Indiana Reload

[Auger]

Indiana just hauled in former Northwestern Wing Miller Kopp via transfer. Kopp didn't like the way Northwestern was utilizing him. If he returns to his '19-'20 form this is a major get by Indiana. Add Kopp to Jackson-Davis, Thompson, and transfers Xavier Johnson and Parker Stewart and all of a sudden Indiana has emerged as one of the best B1G teams going into the '21-'22 season. Former Pitt and ACC guard Xavier Johnson was one of the better guards in the transfer portal and Parker Stewart was a high scoring guard for a mid-major. Indiana is also bringing in a couple top 100 recruits. Woodson has quickly rebuilt the Indiana roster. With the new additions and Jackson-Davis coming back I wouldn't be surprised to see Indiana in the top 4 of the B1G next year.

Maryland has also done well in the transfer portal bringing in one of the best in C Qudus Wahab. Many believe he will breakout in '21-'22 after averaging 12.7ppg 8.2rpg last year. Qudus came on strong late in the season and many predict him to be a double double machine next year. Fatts Russell was also a huge pickup in the portal. He is a natural PG who was asked to be the primary scorer at Rhode Island. At Maryland he will be allowed to be more of a facilitator and slide into the 3rd or 4th scoring option on the team. Fatts, Ayala, Wiggins, Scott and Wahab are going to be one of the better lineups in the B1G and perhaps the nation. Could make the growing rivalry between them and Michigan a big storyline next year.

Ohio St, and Purdue should be up in the top 5 teams in the B1G next year. Michigan was able to get Brooks to come back if Dickinson also decides to come back Michigan will be up there as well. They will also be bringing in the nations top class. I think the middle of the B1G is still wide open. Hopefully Fran can get a couple impact transfer to come in.

 

[BBHawk]

I didn't think that Kopp was that great of a catch for NW. I'll be surprised if he amounts to much at IN. Seems like a strange move but who knows what is in the mind of a 20-year-old.

 

[HawkAttackDial911]

Indiana's big issue was shooting so Kopp and Stewart are big pieces fixing that. Jackson-Davis will get more room to work in the post. I'm not quite sold on Maryland. Wahab was a good pickup but just looking at Russell's stats, he seems like a middling point-guard. Michigan should be really good again. Dickinson is probably coming back.

 

[33hawkfan]

Bringing in white guards or wings is a losing proposition. Hard pass on Kopp. If you disagree just picture him on the floor against Oregon....nah.

 

[Auger]

I didn't think that Kopp was that great of a catch for NW. I'll be surprised if he amounts to much at IN. Seems like a strange move but who knows what is in the mind of a 20-year-old.

Kopp is a pretty solid player who has shown he can shoot the ball and score. At Indiana he will be asked to be the 3rd or 4th scoring option and outside shooter. He will now be on a team that has the talent to spread the floor along with guards that can break down defenses. He is going to have a lot more catch and shoot opportunities than he ever had at Northwestern where he was the opposing defenses number one target. At Northwestern he didn't have a Jackson-Davis or Xavier Johnson to work off of. Heck he didn't even have a Race Thompson type to play off of. This is a great pickup for Indiana.

 

[HawkCat]

Kopp is a pretty solid player who has shown he can shoot the ball and score. At Indiana he will be asked to be the 3rd or 4th scoring option and outside shooter. He will now be on a team that has the talent to spread the floor along with guards that can break down defenses. He is going to have a lot more catch and shoot opportunities than he ever had at Northwestern where he was the opposing defenses number one target. At Northwestern he didn't have a Jackson-Davis or Xavier Johnson to work off of. Heck he didn't even have a Race Thompson type to play off of. This is a great pickup for Indiana.

Kopp missed a TON of uncontested threes at NU this year. Frankly, he had a terrible season. His bad play was a large reason for NU's losing streak.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

IU has a lot of programs to climb past in the conference, but I will admit that their new coach is off to a great start. With that said, having talent wasn’t necessarily their problem so let’s see what he can do.

 

[BBHawk]

Kopp is a pretty solid player who has shown he can shoot the ball and score. At Indiana he will be asked to be the 3rd or 4th scoring option and outside shooter. He will now be on a team that has the talent to spread the floor along with guards that can break down defenses. He is going to have a lot more catch and shoot opportunities than he ever had at Northwestern where he was the opposing defenses number one target. At Northwestern he didn't have a Jackson-Davis or Xavier Johnson to work off of. Heck he didn't even have a Race Thompson type to play off of. This is a great pickup for Indiana.

