about it. They’re eighth in scoring, eighth in team shooting percentage and tenth in three-point shooting. If you can’t shoot the ball consistently, you can’t advance in the tournament.

MSU

(9-6 Big Ten, 18-10 overall)

Key Players: Marcus Taylor, sophomore guard - 16.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg and 5.4 apg;

Adam Ballinger, junior forward - 11.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 0.6 bpg;

Taylor has surged of late and is playing like the player head coach Tom Izzo recruited. Ballinger has blossomed as his aggressiveness has grown.

Player to watch: Chris Hill, freshman guard - 11.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.3 apg;

Hill was the least heralded of MSU’s three freshman. Now, the combo-guard could be called the most productive. Hill has consistently been a terrific spot-up jump shooter for the Spartans with a knack for knowing when to slash and go to the rim.

Woike - Why they’ll win: A big reason MSU is one of the hottest teams in the tournament is that Taylor has emerged as one of the best sophomores in the nation. With Ballinger’s versatility, junior forward Al Anagonye’s presence and the freshman trio the Spartans can hurt the opposition a lot of different ways.

Rice - Why they won’t win: Most of us were underclassmen during MSU’s Final Four runs, but as we’ve moved on, so have the Spartans, e.g. Jason Richardson and Zach Randolph. The freshman just don’t have the experience to handle the intensity of tournament play.

Minnesota

(8-6 Big Ten, 15-10 overall)

Key Players: Rick Rickert, freshman forward - 14.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg and 1.2 bpg;

Dusty Rychart, senior forward - 13.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg and 2.2 apg;

The pair of forwards have been a huge part of the Golden Gophers’ surprise success. Rickert is a multitooled big-man who’s the favorite for Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and Rychart is a solid veteran with a soft shooting touch in and out of the paint.

Player to watch: Kerwin Fleming, senior guard - 7.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 1.5 apg;

Fleming is a quick guard who has exploded in Big Ten Tournament action before.

Rice - Why they’ll win: The Golden Gophers are one of the biggest surprises in the Big Ten this season, partly because of Rickert, and when he plays well the Gophers are capable of doing damage.

Woike - Why they won’t win: Rickert can be rattled, and while Rychart is spectacularly solid, no one else seems to be able to take over a game. Couple that with nearly 16 turnovers each time out and the Golden Gophers’ bubble should burst.

Northwestern

(7-7 Big Ten, 16-10 overall)

Key Players: Winston Blake, junior guard - 13.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.8 apg;

Jitim Young, sophomore guard - 10.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.4 spg;

Blake was the Wildcats’ leading scorer last year and hasn’t disappointed this season. Young is a deceptively quiet scorer who gets lost in the shuffle.

Player to watch: Tavaras Hardy, senior forward - 12.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 2.5 apg;

Hardy is one of two seniors on the team and a versatile offensive threat. Besides being a clutch scorer, Hardy’s also a solid defender and shot-blocker.

Rice - Why they’ll win: The Wildcats will win because they’re smarter than every other team in the league. Head coach Bill Carmody coached under the legendary Pete Carril at Princeton, where he was a student of the infamous backdoor offense.

Woike - Why they won’t win: I love what Carmody has done with the Wildcat program. They look as good as they’ve been for a little while. But, I just don’t think the Wildcats have the talent or big-game experience to win.

Michigan

(5-9 Big Ten, 10-15 overall)

Key Players: LaVell Blanchard, junior forward - 14.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 1.5 apg;

Chris Young, senior center - 10.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 1.4 bpg;

Blanchard’s numbers are down from his sophomore campaign, but he’s become a better team player. Young has the ability to score in the post and is U-M’s heart.

Player to watch: Bernard Robinson Jr., sophomore forward - 11.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 2.4 apg;

Robinson Jr. is one of the most athletic players on the floor whenever he plays. Whether shooting or lashing, this sophomore can score.

Woike - Why they’ll win: Winners of the inaugural Big Ten Tournament in 1998, the Wolverines have been underachieving all year. Either Robinson Jr. or Blanchard could completely change the complexion of a game with their irrefutable skill.

Rice - Why they won’t win: Come on. Let’s be honest. What legitimate argument could possibly be made for the Wolverines to do anything beyond a first-round exit?

Iowa

(5-10 Big Ten, 16-13 overall)

Key Players: Luke Recker, senior guard - 16.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.7 apg;

Reggie Evans, senior forward - 16.2 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 1.5 spg;

Recker and Evans are the best one-two punch in the conference despite the Hawkeyes’ struggles. Recker is a good long-range shooter and penetrator, while Evans patrols the inside for Iowa.

Player to watch: Pierre Pierce, freshman guard - 7.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.4 apg;

Pierce is a flashy point guard who can score and distribute. His rookie campaign has been rocky, but he is improving.

Woike - Why they’ll win: They are without question the most frightening team in the tournament. Recker could score 40 on any given night, and Evans could score 30 and grab 15 boards. The pair are a lot like their whole team - if they do what they’re capable of, they’d be near impossible to beat.

Rice - Why they won’t win: Head coach Steve Alford took Recker and Evans out of the starting lineup against MSU on Jan. 22 because they complained about the pregame meal. The Hawkeyes just don’t have the mental makeup to win.

Purdue

(4-11 Big Ten, 17-11 overall)

Key Players: Willie Deane, junior guard - 17.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 3.1 apg;

Rodney Smith, senior forward - 9.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 1.2 apg;

Deane has sprung onto the Big Ten scene out of relative obscurity and deserves consideration for the All Big Ten team. Smith is a versatile big man who is comfortable playing on the perimeter or in the pivot.

Player to watch: John Allison, senior center - 9.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 1.8 bpg;

Allison gives the Boilermakers more than a big body. The senior adds consistency under the rim and is a good shot-blocker.

Rice - Why they’ll win: Two words, WIllie Deane. His coach may not think anyone on the Boilermakers can play defense, but Deane sure can play offense. His range and slashing ability has made him the leading scorer in the Big Ten.

Woike - Why they won’t win: Head coach Gene Keady hasn’t wasted any opportunity to blast this team this season. He’s said they don’t play with typical Boilermaker grit normally seen with Keady coached teams. This team loves to shoot long threes. But unfortunately they’ve shot themselves out of more games than they’ve won.

Penn State

(3-12 Big Ten, 7-19 overall)

Key Players: Sharif Chambliss, sophomore guard - 14.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 1.2 spg;

Brandon Watkins, junior guard - 13.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 4.2 apg;

Chambliss has been one of the better-kept secrets in the Big Ten, and Watkins has stepped in for the graduated Joe Crispin at point guard on the struggling team.

Player to watch: Tyler Smith, senior forward, - 12.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 0.6 bpg;

Smith is the only returning starter from last year’s Nittany Lions team that advanced to the round of 16.

Woike - Why they’ll win: They shot more three pointers during the Big Ten season than any other team in the conference. Apply the monkey in front of a typewriter theory to them and you can see why they could shock everyone.

Rice - Why they won’t win: Head coach Jerry Dunn deserves a lot of credit for this season. He has kept the team interested and continued to motivate it to play hard during a down year. Unfortunately, playing hard doesn’t always equal victories. You can expect the Nittany Lions to exit early.