It might not be possible to overhype freshman phenom Jared Sullinger.
Ohio State is already in the top five in the polls, and Sullinger is a favorite for top honors among freshmen this season, so it’s not like Sullinger and the Buckeyes are under the radar. And his stats clearly make him a candidate to finish the season as a first-team All-American.
Sullinger started the season with a bang, posting back-to-back double doubles, including 26 points and 10 rebounds at Florida. But in recent weeks, Sullinger has been even better and more important to the Buckeyes. Veterans like William Buford have struggled a little from the field, but Sullinger remains ruthlessly efficient, shooting nearly 60 percent from the field.
In one of the most dominating performances of the season, Sullinger was 12-of-17 from the field against IUPUI, finishing with 40 points. With the rest of the Buckeyes shooting worse than 42 percent from the field, Ohio State needed its freshman big man to become the centerpiece of the offense. Of the updated Total Impact Quotients from the ACC, Big East, Pac-10 and Big Ten, Sullinger ranks as the best player in those four power conferences, with a TIQ of 20.3 points.
Check out a complete introduction to the TIQ and description of what it means.
Here are the latest ratings for the Big Ten, through games of Saturday, Dec. 25.
TIQ position averages:
Centers: 11.6
Forwards: 10.4
Guards: 6.6
TIQ = Total Impact Quotient
PD% = Position differential in % difference from average
| Top 2 centers | Team | TIQ | PD% | Minutes |
| Luka Mirkovic | Northwestern | 15.3 | 31.9 | 255 |
| Colton Iverson | Minnesota | 14.4 | 24.1 | 208 |
| Top 5 forwards | Team | TIQ | PD% | Minutes |
| Jared Sullinger | Ohio State | 20.3 | 95.2 | 332 |
| Draymond Green | Michigan State | 19.0 | 82.7 | 316 |
| Trevor Mbakwe | Minnesota | 18.8 | 80.8 | 322 |
| John Shurna | Northwestern | 18.1 | 74.0 | 332 |
| Devon Archie | Iowa | 18.0 | 73.1 | 79 |
| Top 5 guards | Team | TIQ | PD% | Minutes |
| Darius Morris | Michigan | 14.0 | 112.1 | 411 |
| Demetri McCamey | Illinois | 13.0 | 97.0 | 423 |
| Al Nolen | Minnesota | 11.8 | 78.8 | 214 |
| E’Twaun Moore | Purdue | 11.6 | 75.8 | 382 |
| Jordan Taylor | Wisconsin | 11.3 | 71.2 | 405 |
Player Rankings
| Position | Team/Player | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank |
| ILLINOIS 2010-11 | ||||||
| G | Demetri McCamey | 13.0 | -0.8 | 423 | 97.0 | 2 |
| G | D.J. Richardson | 4.7 | -0.2 | 399 | -28.8 | 38 |
| F | Mike Davis | 9.4 | -0.7 | 383 | -9.6 | 25 |
| C | Mike Tisdale | 14.0 | -1.9 | 321 | 20.7 | 3 |
| F | Jereme Richmond | 6.5 | 2.1 | 281 | -37.5 | 37 |
| G | Brandon Paul | 7.9 | -2.7 | 262 | 19.7 | 22 |
| F | Bill Cole | 9.5 | 2.5 | 226 | -8.7 | 24 |
| C | Meyers Leonard | 5.2 | 0.1 | 121 | -55.2 | 8 |
