OSU men's basketball picked to finish 2nd in Big Ten

10/28/2010

CHICAGO - The Ohio State men's basketball team has been picked to finish second in the Big Ten this season by a panel of media that covers the conference.

Michigan State, which made a second straight Final Four appearance last season, was selected as the likely champion of the Big Ten.

Michigan State's Kalin Lucas was named as the preseason player of the year, for the second straight time. Results of the media preseason poll were announced Thursday in Chicago, where the league's coaches and top players met with the media to preview the upcoming season.

Ohio State returns four starters from last year's team that tied for the Big Ten title, including junior guard William Buford from Libbey High School. The Buckeyes, behind national player of the year Evan Turner, won the Big Ten tournament last season and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. They finished the 2009-10 season with a 29-8 overall record, a sixth straight season with 20 or more wins.

Buford and the Buckeyes open the 2010-11 season on Nov. 12 in Columbus against North Carolina A&T.