Big Ten Power Rankings: Offseason edition v.1
Big Ten rosters for the 2022-23 season are coming into focus, so it’s time for our first look at how the league standing may shake out next season.
Here are our first set of Big Ten power rankings for the 2022-23 season:
14. Northwestern (15-16 last season)
What we like: Boo Buie and Chase Audige is a solid backcourt combination despite a lack of efficiency.
What we don’t like: Pete Nance is in the transfer portal and our confidence in Chris Collins to turn things around in Evanston is low.
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Boo Buie, Chase Audige, Ty Berry, Robbie Beran, Julian Roper II, Casey Simmons, Brooks Barnhizer, Matthew Nicholson
Arriving: Luke Hunger, Nick Martinelli, Tydus Verhoeven (from UTEP)
13. Nebraska (10-22 last season)
What we like: Fred Hoiberg has continued to try to upgrade the talent in Lincoln and landed a top 100 guard in Ramel Lloyd Jr. who should log major minutes right away.
What we don’t like: Bryce McGowens is off to the NBA and he was clearly the most talented player Hoiberg has recruited to Nebraska.
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: C.J. Wilcher, Quaran McPherson, Lat Mayen, Derrick Walker, Keisei Tominaga, Wilheim Breidenbach, Oleg Kojenets
Arriving: Ramel Llloyd Jr. (247Composite top 100), Denim Dawson, Blaise Keita, Jamarques Lawrence, Sam Greisel (from North Dakota State), Juwan Gary (from Alabama), Emmanuel Bandoumel (from SMU)
12. Penn State (14-17 last season)
What we like: Micah Shrewsberry put together a solid recruiting class and also has several reliable contributors from last season back in the fold.
What we don’t like: Replacing the production of John Harrar, who was one of the most underrated frontcourt players in the league, will be difficult.
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Seth Lundy, Myles Dread, Caleb Dorsey, Jalen Pickett, Dallion Johnson, Jevonnie Scott
Arriving: Kebba Njie (247Composite top 100), Jameel Brown, Evan Mahaffey, Kanye Clary, Demetrius Lilley, Camren Wynter (from Drexel), Andrew Funk (from Bucknell), Michael Henn (from Denver)
11. Maryland (15-17 last season)
What we like: The Terps now have direction with Kevin Willard at the helm and have a solid frontcourt duo in Julian Reese and Donta Scott.
What we don’t like: Implementing a new system takes time in the Big Ten and Maryland has to replace its starting backcourt with the departures of Fatts Russell and Eric Ayala.
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Julian Reese, Donta Scott, Hakim Hart, Pavlo Dziuba, Ian Martinez, Ike Cornish, Arnaud Revaz
Arriving: Noah Batchelor, Jahmir Young (from Charlotte), Donald Carey (from Georgetown), Jahari Long (from Seton Hall), Patrick Emilien (from St. Francis Brooklyn), Caelum Swanton-Rodger
10. Minnesota (13-17 last season)
What we like: Jamison Battle was terrific last season in his first Big Ten season and Ben Johnson added a former top 50 recruit in Dawson Garcia, a transfer from North Carolina.
What we don’t like: Guard play is important and the Gophers are going to be relying on Ta’Lon Cooper and Taurus Samuels, who are transferring up from the mid-major ranks.
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Jamison Battle, Parker Fox, Isaiah Ihnen, Treyton Thompson
Arriving: Pharrel Payne, Josh Ola-Joseph, Braeden Carrington, Jaden Henley, Dawson Garcia (from North Carolina), Ta’Lon Cooper (from Morehead State), Taurus Samuels (from Dartmouth)
9. Iowa (26-10 last season)
What we like: Kris Murray looks like a serious candidate for all-Big Ten first team honors next season.
What we don’t like: The Hawkeyes lost their best player in Keegan Murray and their most clutch player in Jordan Bohannon. Should we trust Fran McCaffery to put a top 80 defense on the floor again next season?
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Kris Murray, Patrick McCaffery, Filip Rebraca, Tony Perkins, Ahron Ulis, Payton Sandfort, Riley Mulvey, Carter Kingsbury, Connor McCaffery, Josh Ogundele
Arriving: Dasonte Bowen, Josh Dix
8. Wisconsin (25-8 last season)
What we like: The Badgers always outperform expectations and always seem to find under-the-radar players who blossom into significant roles.
What we don’t like: Johnny Davis was the Big Ten player who was most important to his team last season and he’s gone. As maligned as he was by fans of opposing schools, Brad Davison is a major loss for the Badgers.
