COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Doug Lesmerises' projected

Big Ten order of finish

1. Indiana

(Preseason AP: No. 1)

Take five returning starters, including the preseason national player of the year in center Cody Zeller (15.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg), from a team that went 27-9 and 11-7 in the Big Ten, add a top-five recruiting class and you have the No. 1 team in the nation. Freshmen Peter Jurkin and Hanner Mosquera-Parea are suspended for the first nine games, but that shouldn't bother the Hoosiers, who are aiming for their first conference title and Final Four appearance in 11 years.

2. Michigan (AP: No. 5)

The Wolverine freshmen, led by Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary, could make a huge splash as well, joining All-Big Ten point guard Trey Burke (14.8 ppg, 4.6 apg) and senior scorer Tim Hardaway Jr. (14.6 ppg). Co-Big Ten champs at 24-10 and 13-5 a year ago, Michigan was bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament but should have the depth to do more.

3. Michigan State

(AP: No. 14)

Point guard Keith Appling (11.4 ppg, 3.9 apg) is a budding star, big men Adrien Payne ( 7 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and Derrick Nix (8.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) are loads inside and Brenden Dawson (8.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg) is back after a knee injury against Ohio State prematurely ended his freshmen season. Big Ten player of the year Draymond Green is gone, but the Spartans, 29-8 and co-conference champs at 13-5 last year, will contend as usual.

4. Ohio State (AP: No. 4)

A Final Four team and Big Ten co-champs at 31-8 and 13-5 a year ago, the Buckeyes are filling a big hole themselves, replacing All-American Jared Sullinger with sophomore shot-blocker Amir Williams (1.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and a plan to run more often. Forward Deshaun Thomas (15.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and point guard Aaron Craft (8.8 ppg, 4.6 apg) are All-America candidates themselves, but as shown by a slow start in their exhibition game, it might take a bit for the Buckeyes to find themselves. When they do, watch out.

5. Wisconsin (AP: No. 23)

The Badgers suffered an early blow when a torn anterior cruciate ligament in preseason practice knocked guard Josh Gasser (7.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg) out for the year. Mike Bruesewitz (5.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg) is also out for the first month. But Bo Ryan's teams are always better than expected, so repeating last year's 26-10, 12-6 campaign, with balanced scoring led by senior forward Jared Berggren (10.5 ppg), sounds about right.

6. Minnesota

Senior big man Trevor Mbakwe (14 ppg, 9.1 rpg) is an All-Big Ten player when healthy, and he wrote on Twitter that he would pay back his scholarship this season if the Golden Gophers don't make the NCAA Tournament. Last year, at 23-15 and 6-12, they made the NIT final after Mbakwe tore his ACL in the seventh game. With Rodney Williams (12.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Andre Hollins (8.7 ppg), Mbakwe shouldn't have to pay back anything if the Gophers stay healthy.

7. Iowa

The Hawkeyes, 18-17 and 8-10 last year, catch a break with Big Ten scheduling, playing Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State just once, and that could help them make their first NCAA Tournament since 2006. All-Big Ten freshman team pick Aaron White (11.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg) will be joined by a solid freshmen class led by 7-1 center Adam Woodbury and point guard Mike Gesell, who will both start.

8. Purdue

Robbie Hummel isn't back for a sixth season of Boilermaker basketball. So Purdue is young and will rely on several freshmen, including projected starters Donnie Hale and Ronnie Johnson, to keep alive a shot at a seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Terone Johnson (9.2 ppg) and D.J. Byrd (8.9 ppg) are the leading returning scorers from last year's 22-13, 10-8 team.

9. Northwestern

The Wildcats once again are predicted to have a chance to make their first NCAA appearance in school history. But once again, there's not much room for error. JerShon Cobb (7.1 ppg) has already been suspended for the season, but transfers Jared Swopshire (Louisville) and Nikola Cerina (TCU) and 7-foot freshman Alex Olah should team with senior Drew Crawford (16.1 ppg) to give the Wildcats, after last year's fourth straight NIT trip at 19-14, 8-10, a shot in March.

10. Penn State

All-Big Ten guard Tim Frazier (18.8 ppg, 6.2 apg) should get enough help from Southern Miss transfer and backcourt mate D.J. Newbill (9.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg) for the Nittany Lions to get out of the Big Ten basement. Last year, in the debut of coach Pat Chambers, Penn State went 12-20 and 4-14 to tie with Nebraska for last place.

11. Illinois

Former Ohio State assistant and Ohio head coach John Groce takes over for the fired Bruce Weber, and the Illini made a solid hire. There is some talent, led by Brandon Paul (14.7 ppg) and D.J. Richardson (11.6 ppg.). But there was talent last year, too, when the season fell apart and the Illini finished 17-15 and 6-12. Groce has to put it back together.

12. Nebraska

Tim Miles takes over after leading Colorado State to the NCAA Tournament last year. Center Brandon Ubel (6.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg) is the only starter back, and Miles could eventually get this turned around. But not right away.