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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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 15: A member of the Nebraska Huskers dance team performs during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 15: A member of the Nebraska Huskers dance team performs during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

12) Nebraska Cornhuskers

It was really tempting to put Nebraska down one or even two spots. They are losing so much from a team that under performed last season. But Fred Hoiberg is in town now and oh boy, are Cornhuskers fans excited. He did great things at Iowa State which earned him a gig in the NBA for a short while. The nice head coach couldn’t make it in the pros so he’s back in college, coaching at Lincoln.

When you look at it, basically the entire rotation is gone. Isaac Copeland got hurt, but he’s out of eligibility. James Palmer Jr. is finally out of college and Glynn Watson Jr. won’t be in a Nebraska uniform next season as well. The underrated defender Thomas Allen is transferring while two others are graduating. Isaiah Roby is testing the NBA waters, but I’m almost certain he returns for his senior year even if it’s under a new head coach. Even Nana Akenten has left the program as a transfer.

Nebraska has two six-foot-six guards who could see an increase in production with more playing time. Amir Harris will be a sophomore last season and all-name candidate Thorir Thorbjarnarson is entering his junior year. Both guys averaged over two points per game while making nine combined starts.

Right now Nebraska has just two three-star recruits coming in. But now with Hoiberg at the helm, the Cornhuskers could be in play for a lot of available players through the transfer portal and remaining guys who haven’t signed. Hoiberg just got Haanif Cheatham to come to Lincoln for next year which is going to be huge for a depleted roster.

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