Purdue swingman and Valparaiso High School grad Robbie Hummel was named the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year by a 22-member media panel, the conference announced Sunday. Hummel's Boilermakers were tabbed as the preseason favorite for the 2008-09 men's basketball season by the media panel.

Hummel was chosen as the Preseason Player of the Year after earning first-team All-Conference and All-Freshman Team accolades last year. He led the Big Ten in three-point field percentage in conference games while averaging 11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in all games. He becomes the first Purdue standout to earn Preseason Player of the Year accolades since Chad Austin received the honor in 1997.

Just last week, Andrean grad Luke Harangody was named the Big East Preseason Player of the Year after he was named that conference's player of the year following the 2007-08 season.

For more on this story, read Monday's edition of The Times.