I know Basketball is still months away but now that the dust has settled on the transfer market and NBA Draft decisions the '21-'22 B1G Basketball season is starting to take shape. It's looking like another grind in the B1G this season with a nice mix of talented teams. I see 10 possibly 11 teams in the B1G with the talent to make it to the Dance. The league will be deep with at least 5 teams in the top 20 with another 4 somewhere between 21-40. This is my preview/predictions for each team.
1) Purdue - Many are already high on this team but Purdue's ceiling in my opinion is the highest of any team in the B1G. They return All-B1G Williams in the post. Add in Jaden Ivey who after a great summer with USA U19 seems poised for an All-B1G type season and Purdue seems to have two elite players. 7'4" Edey followed up a productive FR season by giving team Canada 15.1ppg, 14.1rpg & 2.3 bpg at the U19's this summer. Key role players Stefanovic, Hunter, Newman, Thompson and Morton also return. Purdue brings in two top 50 recruits Furst and Kaufman. 6'10" Furst had a nice summer with the USA U19's and looks ready to be a key reserve for the Purdue frontcourt. This team is loaded at all levels, and has the best depth in the B1G.
2) Michigan - If the freshmen on this Wolverine team play like lottery picks this team could be among the best 5 teams in the country. Dickinson could be the best C in the B1G this season and one of the best players nationally. The B1G is loaded at C. The return of Brooks and the addition of high scoring G Jones gives the Wolverines two quality veteran guards. What will make Michigan a National Contender is if blue chip recruits Houston, Diabate, and Bufkin preform at or above expectations. Houston gives the Wolverines an elite sharpshooting inside outside player that could be key to unlocking any defense in the country. The Wolverines could have the most NBA talent out of any roster in college basketball next season.
3) Illinois - Once Cockburn came back it made Illinois a top 20 team nationally. He could be the B1G player of the year this coming season. Curbelo might be the most talented PG in the B1G and many expect him to take a big leap. Illinois returns plenty of experienced role players with Frazier being the most notable. Keep an eye on transfer Plummer. He was Utah's best shooter last season and was becoming an elite scorer towards the end of the season. He should thrive when working off Curbelo and Cockburn. Will be interesting to see if Payne and Cockburn thrive on the court together next season. Payne is a more naturally gifted PF, something the Illini didn't have last season. Florida wasn't a great fit for his playing style.
4) Ohio St - This team is loaded in the post at the 3-5 positions with Liddell, Young, Key, Sueing, Towns and Brunk. Losing Washington bumped this team down a spot and left the team with some backcourt questions. PSU transfer and B1G veteran Wheeler is a nice addition both defensively and experience wise. The big question will be can transfer Russell produce in the B1G or will the Ohio St guards have trouble scoring and keeping the offensive production fluid?
5) Maryland - I think this team can finish top 3 in the B1G. Losing both Wiggins and Morsell was a blow that knocked this team down from being a league and national contender. However the Terps are loaded with talent with the addition of elite post player Wahab and PG Russell. 6'11" Qudus Wahab was emerging last season as one of the better post players in the country. He will give Maryland an elite post player something the team needs with their style of play. Fatts Russell is one of the better PG's in the nation when he doesn't need to also handle the scoring duties for his team. At Maryland he can be the 3rd or 4th option and focus more on running the offense. Ayala is a known scorer in the B1G and Scott was one of the B1G's more efficient scorers. Expect Scott to have a breakout year and really thrive playing next to Wahab and with a natural PG. Hart is a good two way guard who could have a breakout year as well.
6) Indiana - Woodson quickly assembled what could be a top 25 team in his 1st season at Indiana. Bringing back Jackson-Davis, Thompson and Phinisee gives Woodson three quality B1G starters. Add in a SO class that could breakout this season and Woodson had a team that could compete in the middle of the B1G. However his additions of elite guard Johnson, B1G vet Kopp, and shooter Stewart give Woodson a team that belongs in the top half of the B1G. Add elite scorer and incoming FR Tamar Bates and this is the most talented Indiana team in some time. A team that could surprise and compete with the top 5 of the conference.
7) MSU - Sparty took some major offseason hits but still return some talented pieces. Izzo addressed the PG issue at least on paper. Tyson Walker is a natural PG who could thrive when not asked to be the go to scorer. He is also a defensive wiz. Max Christie is a blue chip elite scorer. Brown, Hall and Bingham all have breakout potential. Akins and Brooks are elite recruits. Hauser and Marble are proven players. A lot of talent on this team but also a lot of questions around all of that talent.
