The Daily basketball writers preview the other Big Ten teams and predict which teams will finish on top.

Michigan State

What’s good: Junior forward Raymar Morgan is back. The first-team preseason All Big Ten honoree averaged 14.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season. He can play power forward in a small lineup and the three spot if Michigan State goes big. Unlike most of the conference, the Spartans aren’t lacking down low, and 6-foot-10, 245-pound Goran Suton is a brute force.

What’s not: Losing Drew Neitzel at shooting guard hurts, but an athletic Chris Allen should fill his shoes. Highly touted recruit Delvon Roe's health is a major issue after the forward had two knee surgeries in the last year and missed his entire senior season of high school ball.

Bottom Line: Tom Izzo’s squad perennially flourishes because of tenacious defense and strong rebounding. The Spartans will be a tough draw, and should go far into the postseason.

Purdue

What's good: The Boilermakers return all of their starters from last year's NCAA Tournament squad. Purdue shot 39.6 percent from behind the arc last year, best in the Big Ten. Most of the threes came from a trio of sharpshooters — guards E'Twaun Moore and Keaton Grant and forward Robbie Hummel. Hummel was named preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, and Purdue's motion offense will provide him plenty of opportunities from downtown.

What's not: Purdue doesn't have many weaknesses. But the Boilermakers were ninth in the conference in rebounding last season and lack a bruiser down low. At 6-foot-1, Hummel led the team with 6.1 rebounds per game, and Purdue coach Matt Painter will have to move Hummel inside more often or get his players to be more physical inside.

Bottom line: Purdue is one of the hottest teams in the conference. It has a trio of the best shooters in the country, but when the shots stop falling, expect Purdue to fall as well.

Wisconsin

What’s good: Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan’s trademark of solid team defense and few fouls should shine with senior forwards Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft. Landry improved greatly in his first three seasons in Madison and can shut down big men better than most in the conference. Krabbenhoft is a tough rebounder and returns as the Badgers’ leading assist man. If he takes control, Wisconsin will distribute the ball well. Junior point guard Trévon Hughes, who struggled with an ankle injury down the stretch last season, can take over a game if he’s healthy.

What’s not: With the departure of three valuable seniors, Brian Butch, Greg Stiemsma and Michael Flowers, the Badgers will need production from some new players. Butch dominated the paint and Flowers handled Ryan's swing offense with ease. Hughes’s health will remain an issue throughout the season.

Bottom line: It usually doesn’t matter who’s on Wisconsin’s roster — Ryan’s squads are always conference-title contenders.

Ohio State

What's good: Ohio State coach Thad Matta can flat-out recruit. Rivals.com rated the incoming Buckeye class as the fifth-best in the country, including the website's No. 1 rated player, B.J. Mullins. Mullins is a 7-foot-1 beast of a man and will be a Greg Oden-like impact player — but a better shooter. Guards David Lighty and Evan Turner, who both averaged over eight points a game last year, return to provide some stability in the backcourt.

What's not: Although Matta put together one of the nation's top recruiting classes, it's likely some of his recruits will bolt for the NBA at the end of the season. Over the last two years, three Buckeyes entered the draft after their freshman seasons. Because of that, their success will depend on how well the freshmen can adjust to the college game.

Bottom line: Ohio State lost almost all of its talent from last year, but should be able to replace it with one of the best recruiting classes Columbus has ever seen.

Illinois

What’s good: The Illini have a strong backcourt in returning guards Demetri McCamey, Chester Frazier and Trent Meacham. And remember Alex Legion?