Big Ten basketball features some of the best players in the entire country. Which stars will take their teams to the NCAA Tournament this season?
D.J. Wilson (Michigan), OG Anunoby (Indiana), and Caleb Swanigan (Purdue) followed in the footsteps of several other great Big Ten talents this summer when they were selected in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft. Year in and year out, the Big Ten produces some of the biggest stars in college basketball. From elite point guards to top-notch big men, this conference is extremely versatile in their play styles and star players.
Each Big Ten team has had their own successes over the past several seasons, with the conference making multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and deep runs over the past few years. These journeys have been paved by some of the best players that college basketball has seen in recent history as well.
In fact, three Big Ten players have taken home the Naismith College Player of the Year Award in the last ten years. Evan Turner (Ohio State), Trey Burke (Michigan), and Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin) were exceptional players for their respective schools and made impact plays in each of the games they stepped onto the floor.
Entering this season, there are a few players with the ability to potentially make a run at National Player of the Year, most notably Michigan State’s Miles Bridges and Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ. Still, there are several other stars in the Big Ten that will be standing in their way throughout conference play.
Let’s take a look at each team in the Big Ten and who is the star on their respective team, starting with Rutgers, who finished last in the conference a year ago.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights – Corey Sanders, Junior
In his career with Rutgers, Corey Sanders has gone just 4-32 in Big Ten Conference play. Nonetheless, Sanders is a very solid Big Ten player and he will be expected to be the go-to player for the Scarlet Knights as a junior. Although his points per game dropped from his freshman to his sophomore season, Sanders should expect a breakout year in 2017-18.
After testing the NBA Draft waters this past offseason, Sanders did decide to return to Rutgers for his junior season. An explosive scorer in one of the top conferences in the entire country, Sanders was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention last season. With Sanders back in the fold for the Scarlet Knights, the program could be approaching their first overall winning season since 2005-06.
Rutgers has been a bottom-feeder in the Big Ten for the past several seasons, but Sanders is hopefully the light to lead the team out of the darkness. Sanders is an explosive guard when attacking the basket and will not hesitate to show his ridiculous bounce in traffic, even if he is just a 6’2″ guard. Sanders is not afraid to put you on a poster if you are in his way.
Penn State Nittany Lions – Tony Carr, Sophomore
A member of the All-Big Ten Freshman Team a year ago, Tony Carr is a major impact player for Penn State. The Nittany Lions finished just 15-18 (6-12 Big Ten) last season, but it would not be a surprise if they could finish with a winning record this season. Penn State might not be expected to make the Big Dance this upcoming season, but Carr is helping to move the program forward and closer to their first appearance since 2011.
Last season, Carr averaged 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. With the potential to increase these statistics across the board as a sophomore, Carr could become just the fourth Big Ten player since the 1992-93 season to averaged 15+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game in a season. D’Angelo Russell, Evan Turner, and Denzel Valentine were the only others to achieve this feat.
With two other returning double-digit per game scorers returning alongside Carr this season, Penn State could make a big jump in the conference standings in 2017-18. Lamar Stevens and Shep Garner both had big seasons a year ago and will increase their production coming up. In addition, Mike Watkins will be entering his sophomore season and he could also average 10+ points per game. Behind Carr at the forefront, Penn State has solid depth and the ability to make an impact in the conference.
Nebraska Cornhuskers – Glynn Watson Jr., Junior
In his first two years as a Cornhusker, Glynn Watson Jr. has shown solid progression. A former top-100 recruit out of high school, Watson averaged 8.6 points per game as a freshman before increasing his production to 13.0 per game last season. Without last year’s star Tai Webster on the roster this upcoming season, Watson will be expected to be the primary scoring option at all times this year.
With that being said, Watson will need to have a massive season is Nebraska is to succeed in the Big Ten. Last season, the team went just 12-19 (6-12 Big Ten) and missed out on the Big Dance once again. Nebraska has made the NCAA Tournament just one time (2014) this century and it does not look like they will be able to this upcoming season as well.
