Quick report from Big Ten basketball media day before I head over to the Lions-Bears game later this afternoon:

Michigan State was picked to win the conference by a poll of 22 media members, with Indiana second and Ohio State third. MSU guard Drew Neitzel also was named preseason Player of the Year. Indiana's D.J. White, Illinois' Shaun Pruitt, Penn State's Geary Claxton and Ohio State's Jamar Butler round out the first team.

Spartan coach Tom Izzo isn't usually one to shy away from expectations — and he certainly isn't this year — but he called Indiana the conference favorite at MSU's media day two weeks ago. Along with White, the Hoosiers return guards Armon Bassett and A.J. Ratliff and have the expected Freshman of the Year in Eric Gordon.

"They got a lot of guys back," Izzo said. "They maybe have one of the only legitimate, proven inside post players that can score in there and he had a heck of a summer on the USA team in White."

With exhibition play tipping off next week, I think we're in for a banner Big Ten season. I have MSU, Indiana, Ohio State, Illinois, Wisconsin and Penn State making the tournament, and Minnesota and Purdue in the NIT. My all-conference team is Neitzel, White, Pruitt, Claxton and Ohio State's David Lighty.