Big Ten Basketball Preview: Who Will Win It All?
Contents
- Big Ten Basketball: A Quick Overview
- The Top Contenders for the Big Ten Title
- Why Michigan State is the Team to Beat
- Ohio State A Dark Horse Contending for the Big Ten Title
- Maryland: A Team on the Rise
- Indiana: A Team in Transition
- Iowa: A Team in Search of an Identity
- Michigan: A Team in Rebuilding Mode
- Nebraska: A Team in Need of a Turnaround
- Rutgers: A Team in Its First Year in the Big Ten
It’s that time of year again when college basketball takes center stage. The Big Ten is always one of the most competitive conferences and this year is no different. Who will come out on top?
Big Ten Basketball: A Quick Overview
Big Ten Basketball is one of the most competitive and well-respected conferences in all of college basketball The conference consists of 14 teams, all of which are located in the Midwestern United States The conference is split into two divisions, the East and the West, with each team playing every other team in its division twice and teams in the other division once. The conference tournament is held at the end of the regular season with the top four teams in each division qualifying.
The Big Ten has a long history of success in College Basketball with numerous NCAA tournament appearances and championships. The conference has produced some of the greatest players and coaches in the history of the sport, and it is always a hotly contested race to see who will come out on top.
This season looks to be no different, as there are a number of talented teams that have a chance to win it all. Here is a quick overview of each team in the conference and their chances of taking home the title.
The Top Contenders for the Big Ten Title
The Big Ten is one of the most competitive conferences in all of College Basketball There are a number of teams that have a legitimate chance to win the conference title and it should be a thrilling race to the finish. Here are the top contenders for the Big Ten title this season.
The Michigan Wolverines are one of the favorites to win the conference. They have a deep and talented roster, led by star guard Trey Burke. They also have good size and strength inside with Jordan Morgan and Mitch McGary. If they can stay healthy, they should be in contention for the title all season long
The Ohio State Buckeyes are another team that will be near the top of the standings. They have a dynamic backcourt duo in Aaron Craft and Shannon Scott, and they also have some good size with Amir Williams in the middle. If they can find a way to score consistently, they will be tough to beat.
The Indiana Hoosiers are another team to watch out for. They lost some Key Players from last season’s team, but they still have enough talent to compete for a conference title Cody Zeller is one of the best big men in the country, and he will be leading the way for Indiana this season.
The Illinois Fighting Illini are another team that could make some noise in the conference this season. They have a lot of talent on their roster, led by senior guard Brandon Paul. If they can play well as a team, they could find themselves near the top of the standings come March Madness time.
Why Michigan State is the Team to Beat
The Big Ten Basketball season is just around the corner, and there is no shortage of contenders for the conference title. But when it comes to who will win it all, there is only one team that stands out from the rest: Michigan State
The Spartans are coming off a banner year in which they won the conference regular season and tournament titles, as well as reaching the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament They return a core group of experienced players led by National Player of the Year candidate Cassius Winston, and they should be poised to make another deep run in the postseason.
Michigan State has proven time and time again that they are a force to be reckoned with on the hardwood, and this season should be no different. If you’re looking for a team to win the Big Ten Basketball Championship look no further than Tom Izzo and the Spartans.
Ohio State A Dark Horse Contending for the Big Ten Title
Ohio State is a dark horse contender for the Big Ten title this year. The Buckeyes are coming off a solid season in which they finished fourth in the conference with a 13-5 record. They return their leading scorer from last year, junior guard C.J. Jackson, who averaged 15 points per game They also have senior forward Keita Bates-Diop, who averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game last season. The Buckeyes will need to improve their defense if they want to contend for the title this year, as they were only seventh in the conference in points allowed per game last season.
Maryland: A Team on the Rise
After years of mediocrity, the Maryland Terrapins are finally poised to make a run at the NCAA championship Led by star point guard Anthony Cowan Jr., the Terps have the talent and depth to make a deep run in the tournament. They’ll have their work cut out for them in a tough Big Ten Conference but don’t be surprised if Maryland ends up cutting down the nets in April.
Indiana: A Team in Transition
It’s been a long time since the Indiana Hoosiers were a relevant team in the college basketball landscape. After reaching the NCAA Championship game in 2002, the Hoosiers have only made the tournament four times in the last 15 years. They haven’t won a tournament game since 2015. That all changed this past offseason when former IU star and current Utah Jazz Head Coach Quin Snyder was hired to replace Archie Miller.