Nonetheless, the hope is that Watson can help keep the Cornhuskers competitive in conference play and maybe pull off a couple of upsets. In addition to Watson, Nebraska will need to see some year-to-year progression from juniors Jack McVeigh, Michael Jacobson, and Ed Morrow in order to succeed. Incoming freshman Thomas Allen will also play a vital role for the Cornhuskers this season.
Indiana Hoosiers – Robert Johnson, Senior
With James Blackmon, OG Anunoby, and Thomas Bryant all leaving during the offseason, senior Robert Johnson is the only returning double-digit scorer from last year’s team. The Hoosiers missed the NCAA Tournament last season after an 18-16 (7-11 Big Ten) record. With new head coach Archie Miller now taking over, will Indiana make it back to the Big Dance?
The Hoosiers are a mainstay in the NCAA Tournament and it will be up to Johnson to continue that tradition during this upcoming season. In addition to bringing his high-volume scoring, Johnson will bring his outstanding athleticism and veteran leadership to the table for his new head coach.
During Miller’s first year, having Johnson as a senior leader on the court will surely create some stability on the court and allow for a great transition season between the Tom Crean and the Miller eras at the university. This might not be a tournament team this year, but Johnson will do his best to increase his scoring once again (12.8 per game last season) as well as keeping his efficiency up.
Last season, Johnson was very efficient, scoring on 44.9% from the field and 37.0% from three. Combining Johnson’s inside and outside game makes for a dangerous combination as a scorer in Big Ten play.
Ohio State Buckeyes – Jae’Sean Tate, Senior
Another program with a new head coach, former Butler coach Chris Holtmann is taking over at Ohio State. Still, the program is in a transition phase and this could be a tough year for the Buckeyes. Without Trevor Thompson, JaQuan Lyle, or Marc Loving this season, Ohio State will need to turn to some new players. Leading scorer Jae’Sean Tate is returning for the Buckeyes to provide stability, though.
In his last collegiate season, Tate will hope to take Ohio State up the rankings in the Big Ten. Although Ohio State made the Final Four as recently as 2012, the team has missed the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons and looks unlikely to make a return visit this year.
Last year, Tate averaged 14.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game on 54.7% shooting from the floor. Tate will be the primary scoring option this upcoming season for the Buckeyes, but he will have a little bit of help. Keita Bates-Diop and Kam Williams both return for Ohio State and top-100 recruit Kyle Young is sure to see some playing time off the bench as a freshman.
Ohio State is in a tricky position with their roster right now, but as Holtmann showed with Butler, he has the ability to be a very solid recruiter in addition to being an excellent in-game coach.
Illinois Fighting Illini – Leron Black, Junior
The top returning player for Illinois, Leron Black will need to be a major difference-maker this season if the Fighting Illini are to be successful. Last season, Black averaged just 8.1 points and 6.3 assists per game, but there were several other players in front of him as scoring options. Malcolm Hill (17.7 points per game), Maverick Morgan (9.9 points per game), and Tracy Abrams (8.6 points per game) have all graduated, leaving Black at the forefront of the offense.
Last season, Illinois went 20-15 (8-10 Big Ten) and missed the NCAA Tournament. Without a lot of talent returning, it seems unlikely that the Fighting Illini will return to the Big Dance this season. Black will be the leader on the offensive end of the floor this year and should lead the team the scoring and rebounding.
Illinois is still in a rebuilding phase and this season will likely be indicative of that. The good news for Illinois fans, though, is that the majority of this year’s team will be returning in 2018-19, when the team could make a run back to the NCAA Tournament. A former top-100 recruit, Leron Black will be the center of attention for the Illini in each of the next two seasons. Although somewhat unimpressive in his first two full seasons with the team, this could be a breakout season for him.
Iowa Hawkeyes – Jordan Bohannon, Sophomore
One of the deepest teams in the conference this season, sophomore Jordan Bohannon will take on the “star” role this upcoming season because of his scoring and playmaking abilities. Without Peter Jok (19.9 points per game) on the roster this season, Bohannon will need to take on a bigger role within the offense. Last season, Bohannon was extremely solid as a freshman.