8) Iowa - I could see Iowa as high as 6th this season. Keegan Murray is a breakout candidate. However I would also add Kris and Patrick to breakout players for Iowa. Bohannon if used as an off the bench shooter could have his best season at Iowa. The reason for that is a more athletic backcourt with Toussaint, Ulis and Perkins. However if Bohannon and Connor get most of the guard minutes I could see Iowa finishing as low as 10th or even 11th. No Garza this year exposes both of Connor and Bohannon even more. Rebraca will be a nice addition but the B1G is absolutely loaded with elite post players this season and Iowa will have a hard time guarding those players. Really wish Fran would have addressed this issue in the transfer market better.
9) Wisconsin - I expect Davis and Wahl to take big steps forward. Davison will give Wisconsin a steady reliable veteran to lean on. I expect Carlson to emerge as a quality B1G player this season that will surprise a lot of people. Overall this Badger team will rely too heavily on FR and guys that aren't used to the spotlight. However I think this team will end up being a little more well rounded than Rutgers.
10) Rutgers - Really should be higher when you return Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr but I think this team has a lot of holes and some starters with consistency issues. B1G is a deep league. Baker and Harper could also alone carry Rutgers to a top 7 finish. I think 8th - 10th in the B1G is really a crap shoot.
11) Nebraska - Could this be Hoiberg's year? This is by far his most talented Husker team. The McGowen brothers are an extremely talented duo. If they live up to their potential this team is loaded with role players that can support them. Mayen and Webster are proven players in the B1G but the Huskers might actually have upgrades this season in transfers Wilcher, Verge and Edwards. Verge put up 14ppg, 3.8apg, and 3.9rpg at Arizona St. He is a major upgrade both offensively and defensively for the Huskers. Fun fact is that he put up 28pts against Oregon just a week before the Ducks destroyed Iowa. Walker was coming into his own late in the B1G season and Andre was developing nicely late in the season. If Walker, Andre and newcomers Breidenbach and Kojenets can give Nebraska solid minutes in the paint they will greatly reduce a massive problem these past two seasons for Nebraska. Also keep an eye on JUCO recruit Tominaga. Guy is a 3pt specialist that can bomb three's at Bohannon levels.
12)-14) - Penn St, Northwestern and Minnesota - Will be surprised if either of these teams finish above 12th. I think there is significant separation between 11th and 12th. Penn St could prove me wrong however if the transfers play well and Lundy does take that leap everyone was expecting. Harrar is an above average post player.
1) Purdue - Many are already high on this team but Purdue's ceiling in my opinion is the highest of any team in the B1G. They return All-B1G Williams in the post. Add in Jaden Ivey who after a great summer with USA U19 seems poised for an All-B1G type season and Purdue seems to have two elite players. 7'4" Edey followed up a productive FR season by giving team Canada 15.1ppg, 14.1rpg & 2.3 bpg at the U19's this summer. Key role players Stefanovic, Hunter, Newman, Thompson and Morton also return. Purdue brings in two top 50 recruits Furst and Kaufman. 6'10" Furst had a nice summer with the USA U19's and looks ready to be a key reserve for the Purdue frontcourt. This team is loaded at all levels, and has the best depth in the B1G.
2) Michigan - If the freshmen on this Wolverine team play like lottery picks this team could be among the best 5 teams in the country. Dickinson could be the best C in the B1G this season and one of the best players nationally. The B1G is loaded at C. The return of Brooks and the addition of high scoring G Jones gives the Wolverines two quality veteran guards. What will make Michigan a National Contender is if blue chip recruits Houston, Diabate, and Bufkin preform at or above expectations. Houston gives the Wolverines an elite sharpshooting inside outside player that could be key to unlocking any defense in the country. The Wolverines could have the most NBA talent out of any roster in college basketball next season.
3) Illinois - Once Cockburn came back it made Illinois a top 20 team nationally. He could be the B1G player of the year this coming season. Curbelo might be the most talented PG in the B1G and many expect him to take a big leap. Illinois returns plenty of experienced role players with Frazier being the most notable. Keep an eye on transfer Plummer. He was Utah's best shooter last season and was becoming an elite scorer towards the end of the season. He should thrive when working off Curbelo and Cockburn. Will be interesting to see if Payne and Cockburn thrive on the court together next season. Payne is a more naturally gifted PF, something the Illini didn't have last season. Florida wasn't a great fit for his playing style.
