The Big Ten is down. I repeat, the Big Ten is down.

Where have all the athletes gone? The conference is currently at its most mediocre state for as long as this reporter can remember.

Wisconsin, starring Devin Harris (who?), has just five losses this early in the season, and they still haven't won a game against a Top 25 foe.

Illinois, the preseason pick for Big Ten champ, is languishing around the .500 mark in conference play, with a less-than-stellar overall record of 12-5.

Michigan State, who started the season ranked as high as No. 5, is struggling, to say the least. At 8-8, State is rivaling Quin Snyder's Missouri squad for biggest disappointment in the country. Any coach not named Izzo would have been shown the door.

Minnesota, an NIT team from a year ago, hasn't even managed a win in the sorry conference, having lost second-round pick Rick "I-shouldn't-have-left-school" Rickert.

NU, however, has quietly been having a solid season. The record might not reflect it, but there has been much improvement in these 'Cats, especially when one considers the fact that the team has not had a presence in the post since Tavaras Hardy's graduation after the 2002 season. Pre-conference play saw the arrival of a 5-6 record and a tough opening loss to Colorado but a win over Ike Diogu and his Arizona State Sun Devils.

Since opening the Big Ten regular season the 'Cats have been quite strong, with wins against Illinois, which seriously damages the credibility of the conference .... but I digress .... and a road win at Iowa.

Honestly, at this point in the season, I would have been expecting the Jan. 28 game against Penn State to be the first strong hope for a victory, but I have been pleasantly surprised. The losses to Michigan, Michigan State and Indiana are understandable and acceptable. Michigan State will never again lose to NU, and the Michigan and Indiana were on the road (where we have never won and probably never will).

What is at the heart of the team's resurgence? Two words: Jitim Young.

Young has elevated his game to place him in the status of the Big Ten's elite. At this point, with NU's history of basketball woes, Young should be strongly considered for Player of the Year honors or at least first team all-Big Ten. He has averaged a hair under 18 points per game and 6 rebounds per game. How many players in the country can claim that? How about when you are 6'2"?

He's also shooting 54% from the field for the season. Having learned from his old friends Winston Blake, Jason Burke and Hardy, he has taken responsibility for a young team that relies on him down the stretch, with only one other player, sophomore Vedran Vukusic, averaging in double figures.

One could even make an argument as to Young being the most...UNDERRATED player in the country. Alas, none of the pundits show him the respect he has earned. Hey Dickie V, where's the love, baby!?

Young has been underrated for years. As a freshman playing during new student week in the fall of 2000, I got a chance to ball with Young. His quickness is crazy, and for a little guy he can jump right out of the gym. His skills weren't as polished then, but you could see that the raw skills were there and would develop.

Now, after four years of growing and learning on the court, he has become the best home athlete the class of 2004 has watched, including the great halfback Damien Anderson. Young has honed his game, with an ever-rising aptitude that always impresses his coach, and he is the well respected captain and leader of the Wildcats.

While the remaining schedule offers no vacations or sure wins, the NU basketball season has already been a success. Even at only 3-4 in the conference, the team has shown great strides of improvement, especially with no inside presence. (At press time, Young just drained a career-high 31 points in a win over Minnesota.)

Bill Carmody, who I criticized in my last column for ever accepting this job, has done excellent work with his team. Smart move to let Young lead the young players.

Barring an unforeseen collapse, look for NU to continue winning some of its key Big Ten matchups and be poised for a stretch run to make the NIT.

Of course, part of that statement is more out of hope than of belief.

Phineas Lambert, whose second novel, My Crazy Quickness , hits stores next month, can be contacted at p-lambert@northwestern.edu.