Although rather ineffective inside the 3-point arc (32.2%), Bohannon was a deadeye shooter from 3-point land, knocking home 41.6% of his 214 attempts. In addition to his shooting, Bohannon dished out 5.1 assists per game last season. Heading into this season, the hope is that Bohannon has become more accustomed to scoring inside the arc and therefore has become a more versatile offensive weapon. If he can start attracting attention in the paint, then he will be able to cause his defenders to worry more about him driving instead of just shooting from deep.
Even without Jok on the roster, the dynamic duo of Bohannon and fellow sophomore Tyler Cook will make the Hawkeyes an under-the-radar team who can push for a NCAA Tournament appearance this upcoming season. They have a balanced roster from top to bottom and have all the tools to potentially compete in the conference.
Michigan Wolverines – Moritz Wagner, Junior
After testing the NBA Draft waters this past offseason, Moritz Wagner has returned for the Michigan Wolverines. Wagner is an extremely versatile scorer with his size and shooting touch from behind the arc. Although Derrick Walton Jr., Zak Irvin, and D.J. Wilson are not returning for Michigan, Wagner is one of the top returning players in the conference for this season.
In just 23.9 minutes per game last season, the 6’10” Wagner averaged 12.1 points per game while shooting 56.0% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point land. Even though the Wolverines lost a lot of talent from last season, Wagner is still joined by Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, who averaged 9.1 points per game. Under head coach John Beilein, it would be a surprise if Michigan missed the NCAA Tournament this season, but this could easily be a down year for the Wolverines.
Nonetheless, Wagner will likely return to campus this season hoping to impress NBA scouts throughout the season. This will be the first year that he is the primary scoring option and he could wreak havoc on the entire Big Ten in that role. Watch out for Wagner to make an appearance on an All-Big Ten team this year.
For Beilein, he is also bringing in Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews to help out this year. Matthews is a former four-star and top-100 recruit and will be an instant impact player for the team.
Northwestern Wildcats – Bryant McIntosh, Senior
Last season, Northwestern made their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance with Bryant McIntosh as the starting point guard. He is extremely good in ball distribution and has no trouble being a top scorer when needed. With top players McIntosh, Scottie Lindsey, and Vic Law returning, the Wildcats should open this upcoming season as a top-25 team in the entire country.
Last season, McIntosh averaged team-highs with 14.8 points per game and 5.2 assists per game. Although he had a great season last year overall, his 3-point shooting could see a return to form. As a sophomore, McIntosh shot a very respectable 36.6% from three on 4.2 attempts per game. However, this past season he was just 30.7% from deep on 3.8 3-point attempts per game. If he can get his efficiency from deep back up, then he will be an even stronger force in the conference.
This season, the expectations for Northwestern will be higher than they ever have been in program history. In order to live up to the expectations set for them, McIntosh will need to be at his best as a scorer and distributor. If this occurs, the Wildcats could potentially compete for a Big Ten title this season. It is easy to underestimate Northwestern based on their program history, but they showed that they can compete with the best last season in the NCAA Tournament, where they won their first tournament game and pushed Gonzaga to the limit in the second round.
Michigan State Spartans – Miles Bridges, Sophomore
Thanks to Miles Bridges deciding to return to school this year, Michigan State will enter this year as a preseason top-5 team in the country. An extremely athletic wing player with NBA potential written all over him, Bridges will be the preseason favorite to win Big Ten Player of the Year this season. As a freshman a year ago, Bridges averaged 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season. Bridges is not alone, though.
His partner-in-crime, Nick Ward, had a stellar freshman year as well last season. Ward averaged 13.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last year and will be a sophomore sensation in 2016-17 next to Bridges. Now that each of these players has a full year of collegiate experience under their belt, Michigan State should be able to improve on what was a somewhat disappointing year a season ago.
The expectations will be extremely high for Tom Izzo this season, but with Bridges, Ward, and two incredible incoming recruits (Jaren Jackson, Xavier Tillman), the roster stacks up to be a top team in the entire country. The Spartans have been one of the best programs in the nation under Izzo and this could be the team to get back to the Final Four. Their last appearance was in 2015.
Minnesota Golden Gophers – Nate Mason, Senior
Minnesota was a surprise team in the Big Ten last season, making the NCAA Tournament as a #5 seed. Heading into this season, the team returns a ton of talent, including potential All-Big Ten point guard Nate Mason. As a junior last season, Mason averaged 15.2 points and 5.0 assists per game.