| F | Tyler Griffey | 3.5 | 3.0 | 120 | -66.3 | 43 |
| INDIANA 2010-11 | ||||||
| F | Christian Watford | 10.6 | -0.8 | 377 | 1.9 | 17 |
| G | Jordan Hulls | 9.7 | 0.4 | 356 | 47.0 | 12 |
| G | Verdell Jones III | 2.7 | -0.2 | 302 | -59.1 | 50 |
| G | Maurice Creek | 0.8 | -1.4 | 274 | -87.9 | 54 |
| G | Jeremiah Rivers | 9.6 | -1.3 | 266 | 45.5 | 13 |
| G | Victor Oladipo | 11.0 | 1.0 | 214 | 66.7 | 8 |
| F | Tom Pritchard | 10.5 | 0.1 | 206 | 1.0 | 18 |
| F | Derek Elston | 11.7 | 1.6 | 196 | 12.5 | 14 |
| G | Will Sheehey | 8.4 | -4.4 | 126 | 27.3 | 18 |
| G | Daniel Moore | 11.2 | 2.3 | 84 | 69.7 | 6 |
| F | Bobby Capobianco | 11.9 | -1.1 | 79 | 14.4 | 13 |
| G | Matt Roth | 5.3 | N/A | 68 | -19.7 | 34 |
| IOWA 2010-11 | ||||||
| G | Eric May | 5.5 | -2.5 | 348 | -16.7 | 32 |
| G | Bryce Cartwright | 4.1 | -1.1 | 325 | -37.9 | 42 |
| G | Matt Gatens | 6.9 | 1.1 | 302 | 4.5 | 26 |
| F | Melsahn Basabe | 11.2 | 0.5 | 272 | 7.7 | 15 |
| F | Zach McCabe | 9.4 | 0.6 | 269 | -9.6 | 26 |
| F | Jarryd Cole | 12.8 | 4.8 | 260 | 23.1 | 10 |
| G | Roy Devyn Marble | 9.6 | -0.6 | 195 | 45.5 | 14 |
| F | Andrew Brommer | 7.8 | -1.8 | 138 | -25.0 | 33 |
| G | Cully Payne | 4.0 | -0.1 | 104 | -39.4 | 43 |
| F | Devon Archie | 18.0 | -1.8 | 79 | 73.1 | 5 |
| G | Jordan Stoermer | 7.7 | -1.3 | 78 | 16.7 | 24 |
| MICHIGAN 2010-11 | ||||||
| G | Darius Morris | 14.0 | 0.3 | 411 | 112.1 | 1 |
| G | Zack Novak | 9.9 | 1.1 | 390 | 50.0 | 11 |
| G | Tim Hardaway Jr. | 6.1 | 1.2 | 317 | -7.6 | 28 |
| G | Stu Douglass | 4.0 | -1.4 | 301 | -39.4 | 44 |
| F | Jordan Morgan | 13.9 | 1.0 | 270 | 33.7 | 7 |
| F | Evan Smotrycz | 6.4 | -1.5 | 224 | -38.5 | 38 |
| G | Matt Vogrich | 3.2 | 2.1 | 173 | -51.5 | 47 |
| F | Blake McLimans | 3.3 | 1.9 | 92 | -68.3 | 44 |
| F | Jon Horford | 17.7 | N/A | 92 | 70.2 | 6 |
| F | Colton Christian | 5.2 | 0.4 | 81 | -50.0 | 41 |
| MICHIGAN STATE 2010-11 | ||||||
| G | Durrell Summers | 3.7 | 2.4 | 353 | -43.9 | 45 |
| G | Kalin Lucas | 5.3 | 1.8 | 350 | -19.7 | 35 |
| F | Draymond Green | 19.0 | -1.9 | 316 | 82.7 | 2 |
| F | Delvon Roe | 11.2 | -0.4 | 271 | 7.7 | 16 |
| G | Korie Lucious | 3.6 | -0.3 | 259 | -45.5 | 46 |
| C | Garrick Sherman | 9.0 | 1.2 | 214 | -22.4 | 7 |
| G | Keith Appling | 4.4 | -0.5 | 197 | -33.3 | 41 |
| G | Austin Thornton | 7.8 | 0.4 | 164 | 18.2 | 23 |
| C | Adreian Payne | 11.8 | -1.4 | 117 | 1.7 | 5 |
| MINNESOTA 2010-11 | ||||||
| G | Blake Hoffarber | 9.0 | 1.1 | 404 | 36.4 | 16 |
| F | Trevor Mbakwe | 18.8 | -1.7 | 322 | 80.8 | 3 |
| C | Ralph Sampson III | 10.9 | 0.9 | 308 | -6.0 | 6 |
| F | Rodney Williams | 6.8 | 3.3 | 244 | -34.6 | 36 |
| G | Al Nolen | 11.8 | 0.3 | 214 | 78.8 | 3 |
| C | Colton Iverson | 14.4 | -0.1 | 208 | 24.1 | 2 |
| G | Austin Hollins | 6.4 | 1.3 | 202 | -3.0 | 27 |
