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Top 10 Big Ten Guards

By Arthur Blackwell

Feb 6, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard D.J. Newbill (2) splits defense of Michigan State Spartans guard Travis Trice (20) during the 1st half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard D.J. Newbill (2) splits defense of Michigan State Spartans guard Travis Trice (20) during the 1st half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 6, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard D.J. Newbill (2) splits defense of Michigan State Spartans guard Travis Trice (20) during the 1st half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard D.J. Newbill (2) splits defense of Michigan State Spartans guard Travis Trice (20) during the 1st half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

Effective guard play is pivotal in college basketball. To win a conference title, or make a deep run into March, requires players with the ability to create, score, pass and run the show; skills necessary to make the rest of the team successful.

College basketball coaches usually use a two point guard system, with both guards having the ability to  run the  point. It is also not rare to see three guards start as well.  Look, for example, at the previous year’s national champions, the  Connecticut Huskies.

Coach Kevin Ollie deployed a lethal combination of  Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright. Their guard play carried the Huskies, a seventh seed, all the way to the NCAA championship.  The Big Ten uses that same plan by establishing a strong back court with great guard play and that results in a winning resume.

These are the top 10 guards in the Big Ten: