He also shot an stellar 66.7 percent from the field.

What’s not: Coach Todd Lickliter enters his second season in Iowa City after a disappointing 6-12 conference record and eighth-place finish. The lack of a true center follows the Big Ten’s shortage down low. After losing five players from last season, Iowa has seven new faces, six them are on scholarship.

Bottom line: The Hawkeyes will inevitably be playing to become the best of the bottom half of the Big Ten. How quickly the young players can mesh will decide if an NIT appearance is a real possibility.

Northwestern

What's good: The Wildcats return eight starters, but most of them have never experienced a winning season. There are three players returning that averaged over 10 points per game last season, including forward Kevin Coble, who averaged 15.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

What's not: Northwestern has consistently been one of the worst teams in college basketball. Last year, the Wildcats finished with just one conference win (against Michigan). Although the incoming recruiting class is filled with big men, Northwestern lacks a dominant post presence and was dead last in the Big Ten last season in rebounding.

Bottom line: They say defense wins championships. Maybe that's why Northwestern hasn't won a Big Ten title since 1933.

Indiana

What’s good: Almost nothing. After Kelvin Sampson was fired as head coach last year for recruiting violations, almost all of his players left the program. With few returning players, the Hoosiers will have to rely on the eight incoming freshman and two junior college transfers. Junior Devon Dumes, who transferred from Eastern Michigan, and highly touted freshman Verdell Jones will control the backcourt.

What’s not: At this point last season, Indiana was a favorite to win the Big Ten. This year, the Hoosiers are a expected to finish last. They return just two players from last year’s team — Brett Finkelmeier and Kyle Taber, who combined for 1.6 points per game. Taber might start, but Finkelmeier has played just 11 minutes in his collegiate career. With 10 new players and so much inexperience, first-year Indiana coach Tom Crean should trade notes with Michigan coach John Beilein on the growing pains of coaching a young, new team.

Bottom line: The Hoosiers are forced to start at least four players new to the program. Expect a season similar to Michigan’s last year.