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NCAA Basketball: 8 bold predictions for the 2018-19 season

By Brian Rauf

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: The North Carolina Tar Heels mascot celebrates in the confetti after defeatin ghte Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: The North Carolina Tar Heels mascot celebrates in the confetti after defeatin ghte Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, IN – NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts in the first half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils at Assembly Hall on November 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts in the first half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils at Assembly Hall on November 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

5) Indiana will finish in the top three in the Big Ten

Another team primed for a surprisingly high finish, I think Indiana will be the team that takes advantage of the wide-open Big Ten.

Archie Miller has quickly built the Hoosiers into a formidable program thanks to player development and recruiting. Indiana has a lot of depth to work with (Miller expects to have at least 10 players in his rotation) and returns eight of their top 11 scorers return, all of whom are expected to improve with a full offseason under Miller.

They also have one of the Big Ten’s best players in versatile 6-8 forward Juwan Morgan, who averaged 16.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game a year ago.

However, five-star freshman Romeo Langford is going to be the person that pushes Indiana from being an NCAA Tournament team to being a top 25 team. A projected to be a top 10 pick in the upcoming draft, Langford is the prototypical two-guard for today’s game thanks to his size, athleticism, and shot-making ability from both beyond the three-point line and around the basket.

That’s a one-two punch that can match up with any in the country and is perhaps the best in the Big Ten. As long as they get help from their supporting cast, expect Indiana to be that third team that joins Michigan and Michigan State at the top of the conference standings.

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