Losing Akeem Springs (graduation) and Eric Curry (injury) heading into this season will be tough, but the Gophers have a lot to look forward to. With Mason running the show, Minnesota will be a preseason top-25 team and a Big Ten contender. Mason is one of the most effective floor generals in the conference and it certainly helps that he is joined by talented players Amir Coffey and Jordan Murphy.
For head coach Richard Pitino, this will be his best roster while at Minnesota and hopefully he can do some damage in conference play. The Golden Gophers were 11-7 in the Big Ten last season and Mason’s on the court leadership could help them achieve even more success this season. One of the top guards in the conference, Nate Mason could be an All-Big Ten selection this season.
Wisconsin Badgers – Ethan Happ, Junior
Ethan Happ is the face of Wisconsin basketball now. Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes have graduated, leaving Happ as the center of attention. Entering just his junior season, Happ could be a National Player of the Year contender this season. Several people are expecting Wisconsin to take a major step back this season, but it would be a surprise if Happ cannot carry the team to the postseason.
One of the most efficient two-way players in all of college basketball, Happ has averaged double digits per game in each of his past two seasons. Last season, Happ dropped 14.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game on a team filled with stars like Hayes and Koenig. As the primary scoring option this season, watch for Happ to explode as one of the leading scorers in the country out of the post.
Happ’s lone issue right now is his inability to stretch the floor, but as long as he is surrounded by shooters, this Wisconsin team could prove a lot of people wrong this year. Happ’s defense is also extremely underrated, as he does an excellent job altering shots around the rim in addition to creating transition opportunities for Wisconsin by poking the ball away from opposing big men.
Wisconsin might be extremely young this season, but they have a star player with tons of experience playing against the best in the nation to lead the way.
Maryland Terrapins – Anthony Cowan, Sophomore
Without Melo Trimble holding the reigns for Maryland, the Terrapins will turn things over to sophomore Anthony Cowan. Cowan averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game last season as an extremely well-rounded freshman. This season, though, Cowan will take over as the go-to player for Mark Turgeon in place of Trimble.
Cowan was a top-100 and four-star recruit out of high school and this will be his first time being “the man” for the Terps. It seems that Maryland will take a step back this season, but Cowan should still be able to lead the team to the NCAA Tournament. Fellow returning sophomores Justin Jackson and Kevin Huerter will also make for a dangerous trio in the Big Ten.
Moving forward for Cowan, the hope is that he can become a stronger 3-point shooter as a sophomore. Last season, he shot just 32.1% from deep on 2.5 attempts per game. Adding a more efficient 3-pointer will make him a more dangerous scorer and, in turn, a more deadly playmaker in the half-court.
Maryland will rely on their sophomores this season, but they should be up for the challenge. The Terps have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons and that streak will likely continue this year.
Purdue Boilermakers – Carsen Edwards, Sophomore
Losing Caleb Swanigan to the NBA is a big deal. There is no doubt about that, but Purdue is still a powerhouse in the Big Ten. Even without Biggie, this Purdue team is extremely deep and can compete with the best in the conference. Finding the “star” for this team was also extremely difficult. On a roster that includes Carsen Edwards, Isaac Haas, Vince Edwards, Dakota Mathias, and more, the incredible balance makes it nearly impossible to pick a star.
Still, Carsen Edwards had a great freshman season and can pick up his game even more after a year of development. Last season, Edwards averaged 10.3 points per game for the Boilermakers. Without Swanigan, Edwards will take on a larger role within the offense as a scorer and he could lead the team in scoring this season.
Also, during Purdue’s international trip this summer, Edwards flashed his scoring ability, dropping home 36 in one of their games. Watch out for Edwards to compete with the best point guards in the conference and make Purdue one of the top teams competing for a regular season and tournament title in the Big Ten.
There are a lot of star players in the Big Ten, and each team has a player they know they can go to in crunch time. In the past few years, we have seen some incredible talent come through the Big Ten and make huge plays in the NCAA Tournament and even in the NBA. Who will be the next star to show the country that the Big Ten is one of the best conferences in the country?