Friday, November 11, 2016 // Tip Off
8B

while averaging 10.2 points in 
his first season at the collegiate 
level. Purdue will also benefit 
from the veteran experience of 
former Wolverine Spike Albrecht, 
who returns to his home state 
as a graduate transfer and the 
lone Boilermaker to have won an 
NCAA Tournament game.

While 
Purdue 
may 
be 

overlooked because of the caliber 
of the other three teams at the top, 
the Boilermakers have the pieces 
in place to make their presence 
felt in the title race.

No. 25 Maryland

The final team in that four-way 

tie for third place on the preseason 
AP Top 25, the Terrapins fell 
short of expectations after being 
tabbed as the favorite to win the 
conference crown before last 
season. But they bounced back 
with a NCAA Tournament run that 
lasted until the Elite Eight — on 
par with Wisconsin and Indiana 
for the best showing of any Big 
Ten team — before succumbing 
to the top-seeded team in their 
region, Kansas.

Junior guard Melo Trimble 

returns to carry the load for 
Maryland, despite playing well 
enough his freshman year to 
warrant the Big Ten Preseason 
Player of the Year nod at last 
season’s outset. While that title 
belongs to Wisconsin’s Hayes 
now, 
Trimble 
should 
remain 

one of the best players in the 
conference. Last year, he led the 
team in scoring average with 14.8 
points per game, 3-pointers with 
58, assists with an average of 4.9 
and steals with 44.

The Terrapins will look to 

ride their momentum from the 

end of last season in order to 
position themselves back into the 
conversation for the conference 
title this year. 

Ohio State

Landing in the middle of the 

pack in the conference last year, 
just above Michigan at 11-7, the 
Buckeyes have the ability to crash 
the party at the top this season. 
With all five starters returning 
to the team, Ohio State brings a 
developing core made up of three 
juniors, a senior and a sophomore 
to the table.

Sophomore 
guard 
JaQuan 

Lyle, a rising star, announced 
his arrival to the collegiate level 
last season with an average of 
11.2 points, 4.2 assists and 4.7 
rebounds per game. Meanwhile, 
senior forward Marc Loving, an 
established presence, capitalized 
on 
his 
leadership 
role 
with 

14 points, 1.5 assists and 5.3 
rebounds per game. Together, 
the pair will likely spearhead that 
effort for the Buckeyes this year.

Growing into their roles both 

individually and collectively, the 
starting five seems poised for a 
breakthrough, which could lead 
Ohio State to make a splash in the 
Big Ten this season.

BIG TEN
From Page 7B

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ALLISON FARRAND / LUNA ANNA ARCHEY/DAILY

Wisconsin’s Bronson Koenig (top) is back to run the point for the ninth-ranked 
Badgers, while Indiana’s Thomas Bryant (bottom) came back to school for his 
sophomore season for the 11th-ranked Hoosiers.

