Summer time means a look ahead to next season!
Each week moving forward, we will preview one conference in college basketball from soup to nuts.
Check below for this week’s breakdown on the Big Ten.
Big Ten Preseason Power Rankings
1. Purdue
Projected Starting 5:
G Braden Smith
G Fletcher Loyer
G Ethan Morton
F Caleb Furst
C Zach Edey
Projected Bench: Brian Waddell, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Myles Colvin, Mason Gillis, Cam Heide, Lance Jones, Will Berg
Key Newcomers: Myles Colvin, Cam Heide, Lance Jones (SIU)
Key Losses: David Jenkins, Brandon Newman
2. Michigan State
Projected Starting 5:
G A.J. Hoggard
G Tyson Walker
F Jaden Akins
F Malik Hall
C Xavier Booker
Projected Bench: Mady Sissoko, Jaxon Kohler, Tre Holloman, Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr, Gehrig Normand, Carson Cooper
Key Newcomers: Xavier Booker, Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr, Gehrig Normand
Key Losses: Pierre Brooks, Joey Hauser
3. Illinois
Projected Starting 5:
G Ty Rodgers
G Terrence Shannon Jr.
F Quincy Guerrier
F Coleman Hawkins
C Dain Dainja
Projected Bench: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, Amari Hansberry, Niccolo Moretti, Marcus Domask, Justin Harmon, Sencire Harris, Luke Goode
Key Newcomers: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, Amari Hansberry, Niccolo Moretti, Marcus Domask (Southern Illinois), Justin Harmon (Utah Valley), Quincy Guerrier (Oregon)
Key Lossses: Matthew Mayer, Skyy Clark, Jayden Epps
4. Maryland
Projected Starting 5:
G Jahmir Young
G DeShawn Harris-Smith
F Jamie Kaiser
F Donta Scott
C Julian Reese
Projected Bench: Jahari Long, Jahnathan Lamothe, Chance Stephens (injured), Braden Pierce, Jordan Geronimo, Mady Traore
Key Newcomers: Jamie Kaiser, DeShawn Harris-Smith, Jahnathan Lamothe, Chance Stephens (LMU), Braden Pierce, Jordan Geronimo (Indiana), Mady Traore (New Mexico State)
Key Losses: Don Carey, Patrick Emilien, Hakim Hart, Ian Martinez
5. Wisconsin
Projected Starting 5:
G Chucky Hepburn
G Max Klesmit
G Connor Essegian
F Tyler Wahl
C Steven Crowl
Projected Bench: Isaac Lindsey, Carter Gilmore, Justin Taphorn, Markus Ilver, Chris Hodges,. Gus Yalden, Nolan Winter, John Blackwell, Kamari McGee, A.J. Storr
Key Newcomers: Gus Yalden, Nolan Winter, John Blackwell, A.J. Storr (St. John’s)
Key Losses: Jordan Davis
6. Northwestern
Projected Starting 5
G Boo Buie
G Ty Berry
G Brooks Barnhizer
F Nick Martinelli
C Matthew Nicholson
Projected Bench: Luke Hunger, Jordan Clayton, Parker Strauss, Blake Barkley, Blake Preston, Ryan Langborg, Justin Mullins
Key Newcomers: Jordan Clayton, Parker Strauss, Blake Barkley, Ryan Langborg (Princeton), Blake Preston (Liberty), Justin Mullins (Denver)
Key Losses: Chase Audige, Robbie Beran
7. Rutgers
Projected Starting 5:
G Derek Simpson
G Noah Fernandes
F Gavin Griffiths
F Mawot Mag
C Cliff Omoruyi
Projected Bench: Antwone Woolfolk, Antonio Chol, Aundre Hyatt, Jamichael Davis, Emmanuel Ogbole
Key Newcomers: Gavin Griffiths, Jamichael Davis, Noah Fernandes (UMass), Emmanuel Ogbole (JUCO)
Key Losses: Caleb McConnell, Cam Spencer, Paul Mulcahy
8. Indiana
Projected Starting 5:
G Xavier Johnson
G Trey Galloway
F Mackenzie Mgbako
F Malik Reneau
C Kel’el Ware
Projected Bench: Anthony Walker, Payton Sparks, Gabe Cupps, Jakai Newton, Anthony Leal, CJ Gunn, Kaleb Banks
Key Newcomers: Mackenzie Mgbako, Kel’el Ware (Oregon), Anthony Walker (Miami), Payton Sparks (Ball State), Gabe Cupps, Jakai Newton
Key Losses: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Race Thompson, Miller Kopp, Tamar Bates, Jordan Geronimo
9. Michigan
Projected Starting 5:
G Dug McDaniel
G Nimari Burnett
F Terrance Williams
F Olivier Nkamhoua
C Tarris Reed
Projected Bench: Will Tschetter, Youssef Khayat, Jace Howard, George Washington III, Jaelin Llewellyn, Nimari Burnett, Tray Jackson
Key Newcomers: Olivier Nkamhoua (Tennessee), Tray Jackson (Seton Hall), Nimari Burnett (Alabama), George Washington III
Key Losses: Joey Baker, Jett Howard, Kobe Bufkin, Hunter Dickinson
10. Ohio State
Projected Starting 5
G Bruce Thornton
G Roddy Gayle Jr.
