Spartans picked to win Big 10

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) Michigan State, the national runner-up last season, has been picked in a preseason poll to repeat as Big Ten champions.

A 24-member media panel chose Purdue - which made it to the round of 16 last season - to finish second and Ohio State to take third.

Michigan State's Kalin Lucas, last year's player of the year in the conference, was chosen as preseason player of the year.

Lucas is joined on the first team by four other juniors - Manny Harris of Michigan, Evan Turner of Ohio State, Talor Battle of Penn State and Robbie Hummel of Purdue.

Michigan State finished 31-7 last season - 15-3 in the Big Ten - and lost to North Carolina in the national title game.

Updated October 29, 2009