Big Ten Basketball: Best / Worst case scenarios for each team in 2018-19

Nebraska

Best Case

James Palmer Jr is a star and wins conference player of the year. Isaac Copeland Jr also plays very well and makes second team all-conference. Tim Miles continues his masterful job in Nebraska and they prove that last year’s record was not a fluke. They run through their weak non-conference schedule undefeated and carry that momentum into Big Ten play. They surprise the Michigan schools and win the Big Ten regular season to leave no doubt they should make it to the NCAA tournament. They lose in the conference championship game but get a three seed in the big dance. They ride their regular season success before making a run to Elite 8 where they come up just short against Duke.

Worst Case

Palmer Jr continues to play well but Copeland Jr struggles. They lose to Clemson and Oklahoma State in the non-conference schedule. A little tougher conference schedule makes last year seem like a mirage. They still play well but can’t get over the hump of the best teams. They slip to 6th in the conference and lose in the second round of the conference tournament. Their lack of big wins again come back to haunt them and they miss the NCAA tournament again. They do get an invite to the NIT but for the second straight year, they have an early exit. Questions start to arise if Miles is really a good coach or if he has got lucky a few years. Palmer Jr leaves for the NBA and the Cornhuskers are scrambling to find a big-time scoring threat for next season.