Nance is a damn good center who gave Kopp lots of opportunities. I don't see him having any more success at IN.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

I hope IU continues its streak of early promise followed by disappointing results. They underachieved a lot under Miller. Purdon't seems to have just about everyone back from a team that was really good the last half. No one can match them at center, and their perimeter guys have a lot of upside. UM will also be really good, assuming Dickenson is back. After that, I haven't followed the who's coming and going closely.

Iowa needs to find a big and and shooter in the portal to be a well-rounded team that will finish in the top half of the B1G, unless some guys make huge steps forward, which is possible.

 

[Auger]

I hope IU continues its streak of early promise followed by disappointing results. They underachieved a lot under Miller. Purdon't seems to have just about everyone back from a team that was really good the last half. No one can match them at center, and their perimeter guys have a lot of upside. UM will also be really good, assuming Dickenson is back. After that, I haven't followed the who's coming and going closely.

Iowa needs to find a big and and shooter in the portal to be a well-rounded team that will finish in the top half of the B1G, unless some guys make huge steps forward, which is possible.

Maryland is really putting together a nice team right now. They pulled in two of the best transfers out there and likely return Ayala, Wiggins, Scott and Hart. Scott should thrive next to Wahab. Ayala, Wiggins and Hart will be allowed to play off the ball now with Fatts at PG. Maryland addressed their biggest holes by bringing in two big time transfers.

I think Maryland, Ohio St and Purdue stand out right now. Michigan likely will be right there once Dickinson comes back. After those 4 Inidiana, MSU and Illinois are all having some positive off season's right now. After those 7 teams it's who knows. Iowa, Wisconsin and Rutgers are all getting hit hard. Nebraska could be a solid team next year. PSU, Minnesota and Northwestern will all be bad teams.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Maryland is really putting together a nice team right now. They pulled in two of the best transfers out there and likely return Ayala, Wiggins, Scott and Hart. Scott should thrive next to Wahab. Ayala, Wiggins and Hart will be allowed to play off the ball now with Fatts at PG. Maryland addressed their biggest holes by bringing in two big time transfers.

I think Maryland, Ohio St and Purdue stand out right now. Michigan likely will be right there once Dickinson comes back. After those 4 Inidiana, MSU and Illinois are all having some positive off season's right now. After those 7 teams it's who knows. Iowa, Wisconsin and Rutgers are all getting hit hard. Nebraska could be a solid team next year. PSU, Minnesota and Northwestern will all be bad teams.

I assume Liddell must be returning to OSU, along with their big freshman (Key?), who came on toward the end of the year. If Washington is back, the coaches need to teach him how to play within a team offense. They missed Young when he was out at the end of season. If he isn't back, the IU transfer will need to fill his role.

 

[BoilerN]

If Purdue finishes below 3rd in the conference, it will be downright disappointing. They should be preseason top 10 with final 4 aspirations.

 

[Auger]

If Purdue finishes below 3rd in the conference, it will be downright disappointing. They should be preseason top 10 with final 4 aspirations.

I agree with you. Once the season ended I thought Purdue and Ohio St were going to be the clear favorites. However since then Maryland and Michigan have had a lot of things go perfect for them. Maryland should be loaded. Michigan if both Brooks and Dickinson do indeed return combined with the best class in the nation will be a tough team. The fact Indiana, Illinois and MSU have added key pieces in the transfer market to combine with good recruiting classes, and quality returning pieces a once weak looking B1G is starting to look pretty strong right now. Iowa and Wisconsin have enough young talent on their rosters that if they add a couple quality transfers they will add quality depth to the league and could compete for places 5th-9th in the B1G. Beyond those teams everyone else looks pretty bad right now. Nebraska could be the surprise team next year.

 

[BoilerN]

I agree with you. Once the season ended I thought Purdue and Ohio St were going to be the clear favorites. However since then Maryland and Michigan have had a lot of things go perfect for them. Maryland should be loaded. Michigan if both Brooks and Dickinson do indeed return combined with the best class in the nation will be a tough team. The fact Indiana, Illinois and MSU have added key pieces in the transfer market to combine with good recruiting classes, and quality returning pieces a once weak looking B1G is starting to look pretty strong right now. Iowa and Wisconsin have enough young talent on their rosters that if they add a couple quality transfers they will add quality depth to the league and could compete for places 5th-9th in the B1G. Beyond those teams everyone else looks pretty bad right now. Nebraska could be the surprise team next year.

I'm always leary of transfers bringing teams to the top. Sometimes it works great, sometimes it doesn't. Wait and see. Iu has a bunch of transfers and an unproven coach at the college level. It isn't the NBA. Maryland? Maybe, but turdgeon is their coach, they they will underachieve again. Also not a fan of relying on freshman. You might be right on some of those teams though.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Miller Kopp from NW to Indiana.