If you ask me what my favorite sport is you'll get a different answer whether it's posed in the fall or winter. College Football or College Basketball. So while I'm still in football mode, I couldn't be any more excited about the upcoming hoops season ... I just wish there was a more definitive kickoff date. It's really the only criticize I can offer toward college basketball is that they don't have one big circus of any opening weekend. This year's first game was Maine vs. Richmond where approximately 32 people were in attendance. So I impose my own starting date and that's the first day of the Maui Invitational and thus will be previewing the college hoops up through that date (Monday before Thanksgiving).

We begin with what's arguably the worst major conference this season, but the one I hold dear. I figure I'll get this out of the way for you


1. Michigan State
Reasons for optimism: Izzo; Three new talented freshman (Kalin Lucas, Chris Allen, Durrell Summers that will allow the Spartans to get back to a transition offense; Drew Neitzel not having to play full 40 minutes; down year in competition.

Reason for gloom: Inconsistent post presence; still young outside of Neitzel; GVSU.

Prediction: Sweet 16. Spartans will start slow (count on a bad loss in Nov/Dec) while getting the new guys adjusted to the system. With Tom Izzo you can expect they'll round into form come March. If Marquise Gray can become a consistent threat on offense and freshman Chris Allen consistently strokes it from outside then maybe we're talking Elite 8/Final Four territory.

2. Indiana
Optimism: Eric Gordon; Confident D.J. White; Eric Gordon; Experienced backcourt around Gordon; Should have one of the best perimeter shooting teams in the conference; did I mention Eric Gordon.

Gloom: Kelvin Sampson's cell phone; banking on DJ White being healthy for second straight full season

Prediction: Conf. Tourney Champs; Sweet 16. If D.J. White can play to his potential and get out of the weak Brendon Haywood mentality the Hoosier could very, very good. There isn't another big man in the conference capable of stopped White when he's on. Eric Gordon is going to fun to watch but ultimately I think he'll be streaking and on a couple off night will fall behind Michigan State in the conference race.

3. Purdue
Optimism: Matt Painter; scrappy guard Chris Kramer (favorite non Spartan); 4 talented freshman: 6-3 guard E'Twaun Moore, high-scoring 6-8 wing Scott Martin, 6-10 center JaJuan Johnson and 6-8 forward Robbie Hummel; solid defense.

Gloom: A lot of new faces to integrate; Who's going to fill Carl Landry's post presence?

Prediction: Sweet 16. Yes that's actually three big ten teams into the second weekend of the Big Dance. I like the Boilers to round into form come March and capable of sneaking up on a 1-seed as they nearly accomplished last year against Florida.


4. Ohio State
Optimism: Jamal Butler's lights out shooting; Thad Matta's gum; freshman center Kosta Koufos is no Oden but he's legit.

Gloom: Findlay, what do without Oden and Conley?

Prediction: NCAA, first round exit. Conley, Cook and Oden turned OSU into a top tier defensive team and that won't be replaced overnight and over the course of the season.

5. Wisconsin
Optimism: Soulja Bo Ryan; Michael Flowers taking a big leap forward

Gloom: Alando Tucker and Chris Rock's leadership void

Prediction: NCAA; first round loss. I never doubt Bo Ryan's abilities as a coach. Frankly, I'm having a hard time seeing his Badgers finish this low because he gets it done. I'll call this my least confidence B10 prediction.

6. Illinois
Optimism: Have to have better luck/karma this season; Brian Randle being healthy (hopefully); transfer Rodney Alexander seems like he can play; Chester Frazier's toughness

Gloom: Only get to play Iowa and Northwestern once; is there a go-to guy on the team down the stretch?

Prediction: NIT. Assuming the conference is down I can't see more than 5 teams getting into the dance, but the Illini will have a tough schedule to show for it. Could sneak into that 11th-12th seed range win a couple of these preseason games against Arizona and Missouri.

7. Penn State
Optimism: Geary Glaxton remains one of the most overlooked talents in college basketball.

Gloom: Not a whole lot else besides Jamelle Cornley who can't exactly dominate the post as a 6-5 PF.

Prediction: NIT. I like Ed DeChellis and he's slowly getting Penn State out of the cellar, but they just don't have the talent. Will pull of a few upsets and ride Claxton to what I'd consider an impressive 7th place finish.

8. Iowa
Optimism: Todd Lickliter in, Steve Alford out; Cyrus Tate likely taking another big leap forward

Gloom: Name 2 players on the Hawkeyes?

Prediction: NIT. Lickliter is going to build a team that will be a pain in the ass to play, but give him another year.

9. Minnesota
Optimism: Contrary to Big Blue Country belief, Tubby Smith is a good coach ...

Gloom: ... that has no talent to work with right now.

Prediction: NIT maybe.

10. Michigan
Optimism: Ekpe Udoh and DeShawn Sims have NBA talent

Gloom: Not ideal team for Beilein's system, tough schedule

Prediction: One year dip before getting back into the Big Ten hunt.

11. Northwestern
Optimism: They're smart and will have a great future in something besides sports; freshman Michael ''Juice'' Thompson could play and maybe start at most of the other conference foes; Kevin Coble can play.

Gloom: They're Northwestern Basketball.
  
Prediction: Maybe pull of a big upset over one of the top teams.

Those are my thoughts. Congratulations if you actually read this far or cared. What's your prediction for the Big Ten this season.