The Big Ten men’s basketball coaches and the best players from the conference are expecting a competitive season this year.That was the consensus Sunday at the annual Big Ten basketball media conference in Chicago.Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien spoke briefly with the media and stressed the team’s lack of experience and recent loss of power. Over the summer, three players were kicked off the team while starting point guard Damon Stringer is out with an ailing back. O’Brien said he is preparing as if Stringer will not play this season.”I’m looking forward to the challenge of the conference,” O’Brien said.The Big Ten preseason media poll has Purdue ranked No.1, followed by Indiana and Iowa.Purdue’s Chad Austin, a preseason All-American candidate, is a member of the preseason All-Big Ten team and a favorite for Player of the Year. Austin led the team in scoring last season and is one of five returning starters for the Boilermakers.Despite being the preseason favorite (often the kiss of death), Purdue coach Gene Keady is optimistic for the season.”This is probably the most unpredictable year in the Big Ten,” Keady said. “It’s (the Big Ten title) up in the air.”Indiana has four seniors returning including preseason All-Big Ten forward Andrae Patterson. 1996 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, A.J. Guyton was also selected to the first team.Ron Felling, representing the Hoosiers in place of Bob Knight, expressed disappointment about last season’s fifth-place finish.”We’re still trying to get a handle on where we’re at, why we were so bad at the end of the season last year, yet I see a lot of promise in our players,” Felling said.The Iowa Hawkeyes must deal with the loss of Andre Woolridge, last season’s team captain and leading scorer. Returning for the Hawkeyes are senior forwards Ryan Brown and Jess Settles. Settles is having serious problems with his hip and back and may not be able to play this season, head coach Tom Davis said. Iowa will look to freshman forward Rickey Davis, who Davis thinks can add scoring power with Settles on the sideline.Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois should make up the second tier of Big Ten teams.Minnesota lost both John Thomas and Bobby Jackson, the leading scorer in the Big Ten last year. The Golden Gophers will rely heavily on Sam Jacobson. Jacobson, a preseason All-Big Ten pick, will try to lead the Gophers back to the Final Four.”This year is going to be a challenge but we’re looking to be competitive,” coach Clem Haskins said.Michigan will also be a team to reckon with if they are able to overcome the firing of coach Steve Fisher. Interim coach Brian Ellerbe will fill in until another coach is hired or until a decision is made to keep him on as head coach.The Wolverines are led by junior guard Louis Bullock and preseason All-Big Ten center, Robert “Tractor” Traylor. Ellerbe said Traylor is the staple of a team that lacks depth.Big Ten play tips off Dec. 30 when Purdue battles Michigan and will end in Chicago at the first annual Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament, March 5.