10 teams from the Big Ten would have likely made the NCAA Tournament last March if the event wasn’t cancelled due to COVID-19 and Matt Painter thinks that the league can be even better this year.
How much better?
“Every single team in the Big Ten could be in the mix for the NCAA Tournament,” Painter said on Wednesday. “1-14, this could be the best that the Big Ten has been since I’ve been coaching at Purdue. I think we’re going to be better and some of the other teams that finished at the bottom of the league last year — Nebraska and Northwestern — should be better too. Nebraska has improved their talent base and Northwestern has guys back as well.”
Nine teams from the Big Ten are currently ranked in the ROTHSTEIN 45. Four of those teams — Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois — are ranked in the Top 10 while Michigan State is slotted at 12.
The league could also receive another boost if Minnesota receives a waiver for Utah transfer Both Gach to play immediately in 20-21. The 6-6 Gach averaged 10.7 points last season and would give the Gophers another capable perimeter player to pair with Marcus Carr and Gabe Kalscheur.
“Every team in the league could at least be on the bubble,” Painter added. “If that happens, it’s going to be unbelievable.”
Purdue finished 16-15 last year and won less than 12 league games for the first time since the 13-14 season.
The Boilermakers return three starters in Trevion Williams, Eric Hunter, and Sasha Stefanovic and also add an impact freshman in Ethan Morton, a consensus Top-100 prospect.
