No one can deny that Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger has been the top player in the Big Ten this season. The bigger question is this: Is he the best player in the country?
With each game, it appears more and more as if Sullinger is worthy of that label.
A 6-foot-9, 280-pound freshman, Sullinger is averaging 17.5 points and 10.1 rebounds for the second-ranked Buckeyes, who improved to 13-0 with Monday night’s 100-40 victory over Tennessee-Martin.
Sullinger has six double-doubles and is shooting 59.1 percent from the field. He’s been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week six out of a possible seven times – and he’s only going to get better.
Jared Sullinger had another double-double in Ohio State's victory over Tennessee-Martin on Monday. The Buckeyes improved to 13-0.
( The only question surrounding Sullinger involves Ohio State’s soft – and, in some ways, inexcusable – non-conference schedule. Thad Matta’s squad defeated Florida and Florida State in November, but since then the Buckeyes have faced just one opponent (South Carolina of the SEC) from one of the six power conferences.
Still, the more you watch Sullinger, it becomes obvious that he’s destined to flourish no matter what team Ohio State is playing. Sullinger entered the season projected as a top five pick in this summer’s NBA draft.
At this point it wouldn’t be out of the question for him to go No. 1.
In the meantime, buzz about Sullinger’s place among this season’s college standouts will continue to swirl. With conference play beginning in earnest this week, Connecticut’s Kemba Walker is Sullinger’s stiffest competition in the player of the year race. Walker, though, will probably have trouble sustaining the hot hand he enjoyed early in the season, when he averaged 30 points a game.
Kentucky freshman Terrence Jones also belongs in the conversation along with players such as Jimmer Fredette (BYU), Marcus Morris (Kansas), Demetri McCamey (Illinois), Klay Thompson (Washington State), Nolan Smith (Duke) and Derrick Williams (Arizona).
As of now, though, Sullinger is in the lead.
Don’t expect him to relinquish it anytime soon.
LEAGUE RANKINGS
(Last week’s rank in parenthesis.)
1. Ohio State (13-0, 0-0) – The Buckeyes haven’t been tested in nearly a month. (1)
2. Minnesota (11-1, 0-0) – Blake Hoffarber averages team highs in points (13.9) and assists (five). (3)
3. Michigan State (8-4, 0-0) – There’s nothing embarrassing about losing to Texas – unless it happens in a blowout at home. (2)
4. Purdue (11-1, 0-0) – JaJuan Johnson averages 19.8 points. (4)
5. Wisconsin (10-2, 0-0) – Jon Leuer is one of the country’s most underrated players. (5)
6. Illinois (10-3, 0-0) – Demetri McCamey is playing like a first-team All-American.
7. Northwestern (9-1, 0-0) – Not so fast on those NCAA tournament predictions. (7)
8. Michigan (10-2, 0-0) – Four of the Wolverines’ next five games are at home. (8)
9. Iowa (7-5, 0-0) – The Hawkeyes have won four of their last five. (11)
10. Penn State (8-4, 1-0) – Jeff Brooks scored a career-high 23 points in Monday’s win over Indiana. (10)
11. Indiana (9-5, 0-1) – Maurice Creek is averaging 5.3 points over his last six games. (9)
WHO’S HOT?
The conference – The league is the only one in the country with all of its teams touting winning records. Six Big Ten teams are ranked in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Darius Morris, Michigan – A guard, Morris was named Big Ten Player of the Week following his 26-point, 12-assist effort against Bryant. Morris is averaging 15.8 points and 7.5 assists on the season.
Al Nolen, Minnesota – It was good to see the Gophers’ standout point guard back on the court last week following a five-game absence because of an Achilles injury. Nolen played 23 minutes in Thursday’s win over South Dakota State. He scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds.
WHO’S NOT?
Indiana – The Hoosiers have played five formidable opponents this season – and lost each time. The latest setbacks occurred last week in Las Vegas, where Indiana fell to Northern Iowa (67-61) and Colorado (78-69). Things got even worse Monday, when Tom Crean’s squad lost its Big Ten opener to Penn State at home.
Northwestern – Unless it becomes a trend, losing to a mediocre team should hardly be a reason for a panic. It happens to almost every school at some point in the season. However, getting blown out by a struggling program such as St. John’s is certainly a cause for concern. And that’s exactly what Wildcats fans should be following an 85-69 setback to the Red Storm.
Big Ten Freshman of the Week – Is there any weekly award in college basketball that is less-compelling than this one in the Big Ten? Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger – who may be the best player in the entire country – has taken home this honor six out of a possible seven times. This week he shared the award with Michigan’s Tim Hardaway Jr., which added a little bit of intrigue.
THREE TO WATCH
Purdue at Michigan, Tuesday – Is Michigan for real? We’ll find out against the Boilermakers.
Minnesota at Wisconsin, Tuesday – Road wins are imperative for the Gophers to compete for the Big Ten title.
