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MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:
- Michigan
- Purdue
- Illinois
- Ohio State
- Maryland
- Michigan State
- Indiana
- Rutgers
- Iowa
- Wisconsin
- Nebraska
- Northwestern
- Penn State (tied 12th)
- Minnesota
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL CONFERENCE:
-Kofi Cockburn – Illinois
-E.J. Liddell – Ohio State
-Hunter Dickinson – Michigan
-Jaden Ivey – Purdue
-Trayce Jackson-Davis – Indiana
COMMENTS FROM DAVID:
-Michigan is crazy talented this year. Although they lost three starters from last year’s Elite Eight team, they have completely reloaded and as good, or even better, than they were a year ago. They’ve got depth, they’ve got shooting, and they have a ton of weapons both in the backcourt and frontcourt.
-It’s hard to not like this Purdue team. With all five starters back from a team that earned a protected seed, the ceiling could really be high this year. The loss to North Texas is the last impression that people have of them, and since they didn’t see them deep into the tournament I think some people may be overlooking them, but this is a dangerous Boilers team who should end up with a protected seed again this year.
-After a long absence from the NCAA Tournament, Illinois busted down the door last year finishing the regular season ranked #2 and earned a #1 seed. Although they were upset in the second round by Loyola-Chicago, it completely reset the expectations for this program, and they are once again looking at being a solid protected seed this year, and perhaps again winning the Big Ten. They did lose their leading scorer, but I think they’ve got enough pieces back to once again be a really strong team.
-Ohio State is another team with a ton of talent back that people may be slightly overlooking because of their first round loss in the NCAA Tournament last year. They ended up with a #2 seed, and four starters are back. That is the ingredients for an absolute monster team. They did lose their top player, but so much is back, and Chris Holtmann is such a good coach, that I think they’re going to once again end up having a monster season.
-Maryland has a lot of talent back from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, and should end up safely inside the bubble again this year. The roster has been overhauled somewhat, but the pieces they have coming back and the pieces that they’ve added are reasons for the Terps to be optimistic.
-Michigan State had huge expectations heading in to last year that went largely unfulfilled. They barely made the NCAA Tournament, and then they lost in the First Four. On top of that some of their top players are gone, but Tyson Walker transfers in after being an outstanding player at Northeastern and should be able to give them a boost. They also add some talented freshmen, so they should be a force. I’m inclined to think last year was just a glitch, and that the Spartans will be solidly in the top-25 this year.
-Indiana welcomes in a new coach in Mike Woodson and at Indiana the expectations are always going to be high. The question is whether or not the expectations are realistic. They finished 10th in the Big Ten last year and finished with a losing record overall. They do have some nice pieces back, but at least for now it looks like they are a long way away from being as good as the teams in the top half of the league.
-Rutgers had a fantastic season last year where they made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991 and lost to Houston in the Round of 32 in a close game. Houston, of course, went on to the Final Four so this Rutgers team was for real. With three starters back along with some experienced upperclassmen and some good looking editions, I’m a little surprised there hasn’t been more preseason love for this year’s team.
-Iowa is in a bit of a rebuild mode. Just two starters are back, and Luka Garza is not one of them. After a year where they won just seven games, they probably need to rebuild a bit. Fran McCaffery is a good coach who has proven himself and I think he’ll get the Hawkeyes rolling again. Just maybe not this year.
-Wisconsin is way further down the list than what we are used to seeing. Just one starter is back for Coach Greg Gard, and with this much of a roster overhaul people seem to have more questions than answers when it comes to this year’s edition of the Badgers.
-Nebraska finished in last place last year, and won just seven games overall. Fred Hoiberg is an outstanding coach, and the Huskers do look to have some really talented players coming in, so as they develop this team should improve. I don’t think it’s quite their this year, but I don’t think they’ll be the worst team in the league again either, and I do think this program is going in the right direction.
-Penn State welcomes in a new head coach in Micah Shrewsberry and is looking for a fresh new start. The bad news is that he just doesn’t seem to have all that much to work with this year, and it could be a long season for the Nittany Lions.
-Minnesota is one of the worst non under-the-radar teams in the country and one of the frontrunners to win the Stallings Award this year.