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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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 24: The Iowa Hawkeyes huddle prior to their game against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 24: The Iowa Hawkeyes huddle prior to their game against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

10. Iowa

Last Season’s Record: 23-12

Key Losses:  Tyler Cook, Isaiah Moss, and Nicolas Baer

Key Returners: Luka Garza, Jordan Bohannon (injuired), Joe Wieskamp, and Ryan Kriener

Impact Freshmen and Immediate Eligible Transfers: Pat McCaffery and Bakari Evelyn

The Hawkeyes may be the most unlucky Big Ten team this off-season. Cook declares for the NBA Draft, Moss transfers to Kansas, and Bohannon may not play this season due to recovering from hip surgery. However, there is hope for Iowa as they return two quality starters in Garza and Wieskamp, and bring in a top recruit in McCaffery who is the son of Iowa coach Fran McCaffrey. The Hawkeyes can compete and maybe get a break or two and make the NCAA tournament. Time will tell and having the Iowa ranked ten here shows you the depth of the Big Ten.

9. Indiana 

Last Season’s Record: 19-16

Key Losses: Romeo Langford and Juwan Morgan

Key Returners: Devonte Green, Al Durham Jr., Justin Smith, and Rob Phinisee

Impact Freshmen and Immediate Eligible Transfers: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Armaan Franklin, and Joey Brunk

The Hoosiers like Iowa show that if they were in another conference, they could easily be a top-tier team in that conference. Indiana did lose their top two scorers from last season but they bring back their 3rd to 6th leading scorers however. Jackson-Davis will be in contention for freshmen of the year in the Big Ten and he could easily make the Hoosiers a team to be feared in Big Ten play. Head coach Archie Miller will be in year three of his tenure as the head coach of the Indiana program and big things are expected from him sooner than later. The Hoosiers will be a team to keep an eye on this season as they may shock the Big Ten.

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