Big Ten’s top 40 players for the 2025-26 season: 10-6

Oregon's Nate Bittle puts the ball on the floor.

With the official start of practice in September, UM Hoops and Inside the Hall have partnered to bring you our annual preseason breakdown of the top players in the Big Ten for the 13th straight season.

The series is broken into seven parts and we continue with our sixth installment of players 10-6 for the 2025-26 season:

Previously: 40-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-11

10. Nate Bittle, Oregon (7-foot, center, redshirt senior)

Why he could outperform this ranking: Bittle can make a strong case that he’s the best center in the Big Ten. He averaged 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.1 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game last season. He’s the best returning rim protector in the conference, he’s a terrific post-up scorer and even knocked down a 3-pointer per game at a 33.6 percent clip.

With a medical waiver granted for a fifth season, Bittle should only improve. Last year was the first time he played more than 40 percent of minutes in a season and he excelled over the final six weeks. Bittle earned six KenPom MVP honors in his last eight Big Ten games (including the conference tournament).

Why he could underperform this ranking: Bittle set career highs in games and minutes played last year, and doesn’t have the track record of logging full seasons for the Ducks. He’ll need to prove that last year’s season wasn’t a flash in the pan, but something he can provide on a nightly basis once again.

If he can stay healthy and consistent, he should be one of the best interior anchors in the conference.

9. Bruce Thornton, Ohio State (6-foot-2, guard, senior)

Why he could outperform this ranking: Thornton was one of the most productive guards in the Big Ten last season statistically.

His efficiency took a significant leap forward in his junior season as he shot 50.1 percent from the field, 42.4 percent on 3s and 85.3 percent from the free-throw line, all career-bests. He also had an assist-to-turnover ratio of better than 3-to-1.

He averaged 17.7 points, 4.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 36.2 minutes per game, which helped him earn All-Big Ten second team honors from the league’s coaches and media. Given the fact that he’s continued to improve throughout his career in Columbus, it’s not unreasonable to expect another step forward from Thornton in his final college season.

Why he could underperform this ranking: For all of Thornton’s production, he’s failed to lead the Buckeyes to consistent wins. Ohio State has yet to reach the NCAA tournament in Thornton’s first three seasons.

This is a pivotal season for Jake Diebler in Columbus and there’s a lot on Thornton’s shoulders. The Ohio State roster has been retooled, but Thornton remains the centerpiece. While he’s racked up plenty of counting stats over his first three seasons, he needs to make his teammates better and captain more wins to justify this lofty of a ranking by season’s end.

8. Jackson Shelstad, Oregon (6-foot, guard, junior)

Why he could outperform this ranking: Shelstad is an elite scoring lead guard who has started every game for Oregon since December of his freshman year. The sophomore is a tough shot maker, clutch scorer and very efficient player overall. As a sophomore, he shot 51 percent on twos, 38 percent on threes (44 percent in league games) and 84 percent at the line.

Payton Pritchard comparisons have been unavoidable for the fellow West Linn product for years, but there’s no real reason to back off now. That’s the upside case for Shelstad and he’s one of the best point guards in the conference.

Why he could underperform this ranking: As is the case with many of Dana Altman’s lead guards, Shelstad still feels more like a scorer than a true point guard. His assist rate was just 15.5 percent as a sophomore, which is a notable difference between Shelstad and some of the point guards ranked ahead of him.

He’ll also need to become just a touch more consistent as a junior, especially with an Oregon roster that doesn’t have the most impressive supporting cast outside of Shelstad and Bittle. Shelstad scored 20-plus points in five Big Ten games last year, but also was held to single digits in four.

7. John Blackwell, Wisconsin (6-foot-4, guard, junior)

Why he could outperform this ranking: An unheralded recruit out of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Blackwell is another example of Greg Gard and his coaching staff finding a diamond in the rough.

The 6-foot-4 guard was a breakout performer in the Big Ten last season as a sophomore. He averaged 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists on a Wisconsin team that won 13 league games and comfortably reached the NCAA tournament.

Although his 3-point shooting percentage dipped last season on volume that increased nearly threefold from his freshman season, there’s plenty to like about Blackwell’s offensive game. He made nearly 54 percent of his 2s, shot 81.5 percent from the free-throw line and made 58 triples. He’s also a very solid defender who can guard multiple positions, which makes him an indispensable piece in the Wisconsin program.

Why he could underperform this ranking: To push for first or second team All-Big Ten honors in his junior season, Blackwell has to knock down the 3-pointer more consistently.

He shot 45.5 percent from deep as a freshman, but regressed to 32.2 percent in his second season. If he can make the leap to the mid to high 30s percentage-wise, that should be enough to push his scoring average up slightly and put him in the elite class of the league’s guards. If not, he’s probably destined for third team or honorable mention honors once again.

6. Nick Martinelli, Northwestern (6-foot-7, wing, senior)

Why he could outperform this ranking: Martinelli led the league in scoring a season ago. The Glenview, Illinois, native averaged 20.5 points last season, a significant leap from the 8.8 points he averaged as a sophomore.

A crafty lefty, Martinelli can score from all three levels. He’s a respectable 3-point shooter, prolific from the midrange and a solid finisher. He also got to the free-throw line 195 times last season, converting at a 72.8 percent clip.

After splitting some of the go-to-scorer duties last season with Brooks Barnhizer in the 17 games they appeared together, there’s no question who the primary option is now for the Wildcats. It’s Martinelli and Chris Collins is going to need even more production from his senior to get the program back into the NCAA tournament conversation. It won’t be a surprise to see Martinelli have the highest usage rate in the league.

Why he could underperform this ranking: Does Martinelli have another level he can reach? He played nearly 38 minutes per game last season and, at times, did everything for Northwestern offensively, particularly after injuries to Barnhizer and Jalen Leach.

While his 2025-26 statistical production was a surprise as it was happening, he’ll be the clear focus of Big Ten defenses in his final season of eligibility. And the supporting cast around him in Evanston doesn’t appear to be as strong, which puts even more pressure on Martinelli to perform well in every game. Given the difficulty of Martinelli’s shot selection, he may miss the mark on this ranking if his efficiency dips in his final season.

(Photo credit: University of Oregon Athletics)

See More: Commentary, 2025-26 Big Ten preview