“The waiting is the hardest part.” – Tom Petty
College basketball is at a standstill.
The NCAA’s announcement that Aug. 3rd is the new early entry withdrawal date for the 2020 NBA Draft means that we’re going to have to wait four more weeks until we have full clarity for the 20-21 college basketball season.
Not to worry, between now and then we will break down one conference each week from soup to nuts.
This week we’ll feature the Big Ten.
The rankings below will be altered immediately if there’s any personnel changes.
Check below for a comprehensive list of power rankings, projected lineups, and much more:
1. Iowa
Projected Starting 5:
G Jordan Bohannon
G CJ Fredrick
G Joe Wieskamp
G Connor McCaffery
C Luka Garza
Key Losses: Bakari Evelyn, Ryan Kreiner
Key Newcomers: Tony Perkins, Ahron Ulis, Patrick McCaffery (redshirt)
Projected Bench: Jack Nunge, Patrick McCaffery, Joe Toussaint, Tony Perkins, Ahron Ulis, Josh Ogundele
2020 NBA Draft Watch: Luka Garza (will go through draft process)
The Skinny: If Garza returns to school, the Big Ten will go through Iowa City.
2. Wisconsin
Projected Starting 5:
G D’Mitrik Trice
G Brad Davison
F Aleem Ford
F Nate Reuvers
C Micah Potter
Key Losses: Brevin Pritzl
Key Newcomers: Ben Carlson, Lorne Bowman, Johnny Davis, Jordan Davis, Steve Crowl
Sit Out Transfers: None
Projected Bench: Ben Carlson, Lorne Bowman, Johnny Davis, Jordan Davis, Steve Crowl, Tyler Wahl, Trevor Anderson
2020 NBA Draft Watch: None
The Skinny: Five players return who averaged 8.6 points or more on a team that won 21 games and a share of the Big Ten regular season title.
3. Michigan State
Projected Starting 5:
G Rocket Watts
G Aaron Henry
F Gabe Brown
F Joey Hauser
C Xavier Tillman
Key Losses: Cassius Winston
Key Newcomers: Joey Hauser (Marquette), Mady Sissoko, A.J. Hoggard
Sit Out Transfers: None
Projected Bench: Malik Hall, Marcus Bingham, Julius Marble, Thomas Kithier, A.J. Hoggard, Mady Sissoko, Foster Loyer, Josh Langford
2020 NBA Draft Watch: Xavier Tillman (will go through draft process), Aaron Henry (will go through draft process)
The Skinny: Consider yourself warned: Tom Izzo adored Hauser during his redshirt year.
4. Rutgers
Projected Starting 5:
G Geo Baker
G Caleb McConnell
F Montez Mathis
F Ron Harper Jr.
C Myles Johnson
Key Losses: Akwasi Yeboah, Shaq Carter
Key Newcomers: Dean Reiber, Oskar Palmquist, Mawot Mag, Cliff Omoruyi
Sit Out Transfers: None
Projected Bench: Jacob Young, Paul Mulcahy, Mamadou Doucoure, Cliff Omoruyi, Mawot Mag, Oskar Palmquist, Dean Reiber
2020 NBA Draft Watch: None
The Skinny: No team in college basketball returns as much as Rutgers from a 20-win team and is getting less attention nationally.
5. Indiana
Projected Starting 5:
G Khristian Lander
G Rob Phinisee
G Al Durham
F Trayce Jackson-Davis
C Joey Brunk
Key Losses: De’Ron Davis, Devonte Green, Justin Smith
Key Newcomers: Trey Galloway, Jordan Geronimo, Anthony Leal, Khristian Lander
Sit Out Transfers: None
Projected Bench: Armaan Franklin, Jerome Hunter, Race Thompson, Trey Galloway, Jordan Geronimo, Anthony Leal
2020 NBA Draft Watch: None
The Skinny: The unexpected loss of Smith hurts, but the early addition of Lander should make next season Archie Miller’s best one yet in Bloomington.
6. Ohio State
Projected Starting 5:
G CJ Walker
G Duane Washington
F Justice Sueing
F E.J. Liddell
F Kyle Young
Key Losses: Kaleb Wesson, Andre Wesson, D.J. Carton, Luther Muhammad
Key Newcomers: Eugene Brown, Zed Key, Justice Sueing (Cal), Seth Towns (Harvard), Abel Porter (Utah State)
Sit Out Transfers: Jimmy Sotos (Bucknell)
Projected Bench: Eugene Brown, Zed Key, Seth Towns, Justin Ahrens, Ibrahima Diallo, Abel Porter, Musa Jallow
2020 NBA Draft Watch: None
The Skinny: Chris Holtmann’s consistency as a head coach is well documented; Liddell’s upside is not. Expect a breakout season from the 6-6 sophomore.
7. Illinois
Projected Starting 5:
G Trent Frazier
G Adam Miller
G Da’Monte Williams
F Giorgi Bezhanishvili
C Kofi Cockburn
Key Losses: Andres Feliz, Kipper Nichols, Ayo Dosunmu* (could still return to school next season), Alan Griffin
Key Newcomers: Andre Curbelo, Adam Miller, Coleman Hawkins, Jacob Grandison (Holy Cross), Austin Hutcherson (Division III)
Sit Out Transfers: None
Projected Bench: Andre Curbelo, Coleman Hawkins, Jacob Grandison, Da’Monte Williams
2020 NBA Draft Watch: Ayo Dosunmu (will go through the draft process), Kofi Cockburn (will go through the draft process)
The Skinny: Champaign will be partying like it’s 2005 if both Dosunmu and Cockburn return to school.
