Big Ten Power Rankings: Offseason edition v. 2

The deadline to withdraw from the NBA draft and retain eligibility for next season has passed, so it’s time for an updated version of our Big Ten power rankings.

There are still some outstanding waiver situations that haven’t been solidified, but for the purposes of our exercise, we’re including all of those players as eligible for next season.

14. Nebraska

Projected Roster: Thorir Thorbjarnarson, Akol Arop, Shamiel Stevenson, Derrick Walker, Yvan Ouedraogo, Dalano Banton, Trey McGowens, Kobe Webster, Teddy Allen, Lat Mayen, Trevor Lakes, Eduardo Andre

Notes: The Huskers lost Kobe King since our last update and as a result, are now our projected as the last place team in the league. It could be a long road to relevancy in the Big Ten for Fred Hoiberg.

13. Northwestern

Projected Roster: Ryan Greer, Miller Kopp, Pete Nance, Anthony Gaines, Ryan Young, Robbie Beran, Boo Buie, Chase Audige, Ty Berry, Matt Nicholson

Notes: The Wildcats have a roster full of role players and besides Buie, don’t have a playmaker that can create for others offensively. It’s shaping up to be another long winter for Chris Collins, who has failed to capitalize on the program’s trip to the NCAA tournament in 2017.

12. Maryland

Projected Roster: Eric Ayala, Aaron Wiggins, Darryl Morsell, Donta Scott, Chol Marial, Jairus Hamilton, Marcus Dockery, Aquan Smart, Galin Smith

Notes: The Terps graduated Anthony Cowan and lost Jalen Smith to the NBA draft and as a result, lack the star power needed to remain relevant in the league. Bart Torvik’s rankings for next season have Maryland at No. 88 in the country.

11. Minnesota

Projected Roster: Eric Curry, Gabe Kalscheur, Jarvis Omersa, Tre’ Williams, Sam Freeman, Isaiah Ihnen, Marcus Carr, Brandon Johnson, Liam Robbins, Jamal Mashburn Jr., Martice Mitchell, Both Gach

Notes: The Gophers could outperform this ranking, particularly if Robbins and Gach are both eligible and in the starting lineup. Carr is one of the league’s better point guards, but losing Daniel Oturu to the NBA will be tough to overcome.

10. Penn State

Projected Roster: Myles Dread, Izaiah Brockington, Myreon Jones, John Harrar, Jamari Wheeler, Trent Buttrick, Seth Lundy, Patrick Kelly, Sam Sessoms, Dallion Johnson, DJ Gordon, Valdir Manuel, Caleb Dorsey

Notes: Pat Chambers looked destined to take Penn State to the NCAA tournament for the first time in his tenure before the season was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Without Lamar Stevens to rely on, Penn State is going to take a step back in the standings.

9. Purdue

Projected Roster: Aaron Wheeler, Eric Hunter, Trevion Williams, Emmanuel Dowuona, Sasha Stefanovic, Brandon Newman, Mason Gillis, Isaiah Thompson, Jaden Ivey, Ethan Morton, Zach Edey

Notes: Matt Painter lost both Matt Haarms and Nojel Eastern as transfers, but Purdue’s guard play should improve with Newman, Ivey and Morton all added to the mix. Frontcourt depth behind Williams is a question, but the Boilermakers will compete for an NCAA tournament spot.

8. Ohio State

Projected Roster: Musa Jallow, Duane Washington Jr., Justin Ahrens, Kyle Young, EJ Liddell, Ibrahima Diallo, Justice Seuing, CJ Walker, Jimmy Sotos, Seth Towns, Abel Porter, Eugene Brown III, Zed Key

Notes: The Buckeyes lost the Wesson brothers, DJ Carton and Alonzo Gaffney and are going to look much different this season. The roster is full of guards and wings, but the lack of a successor to Kaleb Wesson is a major concern.

7. Indiana

Projected Roster: Al Durham Jr., Joey Brunk, Race Thompson, Jerome Hunter, Rob Phinisee, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Armaan Franklin, Anthony Leal, Trey Galloway, Jordan Geronimo, Khristian Lander

Notes: The Hoosiers look primed for a step up in the standings with the return of Jackson-Davis and the arrival of Lander. Shooting is still a major question mark, but the overall depth on this roster should give Archie Miller his best team yet in Bloomington.

6. Rutgers

Projected Roster: Geo Baker, Myles Johnson, Mamadou Doucoure, Montez Mathis, Ron Harper Jr., Caleb McConnell, Jacob Young, Paul Mulcahy, Cliff Omoruyi, Mawot Mag, Dean Reiber, Oskar Palmquist

Notes: The Scarlet Knights return every notable piece from last year’s roster outside of Akwasi Yeboah and welcome a top 50 talent in Omoruyi. Credit Steve Pikiell for accomplishing what many thought would be impossible: rescuing Rutgers from the Big Ten cellar.

5. Michigan

Projected Roster: Austin Davis, Adrien Nunez, Brandon Johns, Eli Brooks, Franz Wagner, Isaiah Livers, Mike Smith, Zeb Jackson, Hunter Dickinson, Terrance Williams, Jace Howard, Chaundee Brown

Notes: The Wolverines landed the Big Ten’s top recruiting class and also return one of the league’s best players in Livers, who tested the NBA draft waters. Beyond Livers and Wagner, who can Juwan Howard rely on?

4. Michigan State

Projected Roster: Foster Loyer, Gabe Brown, Thomas Kithier, Marcus Bingham Jr., Malik Hall, Rocket Watts, Julius Marble, Joey Hauser, Aaron Henry, Mady Sissoko, AJ Hoggard

Notes: The loss of Tillman is a major setback for the Spartans, although not unexpected. Michigan State has plenty of questions, but Tom Izzo typically finds answers.

3. Iowa

Projected Roster: Jordan Bohannon, Joe Wieskamp, Jack Nunge, CJ Fredrick, Connor McCaffery, Pat McCaffery, Joe Toussaint, Luka Garza, Ahron Ulis, Tony Perkins, Josh Ogundele, Keegan Murray, Kris Murray

Notes: The Hawkeyes are being touted as one of the league favorites by many, but we’re not ready to put them in the top spot with such a suspect defense. Iowa should be in the mix to put the nation’s best offense on the floor next winter.

2. Illinois

Projected Roster: Trent Frazier, Giorgi Bezhanishvili, Da’Monte Williams, Austin Hutcherson, Jermaine Hamlin, Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk, Jacob Grandison, Kofi Cockburn, Ayo Dosunmu, Andre Curbelo, Adam Miller, Coleman Hawkins

Notes: Illinois was the big winner of the NBA draft withdraw deadline with Cockburn and Dosunmu returning to school. The Fighting Illini have assembled a monster backcourt with Dosunmu, Frazier, Miller and Curbelo and the frontcourt duo of Bezhanishvili and Cockburn is among the league’s best.

1. Wisconsin

Projected Roster: D’Mitrik Trice, Micah Potter, Aleem Ford, Brad Davison, Nate Reuvers, Trevor Anderson, Joe Hedstrom, Tyler Wahl, Ben Carlson, Johnny Davis, Lorne Bowman, Steven Crowl, Jordan Davis

Notes: The Badgers won a share of the Big Ten title last season and with all five starters returning, are the safe pick to win the league. Other teams might have more upside, but you can count on Wisconsin to frustrate opponents with its deliberate pace and stingy defense.

Category: Commentary

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