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Jordan Davis, Tyler Wahl, Steven Crowl, Chucky Hepburn, Marcus Iver, Jahcobi Neath, Chris Hodges, Isaac Lindsey
Arriving: Connor Essegian, Kamari McGee (from Green Bay), Max Klesmit (from Wofford)
7. Ohio State (20-12 last season)
What we like: Chris Holtmann brought in an elite recruiting class and hasn’t finished outside of the top eight since taking over in Columbus in 2017.
What we don’t like: Losing two first-round picks in E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham is a tall task as is integrating eight new players.
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Justice Sueing, Zed Key, Eugene Brown III, Seth Towns, Kalen Etzler
Arriving: Felix Okpara (247Composite top 50), Bruce Thornton (247Composite top 50), Roddy Gayle Jr. (247Composite (top 75), Brice Sensabaugh (247Composite top 75), Bowen Hardman, Tanner Holden (from Wright State), Sean McNeil (from West Virginia), Isaac Likekele (from Oklahoma State)
6. Rutgers (18-14 last season)
What we like: Steve Pikiell has built a culture of toughness and winning in Piscataway. And three starters are back.
What we don’t like: The Scarlet Knights are going to be offensively challenged without Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr.
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Caleb McConnell, Paul Mulcahy, Cliff Omoruyi, Aundre Hyatt, Mawot Mag, Dean Reiber, Jalen Miller, Oksar Palmquist
Arriving: Derek Simpson, Antwon Woolfolk, Cam Spencer (from Loyola-Maryland)
5. Michigan (19-15 last season)
What we like: Hunter Dickinson will be in the mix for Big Ten player of the year and is a dominant force in the frontcourt.
What we don’t like: Four starters have departed and the Wolverines are going to be relying on young players and freshmen to replace a lot of the vacated production.
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Hunter Dickinson, Terrance Williams II, Kobe Bufkin, Isaiah Barnes, Jace Howard, Will Tschetter
Arriving: Tarris Reed (247Composite top 50), Jett Howard (247Composite top 50), Dug McDaniel (247Composite top 75), Gregg Glenn, Jaelin Llewellyn (from Princeton)
4. Purdue (29-8 last season)
What we like: Purdue has one of the most difficult matchups in the country back on its roster in Zach Edey and again will have one of the league’s best frontcourts.
What we don’t like: Who is going to play point guard?
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Zach Edey, Mason Gillis, Caleb Furst, Ethan Morton, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Brandon Newman, Brian Waddell
Arriving: Fletcher Loyer (247Composite top 100), Camden Heide, Braden Smith
3. Michigan State (23-13 last season)
What we like: The Spartans return a solid nucleus in Tyson Walker, A.J. Hoggard, Malik Hall and Joey Hauser. Tom Izzo always seems to have his program in the conference title hunt.
What we don’t like: The ceiling would have been much higher with Max Christie, who is off to the NBA.
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Pierre Brooks, Tyson Walker, Jaden Akins, A.J. Hoggard, Malik Hall, Mady Sissoko, Joey Hauser
Arriving: Jaxon Kohler (247Composite top 75), Tre Holloman (247Composite top 75), Carson Cooper
2. Illinois (23-10 last season)
What we like: Illinois brought in three top 75 recruits and two impactful transfers in Terrence Shannon Jr. and Matthew Mayer.
What we don’t like: Kofi Cockburn is no longer roaming the paint in Champaign.
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Coleman Hawkins, RJ Melendez, Luke Goode, Brandon Lieb
Arriving: Skyy Clark (247Composite top 50), Ty Rodgers (247Composite top 75), Jayden Epps (247Composite top 75), Sencire Harris, Dain Dainja (from Baylor), Terrence Shannon Jr. (from Texas Tech), Matthew Mayer (from Baylor)
1. Indiana (21-14 last season)
What we like: Indiana returns the most production in the league, led by Trayce Jackson-Davis.
What we don’t like: The Hoosiers are still a suspect shooting team from the perimeter and free throw line until proven otherwise.
Roster Outlook
Projected to return: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Xavier Johnson, Race Thompson, Anthony Leal, Miller Kopp, Jordan Geronimo, Trey Galloway, Logan Duncomb, Tamar Bates
Arriving: Jalen Hood-Schifino (247Composite top 25), Malik Reneau (247Composite top 50), Kaleb Banks (247Composite top 75), CJ Gunn
Filed to: Big Ten Power Rankings