Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2019-2020 season

By Austin Walther

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 28: Zavier Simpson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines drives against Matt Mooney #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 28: Zavier Simpson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines drives against Matt Mooney #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

4) Michigan Wolverines

These next four teams have a lot riding based on whether or not some key players are returning. I’m pretty confident that these are going to be the top-four, but the order is still waiting on what NBA experts are telling some of best basketball players in the Big Ten. Michigan is the unfortunate one where its top-three leading scorers are testing the waters.

It’s a little crazy to think Charles Matthews actually had one more left if he wanted it. But he decided to move on. It’s almost a guarantee that he’s done in Ann Arbor. Ignas Brazdeikis is the second guy and that’s no surprise.

Iggy’s decision to test the waters surprises no one. Is he ready? Probably not. But the freshman’s breakout season was one of the main reason’s for Michigan winning 17-straight, landing a two seed and getting to the sweet 16.  Jordan Poole is the third player. He finally got the playing time that was waiting for him. Poole had to play behind some good guards in his freshman season, but he played and started in all 37 games. His number doubled straight across. The board, averaging 12 points per game, three boards, 2.2 assists while knocking down 75 three-pointers.

Matthews is gone for sure. Which is a shame because if he and the other two were to return, Michigan would be giving the Spartans a run for their money. But Iggy and Poole are taking their time. If one of the two returns, The Wolverines could move up one. If both come back, Michigan is planting themselves second.

Either way, top-four seems realistic. John Beilein is a tremendous coach. He has something cooking in Michigan right now. Zavier Simpson is an elite point guard in the Big Ten. He’s six-foot, but did record a triple-double and flirted with a few others.

Jon Teske had a tremendous breakout junior year, but still averaged under 10 points per game so there’s so much more potential for his senior year. Isaiah Livers can stretch the floor nice and Eli Brooks is a great role player. There are two top-100 recruits from this past season that should be seeing an increasing in minutes which will lead to more production. There’s another top-50 recruit coming in along with a top-120 four-star for the Wolverines. John Beilein is pursuing grad-transfer Justin Pierce from William & Mary who is a six-foot-seven forward that averaged almost 15 points per game last season. There’s also the younger brother of Mo Wanger, Franz, who is looking to come over from Germany.

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