Last season, the Big Ten was the most disappointing Power Five conference in the country. Will it be more of the same in 2018-19?
Let’s take a look at how the Big Ten will shake out in 2018-19.
1.)Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State went 30-5 a year ago, but fell to Syracuse in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans are still the most talented team in the Big Ten that will likely have a down year for the second year in a row. Sharp-shooting guard Cassius Winston and big man Nick Ward, along with Joshua Langford will look to get Tom Izzo deep into the “Big Dance” once again.
2.)Michigan Wolverines
The National Runner-Up, Michigan Wolverines will look to get back to the Final Four in 2018-19. The Wolverines lost Mo Wagner to the NBA Draft and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman to graduation, but return a nucleus of Charles Matthews, Zavier Simpson, Jordan “Swaggy” Poole, and Isaiah Livers. John Beilein flirted with an opportunity to coach the Detroit Pistons, but decided to return to coach in Ann Arbor. Look for Michigan to challenge their in-state rivals for the top spot in the Big Ten this year.
3.)Nebraska Cornhuskers
After finishing fourth in the Big Ten a year ago, Nebraska was on the wrong side of the bubble on Selection Sunday. James Palmer Jr. will look to get the Cornhuskers back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.
4.)Indiana Hoosiers
Archie Miller was able to land Indiana’s top high school recruit, Romeo Langford. Langford, along with senior Juwan Morgan, have Hoosier fans excited for what they will see in Bloomington this year. Indiana will look to challenge near the top of the Big Ten and make it back to the “Big Dance” for the first time under Miller.
5.)Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin is coming off a disappointing 2017-18 season where they missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. Big man Ethan Happ and sophomore guard Brad Davidson back and will look to get the Badgers back where they belong.
6.)Purdue Boilermakers
Matt Painter is tasked with having to replace four starts from a team that made it to the Sweet Sixteen a year ago. Carsen Edwards will be one of the best players in the country, but it is a question as to who will step up in a supporting role. Look for Purdue to find themselves on the right side of the bubble this season.
7.)Maryland Terrapins
Maryland lost their best player from a year ago, Kevin Huerter, to the NBA Draft. The Terrapins could be on the bubble this year, but could find their way to the “Big Dance” if Bruno Fernando and Anthony Cowan live up to the possible NBA Draft hype that they have been generating this offseason.
8.)Iowa Hawkeyes
Fran McCaffrey could be coaching for his job this season. Iowa has not made it to the NCAA Tournament since 2016. Tyler Cook leads a high powered offense, but if the Hawkeyes want to go dancing again they will need to step it up on defense.
9.)Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State won the NIT last year and they were poised to make a top of the conference this year. Unfortunately, for them, Tony Carr departed State College for the NBA Draft. Without Carr, Lamar Stevens and the Nittany Lions will should find themselves back in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten and back in the NIT.
10.)Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State was one of the most surprising teams in college basketball a season ago in their first year under Chris Holtmann. The Buckeyes will have a rebuilding year in 2018-19 as they will be without the services of do-everything forward, Keita Bates-Diop, who declared for the NBA Draft and Jae’Sean Tate who graduated.
11.)Minnesota Golden Gophers
Richard Pitino may be joining his father in the ranks of the unemployed if he fails to make the Golden Gophers relevant in the Big Ten this year. Minnesota was a Top 25 team during the non-conference portion of the schedule a year ago before injuries and off-court issues derailed their season. Jordan Murphy and Amir Coffey could make the Golden Gophers a surprise team this year.
12.)Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern was unable to make back-to-back trips to the “Big Dance” after getting there for the first time in school history in 2017. With the key members of that 2017 team gone, 2018-19 will be rebuilding year as the Wildcats return to a newly renovated Welsh-Ryan Arena.
13.)Illinois Fighting Illini
Brad Underwood will rely heavily on his guards Trent Frazier and freshman Ayo Dosumu, but there are still many unanswered questions in the Illini frontcourt. Underwood is definitely rebuilding the program at Illinois, but they will probably spend another season the cellar of the Big Ten.
14.)Rutgers Scarlet Knights
It’s pretty clear that Rutgers is only in the Big Ten to capture the Metropolitan New York media market as both the football and basketball program have yet to have any success since joining the league. Last year, the Scarlet Knights won two games in the Big Ten Tournament after winning only three conference games in conference play all season. Rutgers will undeniably be the laughing stock of the Big Ten once again this season.
2018-19 Big Ten First Team
*Carsen Edwards, Purdue
Cassius Winston, Michigan State
Romeo Langford, Indiana
James Palmer, Jr., Nebraska
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin
Second Team
Anthony Cowan, Maryland
Tyler Cook, Iowa
Charles Matthews, Michigan
Juwan Morgan, Indiana
Nick Ward, Michigan State
Third Team
Brad Davidson, Wisconsin
Joshua Langford, Michigan State
Lamar Stevens, Penn State
Jordan Murphy, Minnesota
Bruno Fernando, Maryland
*Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year
Ball is Life 