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BIG TEN
Of the seven Big Ten teams that earned NCAA tournament bids last season, only two advanced past the first weekend of the tournament and into the Sweet 16. The good news was that those two teams, Wisconsin (1 seed) and Michigan State (7 seed), both also advanced to the Final Four, with the Spartans falling in the national semifinal to eventual champion Duke while Wisconsin knocked off the previously undefeated Kentucky Wildcats before falling to Duke as well. Joining the two Final Four teams in the Big Dance last season were Maryland (4 seed), Iowa (7 seed), Purdue (9 seed) and Indiana and Ohio State (10 seeds). Illinois also earned a postseason invite, playing in the NIT.
Although Wisconsin paced the way in the Big Ten last season, the Badgers lost a ton of pieces in the offseason, enough that it is almost surprising that Bo Ryan elected to coach for this one last season and not go retire on the high note of a Big Ten championship and Final Four. Just making the Big Dance may be a struggle this year for the Badgers. That does not mean that the Big Ten does not have Final Four capable teams — just that this season that mantle passes to Maryland and Indiana. Michigan should also be back in the Dance this year, and along with Indiana, Maryland and Wisconsin, be among up to 10 teams with legitimate tournament aspirations. The others in the hunt will include Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa and…yes, you heard it here first, even the Northwestern Wildcats!
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Maryland – The Terps are loaded this year. If freshman standout Diamond Stone, Duke transfer Rasheed Sulaimon, Georgia Tech transfer Robert Carter Jr. and JC transfer Jaylen Brantley can gel in with returning stars such as Melo Tremble and Jake Layman, there is no limit to how far this team can go.
2. Indiana – With Yogi Ferrell and James Blackmon Jr. in the backcourt and Troy Williams and freshman standout Thomas Bryant inside, the Hoosiers appear to be title contenders this season. If coach Tom Crean cannot succeed with this group, his days in Bloomington may be numbered.
3. Michigan – The Wolverines should be one of the better teams in the Big Ten with the returns of Caris LeVert and Derrick Walton, Jr. from injury coupled with the experience gained last season by their young frontcourt players, such as Zak Irvin, Ricky Doyle and Aubrey Dawkins.
4. Purdue – A.J. Hammons and top recruit Caleb Swanigan will be forces down low. The Boilermakers have backcourt talent as well but look like they will have to rely on Texas-Arlington transfer Johnny Hill at the point. If he can run the offense, they will be successful.
5. Ohio State – The Buckeyes are young but very talented and should have the pieces to make up for the loss of D’Angelo Russell. Keep an eye on freshman JaQuan Lyle at guard and returnees Jae’Sean Tate and Marc Loving down low.
6. Michigan State – The Spartans will be strong in the backcourt again with Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes and Eron Harris. In order to be among the top teams in the conference, Gavin Schilling and Matt Costello will need to step up their play down low.
7. Wisconsin – Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes both had solid seasons last year, but they are the only two significant pieces of the national runner-up to return this season. It would not be a shock if Bo Ryan spends his final season on the bubble.
8. Illinois – The Illini should get by at the guard position despite Tracy Abrams going down with a season-ending injury for the second straight year due to the presence of Malcolm Hill, Kendrick Nunn and top recruit Jalen Coleman-Lands. The biggest question is whether Charlotte transfer Mike Thorne Jr. will be enough down low.
9. Iowa – The Hawkeyes return four starters from an NCAA tournament team, but the one player not back was their best, forward Aaron White. If the team can find a way to make up for his departure through newcomers, they have a chance to be in the Dance again.
10. Northwestern – It will not be long until Northwestern finally earns that elusive first-ever NCAA tournament berth, and head coach Chris Collins should be the man to lead them there. Although he is still building the program, Tre Demps and Bryant McIntosh are both solid in the backcourt while Alex Olah and Virginia Tech transfer Joey van Zegeren should lead the way down low. Making the NCAA tournament this year would be a longshot, but not a crazy one.
11. Nebraska – Coach Tim Miles will need to rebuild this year, though senior Shavon Shields will score a ton of points. There is hope for the future though with a strong recruiting class that features Edward Morrow Jr. and Glynn Watson Jr.
12. Penn State – The combination of sophomore Shep Garner and a solid recruiting class has things looking up for the Nittany Lions — just not this year.
13. Minnesota – The Golden Gophers did not play in the postseason last year and then lost three of their top players in the offseason. That is not a recipe for improvement.
14. Rutgers – The Scarlet Knights have not won a game since their huge home upset of then #4-ranked Wisconsin back in January. Things are not looking any better this year and avoiding last place would be an accomplishment.