| G | Devoe Joseph | 2.9 | 1.3 | 159 | -56.1 | 49 |
| G | Chip Armelin | 2.7 | 0.8 | 121 | -59.1 | 51 |
| C | Mo Walker | 11.9 | 0.9 | 115 | 2.6 | 4 |
| G | Maverick Ahanmisi | 5.8 | -3.4 | 102 | -12.1 | 30 |
| NORTHWESTERN 2010-11 | ||||||
| G | Michael Thompson | 5.9 | 2.4 | 351 | -10.6 | 29 |
| F | John Shurna | 18.1 | 3.8 | 332 | 74.0 | 4 |
| G | Drew Crawford | 5.2 | -0.6 | 306 | -21.2 | 36 |
| C | Luka Mirkovic | 15.3 | 0.9 | 255 | 31.9 | 1 |
| G | Alex Marcotullio | 8.3 | -0.5 | 188 | 25.8 | 19 |
| G | JerShon Cobb | 5.5 | -0.1 | 162 | -16.7 | 33 |
| F | Davide Curletti | 6.9 | -5.0 | 127 | -33.7 | 34 |
| F | Jeff Ryan | 10.5 | -1.8 | 101 | 1.0 | 19 |
| F | Mike Capocci | 7.9 | 2.5 | 98 | -24.0 | 30 |
| OHIO STATE 2010-11 | ||||||
| G | Jon Diebler | 8.0 | 1.7 | 385 | 21.2 | 21 |
| F | David Lighty | 9.9 | -0.1 | 364 | -4.8 | 23 |
| F | Jared Sullinger | 20.3 | 6.1 | 332 | 95.2 | 1 |
| G | William Buford | 2.6 | -3.9 | 317 | -60.6 | 52 |
| G | Aaron Craft | 10.0 | 3.2 | 317 | 51.5 | 10 |
| F | Dallas Lauderdale | 10.0 | -2.7 | 249 | -3.8 | 22 |
| F | Deshaun Thomas | 12.3 | -0.5 | 208 | 18.3 | 11 |
| G | Jordan Sibert | 1.1 | 0.7 | 120 | -83.3 | 53 |
| PENN STATE 2010-11 | ||||||
| G | Talor Battle | 11.1 | 0.7 | 394 | 68.2 | 7 |
| F | Jeff Brooks | 13.6 | -2.6 | 331 | 30.8 | 9 |
| F | Andrew Jones | 7.9 | -0.2 | 328 | -24.0 | 31 |
| G | Tim Frazier | 9.6 | -1.4 | 293 | 45.5 | 15 |
| F | David Jackson | 6.3 | 0.6 | 275 | -39.4 | 40 |
| F | Billy Oliver | 3.7 | 1.7 | 190 | -64.4 | 42 |
| G | Taran Buie | 0.8 | 0.0 | 167 | -87.9 | 55 |
| G | Cammeron Woodyard | 0.7 | -2.2 | 116 | -89.4 | 56 |
| PURDUE 2010-11 | ||||||
| F | JaJuan Johnson | 12.3 | 0.6 | 399 | 18.3 | 12 |
| G | E’Twaun Moore | 11.6 | -2.5 | 382 | 75.8 | 4 |
| G | Lewis Jackson | 10.1 | 2.3 | 269 | 53.0 | 9 |
| G | Kelsey Barlow | 7.3 | 2.1 | 247 | 10.6 | 25 |
| F | D.J. Byrd | 10.1 | -1.6 | 246 | -2.9 | 21 |
| G | Terone Johnson | 3.1 | -0.9 | 228 | -53.0 | 48 |
| G | Ryne Smith | 5.7 | 0.4 | 227 | -13.6 | 31 |
| G | John Hart | 4.6 | -0.6 | 136 | -30.3 | 40 |
| F | Travis Carroll | 9.1 | -0.3 | 93 | -12.5 | 27 |
| F | Patrick Bade | 6.9 | -0.5 | 87 | -33.7 | 35 |
| F | Sandi Marcius | 9.0 | -2.8 | 83 | -13.5 | 28 |
| WISCONSIN 2010-11 | ||||||
| G | Jordan Taylor | 11.3 | 1.7 | 405 | 71.2 | 5 |
| F | Jon Leuer | 13.9 | -2.8 | 385 | 33.7 | 8 |
| G | Josh Gasser | 8.3 | -2.0 | 319 | 25.8 | 20 |
| F | Mike Bruesewitz | 7.9 | 0.3 | 280 | -24.0 | 32 |
| F | Keaton Nankivil | 10.3 | 2.0 | 268 | -1.0 | 20 |
| F | Tim Jarmusz | 6.4 | -0.8 | 231 | -38.5 | 39 |
| G | Ryan Evans | 4.9 | 0.7 | 170 | -25.8 | 37 |
| F | Jared Berggen | 8.6 | -3.8 | 86 | -17.3 | 29 |
| G | Rob Wilson | 8.9 | 1.3 | 77 | 34.8 | 17 |
| G | Wquinton Smith | 4.7 | 0.0 | 75 | -28.8 | 39 |
