Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: Michigan State, Maryland leads updated early 2019-20 rankings

By Ryan Kay

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 14: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his team against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the United Center on March 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 14: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his team against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the United Center on March 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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LINCOLN, NE – DECEMBER 8: Glynn Watson Jr. #5 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Isaac Copeland Jr. #14 and James Palmer Jr. #0 and Dachon Burke celebrate the win against the Creighton Bluejays at Pinnacle Bank Arena on December 8, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – DECEMBER 8: Glynn Watson Jr. #5 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Isaac Copeland Jr. #14 and James Palmer Jr. #0 and Dachon Burke celebrate the win against the Creighton Bluejays at Pinnacle Bank Arena on December 8, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

12. Nebraska

Last Season’s Record: 19-17

Key Losses: James Palmer Jr., Isaac Copeland, Isaiah Roby, Glynn Watson Jr., and Thomas Allen

Key Returners: Thorir Thorbjarnarson and Dachon Burke

Impact Freshmen and Immediate Eligible Transfers: Haanif Cheatham, Matej Kavas, Cam Mack, Samari Curtis, and Jervay Green

The Cornhuskers will have the biggest roster turnover out of any Big Ten school. On paper with what they lost from graduation, NBA draft early entry, and transfers, you would believe that Nebraska is in serious contention from finishing 2nd from last place in the Big Ten. However, new head coach Fred Hoiberg knows a few things about getting transfers and filling out a roster from his time as a head coach at Iowa State.

The Cornhuskers transfers are well documented and some will have to sit out a full season or a half a season. Hoiberg may not have had a successful run coaching in the NBA but he know the landscape of college basketball and has had a good off-season withholding the uncontrollable situation he inherited.  Nebraska may not compete for a year or even two in the Big Ten but the Cornhuskers are a team to watch out for in the future.

11. Minnesota

Last Season’s Record: 22-14

Key Losses: Amir Coffey, Jordan Murphy, and Dupree McBrayer,

Key Returners: Daniel Oturu, Gabe Kalscheur, and Eric Curry,

Impact Freshmen and Immediate Eligible Transfers: Tre Williams, Marcus Carr (sat out last season), Alihan Demir, and Sam Freeman

The Golden Gophers are in a similar position as Rutgers but better. Losing Coffey hurt Minnesota’s chances of being a top echelon Big Ten team for this upcoming season. However, they bring back seven scholarship players and they have a talented freshmen in Williams coming in as well. They will be a fairly young team and can beat a good team or two at home but they just don’t have enough pieces to compete for a Big Ten title. They can be a dangerous team in two years if all goes well and can build on success from this upcoming season.

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