Snyder is tasked with rebuilding a program that has fallen on hard times. The Hoosiers have struggled to recruit top-tier talent in recent years and have been plagued by transfer rumors. Snyder will have to hit the ground running if he wants to get Indiana back to being a relevant team in college basketball
The Hoosiers do have some pieces to work with. Senior guard Devonte Green is IU’s leading returning scorer from last season, averaging 10 points per game Green will be joined in the backcourt by freshman guard Armaan Franklin who was ranked as a top-50 recruit by ESPN. In the frontcourt, the Hoosiers will be led by junior center Joey Brunk, who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds per game last season.
With a new head coach and some talented players, Indiana has a chance to turn things around this season and compete for a spot in the NCAA tournament However, it’s going to be a tough road for the Hoosiers as they compete in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball the Big Ten
Iowa: A Team in Search of an Identity
This Iowa team is a tough one to figure out. They started the season strong, with convincing wins over ranked opponents such as North Carolina and Purdue. But they struggled mightily down the stretch, losing 8 of their last 11 games. So which Iowa team will show up in the conference tournament? The one that started the season strong, or the one that faded down the stretch?
Hard to say. But one thing is for sure: this Iowa team is a tough one to figure out. They started the season strong, with convincing wins over ranked opponents such as North Carolina and Purdue. But they struggled mightily down the stretch, losing 8 of their last 11 games. So which Iowa team will show up in the conference tournament? The one that started the season strong, or the one that faded down the stretch?
It’s hard to say. But one thing is for sure: this Iowa team is talented. They have four players averaging double figures in scoring, and they have a big man in freshman center Luka Garza who can take over a game offensively. If they can put it all together and play consistent basketball, they could make a run in the conference tournament and beyond.
Michigan: A Team in Rebuilding Mode
This season, the Michigan Wolverines are in a bit of a rebuilding mode. After losing several key players from last year’s squad, they will be relying on a lot of new faces to step up and fill the void. However, with Head Coach John Beilein at the helm, they should still be a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten
Their non-Conference Schedule is relatively easy, so they should have no problem racking up some wins early on. Once conference play starts, though, it will be a whole different story. They will be facing off against some of the best teams in the country, and it will be a good test to see how far they have really come.
In the end, I think Michigan will end up finishing somewhere in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten They have the talent to compete with anybody, but they are also young and inexperienced. Only time will tell how far they can go this season.
Nebraska: A Team in Need of a Turnaround
This season, Nebraska has a lot to prove. After a disappointing 2017-2018 campaign in which the team finished with a record of 12-19, Head coach Tim Miles is under pressure to turn things around. The good news is that Nebraska has a lot of young talent, including sophomore Isaac Copeland Jr., who is coming off of a breakout freshman year. if Copeland can build on his success from last season and the rest of the team can step up, Nebraska has a chance to surprise some people this year and make a run at the title.
Rutgers: A Team in Its First Year in the Big Ten
In its first year in the Big Ten Rutgers is looking to make a splash. The Scarlet Knights are led by head coach Steve Pikiell, who is in his second season at the helm. Rutgers finished last season with a 15-18 record, but showed improvement as the season went along. The Scarlet Knights will look to build on that momentum in their first year in the Big Ten
Rutgers is a young team, with only two seniors on the roster. However, the Scarlet Knights do have some experience, as six of their players have played in the Big Ten before. That experience will be crucial, as Rutgers looks to compete in a tough conference.
The Scarlet Knights will be led by junior guard Corey Sanders Sanders was the team’s leading scorer last season, averaging 16.2 points per game Sanders will need to be even better this season, as Rutgers looks to make a run at the NCAA tournament
Rutgers also has some solid role players, including junior forward Deshawn Freeman and sophomore guard Geo Baker. Freeman averaged 9.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season, while Baker chipped in 8.4 points and 3.1 assists per game If those two players can take their game to another level, Rutgers could be a dangerous team in the Big Ten this season.
The Scarlet Knights will have their work cut out for them in their first season in the Big Ten but they have the talent and experience to compete with anyone in the conference. If everything comes together, Rutgers could find itself playing in March Madness for the first time in school history.”