There was something to be said for just being quiet, overlooked, nondescript Kevin Turner. Now that he has become Kevin Turner, the Illinois senior guard is finding he can’t go anywhere anymore without an escort.
Since lighting up UCLA for 32 points on Dec. 30 and Indiana for 35 on Jan. 3, Turner has scored 17 against Iowa, 15 against Northwestern, 7 against Purdue and 12 Saturday against Michigan State.
Heading into Wednesday night’s home game against Wisconsin, Turner is still averaging 17.2 points game but has fallen to sixth in the Big Ten scoring race.
“The majority of it is defenses paying more attention to him,” Illinois coach Lon Kruger said. “Last year he was identified as a guy who would occasionally line up and shoot the three well. Now defenses aren’t leaving him alone. They’re playing him more physical and he’s getting double-teamed off picks. We have to try and help Kevin grow through this.”
Tractor under glass: Six-foot-eight-inch, 300-pound Michigan center Robert “Tractor” Traylor just got even more frightening.
Traylor, who suffered a broken nose 25 seconds into Saturday’s victory over Ohio State, has been fitted for a plastic mask. He wore it when Tuesday night’s game against Minnesota began, but discarded it two minutes into the game.
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Last year, former Wolverine Maurice Taylor suffered a broken nose, wore the mask for four games and then tossed it to the sidelines midway through the fifth game because he couldn’t stand it anymore.
Media watch: Nearly a third of the way through the conference schedule, the media’s preseason all-Big Ten picks are living up to, and being weighed down by, the predictions.
After five games, Traylor stood third in scoring (18.8), third in rebounding (9.8) and first in field goal percentage (.635). He’s a bonafide all-star. Sophomore guard A.J. Guyton has been a huge factor in Indiana’s five-game conference winning streak, averaging 17.5 points, 5 assists and shooting .464 from three-point range.
After those two, the jury’s out. Purdue senior guard Chad Austin is averaging 12.6 points and ranks in the top 10 in only one category–free-throw percentage (.833, ninth). Minnesota senior forward Sam Jacobson missed three games with a back sprain before scoring 24 points in 29 minutes against Iowa Sunday, but wasn’t able to stop the Gophers from losing their first six conference games–the school’s worst losing streak since the Gophers dropped seven straight in 1991.
Finally, there’s Indiana senior forward Andrae Patterson, who has been overshadowed not only by Guyton but also by freshman Luke Recker. In Sunday’s upset of Purdue, Patterson was held to four points. Seniors Charlie Miller, Richard Mandeville and Robbie Eggers were scoreless.
Kids stuff: The youth movement extends beyond Bloomington, Ind. Four of the Big Ten’s top eight scorers are freshmen or sophomores. Recker (16.3 points a game) and Guyton are chasing Ohio State freshman Michael Redd (21) and Michigan State sophomore Mateen Cleaves (19.8).
Red-faced: How much did Northwestern coach Kevin O’Neill enjoy being part of the first game in Wisconsin’s new $76 million Kohl Center Saturday? Uhhh . . .
“All the cheeseheads here had a great time,” he said. “I hope they’re all happy with their new red arena. It’s a wonderful place to come. They were all wearing their red plaid Christmas shirts, so they had their fun with us today, but eventually we’re going to have our day. That’s how this business works.”
Crowded house: Michigan State coach Tom Izzo on the wide-open Big Ten race:
“Purdue has the best team. Michigan has the best talent. Illinois has the best chemistry. And Iowa has the best schedule.”
Under the new 16-game format, the Hawkeyes (15-2, 4-1) don’t have to play at Purdue or Michigan this season. By contrast, Illinois (11-7, 3-2) gets to play league doormats Penn State, Ohio State and Minnesota only once each.