F Evan Mahaffey
F Jamison Battle
C Felix Okpara
Projected Bench: Zed Key, Scotty Middleton, Taison Chatman, Devin Royal, Austin Parks, Dale Bonner
Key Newcomers: Scotty Middleton, Taison Chatman, Devin Royal, Austin Parks, Evan Mahaffey (Penn State), Dale Bonner (Baylor), Jamison Battle (Minnesota)
Key Losses: Brice Sensabaugh, Isaac Likekele, Sean McNeil, Eugene Brown
11. Iowa
Projected Starting 5
G Dasonte Bowen
G Tony Perkins
G Payton Sandfort
F Patrick McCaffery
C Ben Krikke
Projected Bench: Dante Eldridge, Riley Mulvey, Carter Kingsbury, Pryce Sandort, Owen Freeman, Brock Harding, Ladji Dembele, Even Brauns, Amarion Nimmers, Luc Laketa, Josh Dix
Key Newcomers: Pryce Sandort, Owen Freeman, Brock Harding, Ladji Dembele, Ben Krikke (VALPO), Even Brauns (Belmont)
Key Losses: Kris Murray, Connor McCaffery, Filip Rebraca
12. Penn State
Projected Starting 5
G Ace Baldwin
G D’Marco Dunn
F Zach Hicks
F Puff Johnson
C Qudus Wahab
Projected Bench: Demetrius Lilley, Kanye Clary, Favour Aire, RayQuawndis Mitchell, Nick Kern, Leo O’Boyle, Bragi Gudmundsson
Key Newcomers: D’Marco Dunn (North Carolina), Puff Johnson (North Carolina), Favour Aire (Miami), Qudus Wahab (Georgetown), RayQuawndis Mitchell (UMKC), Ace Baldwin (VCU), Nick Kern (VCU), Zach Hicks (Temple), Leo O’Boyle (Lafayette), Bragi Gudmundsson
Key Losses: Myles Dread, Jalen Pickett, Andrew Funk, Cam Wynter, Myles Dread, Seth Lundy
13. Nebraska
Projected Starting 5
G Jamarques Lawrence
G Keisei Tominaga
G CJ Wilcher
F Juwan Gary
C Rienk Mast
Projected Bench: Ramel Lloyd, Blaise Keita, Brice Williams, Eli Rice, Josiah Allick, Sam Hoiberg, Ahron Ulis
Key Newcomers: Eli Rice, Rienk Mast (Bradley), Brice Williams (Charlotte), Josiah Allick (New Mexico), Ahron Ulis (Iowa)
Key Losses: Sam Griesel, Derrick Walker, Emmanuel Bandoumel
14. Minnesota
Projected Starting 5
G Elijah Hawkins
G Mike Mitchell
G Braeden Carrington
F Dawson Garcia
C Pharrel Payne
Projected Bench: Joshua Ola-Joseph, Isaiah Inhen, Parker Fox, Cameron Christie, Jack Wilson, Kadyn Betts, Kristupas Keinys, Erick Reader, Jackson Purcell
Key Newcomers: Cameron Christie, Mike Mitchell (Pepperdine), Elijah Hawkins (Howard), Jack Wilson (Washington State), Kristupas Keinys
Key Losses: Taurus Samuels, Ta’lon Cooper, Treyton Thompson, Jamison Battle
Big Ten Preseason First-Team
Boo Buie, Northwestern
Tyson Walker, Michigan State
Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois
Cliff Omoruyi, Rutgers
Zach Edey, Purdue
Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year
Zach Edey, Purdue
Big Ten Preseason Sleeper
Penn State
10 Big Ten Breakout Players
*In no particular order
*A player is not eligible to be a breakout player if he’s previously averaged in double figures
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
Jaden Akins, Michigan State
Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
Derek Simpson, Rutgers
Malik Reneau, Indiana
Dasonte Bowen, Iowa
Tarris Reed, Michigan
Jamarques Lawrence, Nebraska
Roddy Gayle, Ohio State
10 Impact Big 10 Freshmen
*In no particular order
Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana
Xavier Booker, Michigan State
Coen Carr, Michigan State
Jeremy Fears, Michigan State
DeShawn Harris-Smith, Maryland
Jamie Kaiser, Maryland
Taison Chatman, Ohio State
Devin Royal, Ohio State
Scotty Middleton, Ohio State
Gavin Griffiths, Rutgers
15 Impact Big 10 Transfers
*In no particular order
*Two-time transfers who have yet to be cleared by the NCAA are not eligible for this list
Quincy Guerrier, Illinois (Oregon)
Marcus Domask, Illinois (Southern Illinois)
Jordan Geronimo, Maryland (Indiana)
A.J. Storr, Wisconsin (St. John’s)
Ryan Langborg, Northwestern (Princeton)
Noah Fernandes, Rutgers (UMass)
Kel’el Ware, Indiana (Oregon)
Olivier Nkamhoua, Michigan (Tennessee)
Jamison Battle, Ohio State (Minnesota)
Ben Krikke, Iowa (VALPO)
Ace Baldwin, Penn State (VCU)
D’Marco Dunn, Penn State (North Carolina)
Puff Johnson, Penn State (North Carolina)
Qudus Wahab, Penn State (Georgetown)
Rienk Mast, Nebraska (Bradley)
Leftovers
- BRACKET BREAKDOWN: January 24th
- The Breakfast Buffet: Morez Johnson, Louisville, Memphis’ perimeter
- The Breakfast Buffet: Texas A&M’s portal class, Xavier/St. John’s, Murphy’s Law has hit Arkansas
- The Breakfast Buffet: Javon Small, Wake Forest has a big week, John Blackwell goes Hollywood
- Episode 482 — Michigan’s Dusty May