4) Ohio St - This team is loaded in the post at the 3-5 positions with Liddell, Young, Key, Sueing, Towns and Brunk. Losing Washington bumped this team down a spot and left the team with some backcourt questions. PSU transfer and B1G veteran Wheeler is a nice addition both defensively and experience wise. The big question will be can transfer Russell produce in the B1G or will the Ohio St guards have trouble scoring and keeping the offensive production fluid?
5) Maryland - I think this team can finish top 3 in the B1G. Losing both Wiggins and Morsell was a blow that knocked this team down from being a league and national contender. However the Terps are loaded with talent with the addition of elite post player Wahab and PG Russell. 6'11" Qudus Wahab was emerging last season as one of the better post players in the country. He will give Maryland an elite post player something the team needs with their style of play. Fatts Russell is one of the better PG's in the nation when he doesn't need to also handle the scoring duties for his team. At Maryland he can be the 3rd or 4th option and focus more on running the offense. Ayala is a known scorer in the B1G and Scott was one of the B1G's more efficient scorers. Expect Scott to have a breakout year and really thrive playing next to Wahab and with a natural PG. Hart is a good two way guard who could have a breakout year as well.
6) Indiana - Woodson quickly assembled what could be a top 25 team in his 1st season at Indiana. Bringing back Jackson-Davis, Thompson and Phinisee gives Woodson three quality B1G starters. Add in a SO class that could breakout this season and Woodson had a team that could compete in the middle of the B1G. However his additions of elite guard Johnson, B1G vet Kopp, and shooter Stewart give Woodson a team that belongs in the top half of the B1G. Add elite scorer and incoming FR Tamar Bates and this is the most talented Indiana team in some time. A team that could surprise and compete with the top 5 of the conference.
7) MSU - Sparty took some major offseason hits but still return some talented pieces. Izzo addressed the PG issue at least on paper. Tyson Walker is a natural PG who could thrive when not asked to be the go to scorer. He is also a defensive wiz. Max Christie is a blue chip elite scorer. Brown, Hall and Bingham all have breakout potential. Akins and Brooks are elite recruits. Hauser and Marble are proven players. A lot of talent on this team but also a lot of questions around all of that talent.
8) Iowa - I could see Iowa as high as 6th this season. Keegan Murray is a breakout candidate. However I would also add Kris and Patrick to breakout players for Iowa. Bohannon if used as an off the bench shooter could have his best season at Iowa. The reason for that is a more athletic backcourt with Toussaint, Ulis and Perkins. However if Bohannon and Connor get most of the guard minutes I could see Iowa finishing as low as 10th or even 11th. No Garza this year exposes both of Connor and Bohannon even more. Rebraca will be a nice addition but the B1G is absolutely loaded with elite post players this season and Iowa will have a hard time guarding those players. Really wish Fran would have addressed this issue in the transfer market better.
9) Wisconsin - I expect Davis and Wahl to take big steps forward. Davison will give Wisconsin a steady reliable veteran to lean on. I expect Carlson to emerge as a quality B1G player this season that will surprise a lot of people. Overall this Badger team will rely too heavily on FR and guys that aren't used to the spotlight. However I think this team will end up being a little more well rounded than Rutgers.
10) Rutgers - Really should be higher when you return Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr but I think this team has a lot of holes and some starters with consistency issues. B1G is a deep league. Baker and Harper could also alone carry Rutgers to a top 7 finish. I think 8th - 10th in the B1G is really a crap shoot.
11) Nebraska - Could this be Hoiberg's year? This is by far his most talented Husker team. The McGowen brothers are an extremely talented duo. If they live up to their potential this team is loaded with role players that can support them. Mayen and Webster are proven players in the B1G but the Huskers might actually have upgrades this season in transfers Wilcher, Verge and Edwards. Verge put up 14ppg, 3.8apg, and 3.9rpg at Arizona St. He is a major upgrade both offensively and defensively for the Huskers. Fun fact is that he put up 28pts against Oregon just a week before the Ducks destroyed Iowa. Walker was coming into his own late in the B1G season and Andre was developing nicely late in the season. If Walker, Andre and newcomers Breidenbach and Kojenets can give Nebraska solid minutes in the paint they will greatly reduce a massive problem these past two seasons for Nebraska. Also keep an eye on JUCO recruit Tominaga. Guy is a 3pt specialist that can bomb three's at Bohannon levels.
12)-14) - Penn St, Northwestern and Minnesota - Will be surprised if either of these teams finish above 12th. I think there is significant separation between 11th and 12th. Penn St could prove me wrong however if the transfers play well and Lundy does take that leap everyone was expecting. Harrar is an above average post player.
