Michigan State, Kalin Lucas lead AnnArbor.com preseason Big Ten basketball media poll

Michigan State senior guard Kalin Lucas is the best player in the Big Ten, according to a poll of 11 Big Ten beat writers.

Associated Press

In March, Kalin Lucas laid on the floor in the NCAA tournament, wincing in pain. The then-junior guard tore his Achilles' tendon. For the moment, Michigan State's chances at the Final Four looked dashed.

The Spartans made the Final Four anyway.

Lucas returned and he is the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year in an AnnArbor.com poll of 11 journalists. The Spartans were picked by 10 of 11 voters as the league's top team.

Those two categories were among a variety of topics AnnArbor.com surveyed. Their individual votes are confidential, but the voters names are below. Where did your team end up?

The teams 1. Michigan State (10) 120 2. Ohio State (1) 106 3. Illinois 96 4. Purdue 89 5. Wisconsin 79 6. Minnesota 70 7. Northwestern 54 8. Indiana 38 9. Penn State 33 10. Michigan 28 11. Iowa 13

All Big Ten team (7 men because of ties): JaJuan Johnson, Sr., F, Purdue* 11 Demetri McCamey, Sr., G, Illinois 8 Kalin Lucas, Sr., G, Michigan State 8 E'Twaun Moore, Sr., G, Purdue 7 Jon Leuer, Sr., F/C, Wisconsin 5 Draymond Green, Jr., F, Michigan State 5 Talor Battle, Sr., G, Penn State 5 Others receiving votes: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State (2); Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota (1); Durrell Summers, Michigan State (1); John Shurna, Northwestern (1); William Buford, Ohio State (1) Player of the year: Kalin Lucas, Sr., G, Michigan State 4 Others receiving votes: Demetri McCamey, Illinois (3); Jon Leuer, Wisconsin (2); JaJuan Johnson, Purdue (1); Draymond Green, Michigan State (1)

Rookie of the year: Jared Sullinger, F, Ohio State* 11

Most overrated player: Mike Davis, Sr., F, Illinois 2 Durrell Summers, Sr., G/F, Michigan State 2 Others receiving votes: Ralph Sampson III, Minnesota (1); John Shurna, Northwestern (1); Michael Thompson, Northwestern (1); Kalin Lucas, Michigan State (1); Demetri McCamey, Illinois (1); Jon Diebler, Ohio State (1); William Buford, Ohio State (1).

Most underrated player: Michael Thompson, Northwestern 2 Others receiving votes: Keaton Nankivil, Wisconsin (1); Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin (1); Talor Battle, Penn State (1); David Lighty, Ohio State (1); Mike Davis, Illinois (1); E’Twaun Moore, Purdue (1); Jarryd Cole, Iowa (1); Jon Leuer, Wisconsin (1); Draymond Green, Michigan State (1).

Player most likely to disappoint: Kalin Lucas, Sr., G, Michigan State 2 Jon Leuer, Sr., F/C, Wisconsin 2 Others receiving votes: Al Nolen, Minnesota (1); Delvon Roe, Michigan State (1); Durrell Summers, Michigan State (1); Ralph Sampson III, Minnesota (1); Mike Tisdale, Illinois (1); Jon Diebler, Ohio State (1); Demetri McCamey, Illinois (1)

Player most likely to surprise: Maurice Creek, Soph., F, Indiana 2 Others receiving votes: Delvon Roe, Michigan State (1); Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan (1); Eric May, Iowa (1); Kelsey Barlow, Purdue (1); Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota (1); Lewis Jackson, Purdue (1); Christian Watford, Indiana (1); Terone Johnson, Purdue (1); Mike Davis, Illinois (1).

Team most likely to disappoint: Illinois 4 Others receiving votes: Northwestern (3); Purdue (2); Wisconsin (1); Minnesota (1).

Team most likely to surprise: Wisconsin 3 Others receiving votes: Indiana (2); Minnesota (2); Purdue (2); Illinois (1); Northwestern (1)

Game most interested in seeing Michigan State at Ohio State, Feb. 15 6 Others Receiving Votes: Michigan State at Illinois, Jan. 18 (2); Ohio State at Purdue, Feb. 19/20 (1); Illinois at Purdue, March 1 (1); Illinois at Michigan State, Feb. 19 (1).

Best quote - player: Draymond Green, Jr., F, Michigan State 5 Others receiving votes: Verdell Jones III, Indiana (1); Talor Battle, Penn State (1); Cully Payne, Iowa (1); Lewis Jackson, Purdue (1); Mike Davis, Illinois (1); No idea (1).

Best quote - coach: Tom Izzo, Michigan State 8 Others receiving votes: Bruce Weber, Illinois (2); Matt Painter, Purdue (1)

Who wins the Big Ten/ACC Challenge: Big Ten 9 ACC 2

Voters Jeff Rice, Centre Daily Times; Michael Rothstein, AnnArbor.com; Stacy Clardie, Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette; Joe Rexrode, Lansing State Journal; Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune; Christopher Hine, Chicago Tribune; Paul Klee, Champaign News-Gazette; Scott Dochterman, Cedar Rapids Gazette; Lindsey Willhite, Daily Herald; Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland Plain Dealer; Dustin Dopirak, Bloomington (Ind.) Times-Herald.

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein