Big Ten Basketball Tournament: Michigan, Purdue and Michigan State fight for the crown
By Eddie Herz
Top players who could carry a less likely winner
Lamar Stevens, F, Penn State
19.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 0.8 BPG
Lamar Stevens’ progression during the second half of the season elevated Penn State from a basement-dwelling program to a respectable opponent. When the forward is dominant, the Nittany Lions are capable of creating the perfect storm in the Big Ten Tournament, assuming Rasir Bolton and Josh Reaves are doing their share as well. Stevens has scored at least 22 points in four of PSU’s last six games, five of which the Nittany Lions have won. Penn State is as hot as any Big Ten team right now, and Stevens deserves credit for that more than anyone.
Jordan Murphy, F, Minnesota
14.5 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 2.6 APG
If anyone is going to lead Minnesota to a conference tournament win or two, it is Jordan Murphy. Amir Coffey deserves an honorable mention here, but the conference’s leading-rebounder is the key because of his ability to create extra possessions off the glass. Murphy recently responded from a minor slump with back-to-back double-doubles to cap the regular season. Similar efforts, and then some, will be ideal for the Golden Gophers in Chicago.
James Palmer Jr, G, Nebraska
19.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.1 APG
Palmer is playing out of his mind lately. The senior scored a combined 57 points in Nebraska’s final two regular season games, including a 27-point outing in an overtime victory against Iowa. Palmer concludes the regular season as the Big Ten’s third-highest scorer. He’s capable of dropping 30 any given night. Dealing with a lights-out Palmer isn’t desirable for any opponent.
Juwan Morgan, F, Indiana
15.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.5 BPG
Indiana isn’t done yet, and neither is All-Big Ten honorable mention Juwan Morgan. The forward is a force on the glass, and his wingspan results in solidified shot-blocking ability. Offensively, Morgan is a high-percentage shooter who converts 55.3 percent of his field goal attempts, ranking sixth in the conference. The forward combined for 45 points in his last two games in which he found the bottom of the net on 20-27 attempts from the floor.