PARK RIDGE, Ill. — The Big Ten announced on Thursday that Ohio State senior Jantel Lavender was chosen as the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year by the conference coaches and a selected media panel. Also, the Buckeyes were chosen to finish first in the conference standings by both groups.

The three-time reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, Lavender earns the preseason honor for the third straight season. The senior, a member of the preseason Wade and Wooden award watch lists, averaged a double-double last season with 21.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, which ranked ninth and 25th, respectively, in the country.

She was the coaches’ unanimous choice for the preseason honor and was a unanimous member of the coaches’ and media’s Preseason All-Big Ten team.

After winning their sixth straight Big Ten Championship a season ago, Ohio State was tabbed to win its seventh consecutive title by the coaches and media. The Buckeyes return all five starters from the 2009-10 season, in which they finished 31-5 and claimed the Big Ten Tournament title in addition to their conference championship.

Also returning for the Buckeyes is junior Samantha Prahalis, who was named to the coaches’ and media’s Preseason All-Big Ten team.

Iowa was chosen to finish second by both coaches and media, a year after ending the season tied for third in the conference and falling to the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Tournament final.

The Hawkeyes return all five starters from a season ago, including Wade and Wooden Award watch list and Preseason All-Big Ten member Kachine Alexander and 2009-10 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jaime Printy.

The conference coaches selected Michigan State to finish third, while the Spartans and Purdue tied for third in the media voting.

The Spartans finished second in the Big Ten a year ago, ending the season with a 23-10 overall mark and an NCAA Championship berth. The Boilermakers finished fifth last season and return three starters, including Preseason All-Big Ten member Brittany Rayburn.

Other members of the preseason team include Northwestern’s Amy Jaeschke on the coaches’ and media’s squad, Michigan State’s Kalisha Keane on the coaches list and Wisconsin’s Alyssa Karel on the coaches’ team.