8. Michigan
Projected Starting 5:
G Mike Smith
G Eli Brooks
F Franz Wagner
F Isaiah Livers
C Hunter Dickinson
Key Losses: Zavier Simpson, Jon Teske, David DeJulius
Key Newcomers: Hunter Dickinson, Zeb Jackson, Terrance Williams, Mike Smith (Columbia)
Sit Out Transfers: None
Projected Bench: Terrance Williams, Adrian Nunez, Brandon Johns, Hunter Dickinson, Zeb Jackson
2020 NBA Draft Watch: Isaiah Livers (will go through draft process)
The Skinny: Livers’ return would put Michigan in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. His departure could put the Wolverines into another kind of postseason tournament.
9. Purdue
Projected Starting 5:
G Eric Hunter
G Ethan Morton
G Sasha Stefanovic
F Aaron Wheeler
C Trevion Williams
Key Losses: Jahaad Proctor, Evan Boudreaux, Matt Haarms
Key Newcomers: Ethan Morton, Jaden Ivey, Zach Edey, Mason Gillis (redshirt), Brandon Newman (redshirt)
Sit Out Transfers: None
Projected Bench: Jaden Ivey, Zach Edey, Isaiah Thompson, Mason Gillis, Brandon Newman
2020 NBA Draft Watch: None
The Skinny: Matt Painter has repeatedly said that the 6-4 Morton is the best passer that he’s ever recruited at Purdue.
10. Maryland
Projected Starting 5:
G Eric Ayala
G Darryl Morsell
G Aaron Wiggins
F Donta Scott
C Galin Smith
Key Losses: Jalen Smith, Anthony Cowan
Key Newcomers: Galin Smith (Alabama), Marcus Dockery, Aquan Smart
Sit Out Transfers: Jairus Hamilton (Boston College)
Projected Bench: Hakim Hart, Chol Marial, Marcus Dockery, Aquan Smart
2020 NBA Draft Watch: None
The Skinny: The perimeter is rock solid, but what about the paint?
11. Penn State
Projected Starting 5:
G Jamari Wheeler
G Myreon Jones
G Myles Dread
F Seth Lundy
C John Harrar
Key Losses: Lamar Stevens, Mike Watkins, Curtis Jones
Key Newcomers: Dallion Johnson, DJ Gordon, Caleb Dorsey
Sit Out Transfers: Sam Sessoms (Binghamton)
Projected Bench: Izaiah Brockington, Dallion Johnson, DJ Gordon, Caleb Dorsey, Trent Buttrick
2020 NBA Draft Watch: None
The Skinny: Pat Chambers needs a big jump from the 6-6 Lundy, who had several moments of brilliance last season as a freshman.
12. Minnesota
Projected Starting 5:
G Marcus Carr
G Gabe Kalscheur
G Tre’ Williams
F Isaiah Inhen
F Jarvis Omersa
Key Losses: Daniel Oturu, Alihan Demir, Payton Willis
Key Newcomers: Jamal Mashburn Jr., Martice Mitchell, David Mutaf, Brandon Johnson (Western Michigan)
Sit Out Transfers: Liam Robbins (Drake), Both Gach (Utah)
Projected Bench: Jamal Mashburn Jr., Martice Mitchell, David Mutaf, Eric Curry, Sam Freeman, Brandon Johnson
2020 NBA Draft Watch: None
The Skinny: The results of waiver requests for both Robbins and Gach will determine if the Gophers have the ability to augment their ceiling.
13. Nebraska
Projected Starting 5:
G Kobe Webster
G Dalano Banton
G Thor Thorbjarnason
G Teddy Allen
F Lat Mayen
Key Losses: Cam Mack, Jervay Green, Haanif Cheatham, Dachon Burke
Key Newcomers: Derrick Walker (Tennessee), Dalano Banton (Western Kentucky), Kobe Webster (Western Illinois), Lat Mayen (JUCO), Teddy Allen (JUCO), Eduardo Andre, Shamiel Stevenson (Nevada), Elijah Wood
Sit Out Transfers: Trey McGowens (Pitt), Trevor Lakes (Division II)
Projected Bench: Shamiel Stevenson, Derrick Walker, Yvan Ouedraogo, Eduardo Andre, Akol Arop, Elijah Wood
2020 NBA Draft Watch: None
The Skinny: Don’t be shocked if Allen — who started his college career at West Virginia — winds up as one of the Big Ten’s leaders in scoring.
14. Northwestern
Projected Starting 5:
G Boo Buie
G Chase Audige
G Miller Kopp
F Pete Nance
C Ryan Young
Key Losses: Pat Spencer
Key Newcomers: Ty Berry, Matt Nicholson, Chase Audige (William & Mary)
Sit Out Transfers: None
Projected Bench: Robbie Beran, Anthony Gaines, Ryan Greer, Ty Berry, Matt Nicholson
2020 NBA Draft Watch: None
The Skinny: The Wildcats are a year away from being a middle of the pack team in the Big Ten. Book it.
