Each Wednesday until the college basketball season starts, an ex-player will help The Dagger preview his former conference. Former Michigan State star Mateen Cleaves was kind enough to join us this week to provide a scouting report on the Big Ten:
1. Who's your pick to win the Big Ten this season?
I'm a Spartan through and through, but I think Purdue is going to make a run for it. They have a lot of guys coming back, they're well-coached and they're battle-tested. They went through a lot last year. If they don't get those injuries, maybe they make a really good run in the NCAA tournament.
Other Voices Worth Your Attention
Twenty players, coaches, reporters or bloggers worth following on Twitter for your daily Big Ten basketball fix.
• Jared Sullinger, Ohio State forward: @JaredSully0
• Tom Crean, Indiana coach: @TomCrean
• Joe Rexrode, Michigan State beat writer for Lansing State Journal: @LSJgreenwhite
• Paul Klee, Illinois beat writer for Champaign News-Gazette @PKlee_IlliniHQ
• Brent Yarina, Big Ten Network fan blogger: @BTNBrentsBlog
• Myron P. Medcalf, Minnesota hoops beat writer for the Star-Tribune: @GophersBBGuy
• Jon Miller, founder of hawkeyenation.com: @HawkeyeNation
• Bacari Alexander, Michigan assistant coach: @Bacari34
• Travis Miller, founder of Purdue blog, HammerAndRails.com: @HammerAndRails
• Jeff Boals, Ohio State assistant coach: @JeffBoals
• Teddy Greenstein, Northwestern beat writer for Chicago Tribune: @TeddyGreenstein
• Dylan Burkhardt, founder of UMHoops.com: @umhoops
• Jon Leuer, Wisconsin forward: @jleu30
• Lisa Byington, TV anchor/reporter for WLNS-TV in Lansing and Big Ten Network: @LisaByington
• JaJuan Johnson, Purdue forward: @BoilerBlogger25
• Mike Hall, Big Ten Network anchor: @BTNMikeHall
• Michael Rothstein, Michigan basketball beat writer for AnnArbor.com: @MikeRothstein
• Bob Baptist, Ohio State basketball beat writer for Columbus Dispatch: @bbaptisthoops
• Maurice Creek, Indiana guard: @Maurice_Creek3
• Lindsey Willhite, writer for the Daily Herald: @WillhiteHerald 2. Is there a dark horse you think could contend for the conference title?
Right now, I think Michigan State and Purdue are the favorites, but Ohio State is going to be good too and make a run. And then Wisconsin is always going to be competitive. I don't care what they have coming back.
3. Michigan State has been to two straight Final Fours. What are the Spartans' chances of getting to a third this season?
I like Michigan State because they're battle-tested. You've got guys that have been to two Final Fours, but they're not satisfied yet. If you put Kalin Lucas on that team and he doesn't get hurt, maybe we've got another national championship. It's going to hurt losing Raymar Morgan, but they'll be fine with the young kids they have coming in and the experience they have coming back. And then, Coach Izzo, he's one of the best in the country.
4. Who's your choice for Big Ten player of the year?
You've got Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers, Robbie Hummell, JaJuan Johnson, Demetri McCamey. All those guys are going to have great years. I'm a Michigan State guy but I'm a Big Ten fan. I can't wait to see all those guys play.
5. Who's the Big Ten's most underrated player?
I don't think Draymond Green gets the attention he deserves. He's the glue that keeps Michigan State's team together. I don't think he'll show up on any All-American teams, but Michigan State definitely wouldn't be the team that they are without him. A lot of people get on Kalin Lucas because he's not a vocal leader, but I think that's where Draymond steps in.
6. What Big East arena is the toughest on opposing teams?
It varied. Purdue is always tough. Wisconsin was always a tough place to play. Even Indiana was tough. It's hard for me to just pinpoint one school because when I was playing to go on the road and win a game in the Big Ten was rough. I don't care where you were. Wherever you went on the road was a dog fight.
7. If you could go back in time, what Big Ten coach would you most like to play for?
If it wasn't coach Izzo, I would say Bobby Knight. I had a lot of respect for Bobby Knight. His teams were well-prepared. He was legendary. He was crazy in a good way. So he'd be the guy.