Minnesota at Michigan State, Friday – This isn’t an easy get-back-on-track game for the Spartans.
With each game, it appears more and more as if Sullinger is worthy of that label.
A 6-foot-9, 280-pound freshman, Sullinger is averaging 17.5 points and 10.1 rebounds for the second-ranked Buckeyes, who improved to 13-0 with Monday night’s 100-40 victory over Tennessee-Martin.
Sullinger has six double-doubles and is shooting 59.1 percent from the field. He’s been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week six out of a possible seven times – and he’s only going to get better.
Jared Sullinger had another double-double in Ohio State's victory over Tennessee-Martin on Monday. The Buckeyes improved to 13-0.
( The only question surrounding Sullinger involves Ohio State’s soft – and, in some ways, inexcusable – non-conference schedule. Thad Matta’s squad defeated Florida and Florida State in November, but since then the Buckeyes have faced just one opponent (South Carolina of the SEC) from one of the six power conferences.
Still, the more you watch Sullinger, it becomes obvious that he’s destined to flourish no matter what team Ohio State is playing. Sullinger entered the season projected as a top five pick in this summer’s NBA draft.
At this point it wouldn’t be out of the question for him to go No. 1.
In the meantime, buzz about Sullinger’s place among this season’s college standouts will continue to swirl. With conference play beginning in earnest this week, Connecticut’s Kemba Walker is Sullinger’s stiffest competition in the player of the year race. Walker, though, will probably have trouble sustaining the hot hand he enjoyed early in the season, when he averaged 30 points a game.
Kentucky freshman Terrence Jones also belongs in the conversation along with players such as Jimmer Fredette (BYU), Marcus Morris (Kansas), Demetri McCamey (Illinois), Klay Thompson (Washington State), Nolan Smith (Duke) and Derrick Williams (Arizona).
As of now, though, Sullinger is in the lead.
Don’t expect him to relinquish it anytime soon.
LEAGUE RANKINGS
(Last week’s rank in parenthesis.)
1. Ohio State (13-0, 0-0) – The Buckeyes haven’t been tested in nearly a month. (1)
2. Minnesota (11-1, 0-0) – Blake Hoffarber averages team highs in points (13.9) and assists (five). (3)
3. Michigan State (8-4, 0-0) – There’s nothing embarrassing about losing to Texas – unless it happens in a blowout at home. (2)
4. Purdue (11-1, 0-0) – JaJuan Johnson averages 19.8 points. (4)
5. Wisconsin (10-2, 0-0) – Jon Leuer is one of the country’s most underrated players. (5)
6. Illinois (10-3, 0-0) – Demetri McCamey is playing like a first-team All-American.
7. Northwestern (9-1, 0-0) – Not so fast on those NCAA tournament predictions. (7)
8. Michigan (10-2, 0-0) – Four of the Wolverines’ next five games are at home. (8)
9. Iowa (7-5, 0-0) – The Hawkeyes have won four of their last five. (11)
10. Penn State (8-4, 1-0) – Jeff Brooks scored a career-high 23 points in Monday’s win over Indiana. (10)
11. Indiana (9-5, 0-1) – Maurice Creek is averaging 5.3 points over his last six games. (9)
WHO’S HOT?
The conference – The league is the only one in the country with all of its teams touting winning records. Six Big Ten teams are ranked in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Darius Morris, Michigan – A guard, Morris was named Big Ten Player of the Week following his 26-point, 12-assist effort against Bryant. Morris is averaging 15.8 points and 7.5 assists on the season.
Al Nolen, Minnesota – It was good to see the Gophers’ standout point guard back on the court last week following a five-game absence because of an Achilles injury. Nolen played 23 minutes in Thursday’s win over South Dakota State. He scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds.
WHO’S NOT?
Indiana – The Hoosiers have played five formidable opponents this season – and lost each time. The latest setbacks occurred last week in Las Vegas, where Indiana fell to Northern Iowa (67-61) and Colorado (78-69). Things got even worse Monday, when Tom Crean’s squad lost its Big Ten opener to Penn State at home.
Northwestern – Unless it becomes a trend, losing to a mediocre team should hardly be a reason for a panic. It happens to almost every school at some point in the season. However, getting blown out by a struggling program such as St. John’s is certainly a cause for concern. And that’s exactly what Wildcats fans should be following an 85-69 setback to the Red Storm.
Big Ten Freshman of the Week – Is there any weekly award in college basketball that is less-compelling than this one in the Big Ten? Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger – who may be the best player in the entire country – has taken home this honor six out of a possible seven times. This week he shared the award with Michigan’s Tim Hardaway Jr., which added a little bit of intrigue.
THREE TO WATCH
Purdue at Michigan, Tuesday – Is Michigan for real? We’ll find out against the Boilermakers.
Minnesota at Wisconsin, Tuesday – Road wins are imperative for the Gophers to compete for the Big Ten title.
Minnesota at Michigan State, Friday – This isn’t an easy get-back-on-track game for the Spartans.
