Big Ten Basketball: Predicting teams at the bottom for 2019-20 season

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 01: Juwan Morgan #13 of the Indiana Hoosiers works against Deshawn Freeman #33 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second half during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: The Northwestern Wildcats have a conversation in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

The dog days of summer are upon us. Some teams have completed their summer workouts, while others are playing overseas. With Big Ten Basketball rosters pretty much set and rotations starting to form, it’s not too early to look ahead to next season.

When it comes to Big Ten Basketball, Michigan State is the clear favorite for next season with a loaded roster fresh off of a Final Four run. Maryland and Ohio State both won a tournament game last season and return most of their players. But after that? It appears very wide open. Purdue and Michigan lost a lot of talent but are always threats, while the buzz is palpable (CC @JonRothstein) for big seasons from Illinois and Penn State.

In this two-part piece, I am going to take a look at all 14 teams in the conference in an offseason power rankings. There seems to be a consensus at who’ll be at the top of the Big Ten next season. But who will finish towards the bottom?

Without further ado, here are teams 14-8.

14. Northwestern

2018-2019 conference record: 4-16

Key players returning: A.J. Turner, Anthony Gaines, Miller Kopp, Ryan Greer

Key players lost: Derek Pardon, Vic Law, Ryan Taylor, Jordan Ash, Aaron Falzon, Barrett Benson

Key newcomers: Robbie Beran, Daniel “Boo” Buie

Projected starters: Greer, Gaines, Turner, Kopp, Nance

It’s pretty amazing how poorly things have gone in Evanston just a few short years after the Wildcats made the tournament. Northwestern was dead last in the Big Ten last season and finished the year losing 12 of their last 13 games.

To make matters worse half of their key rotation guys including their two best players by far. To compete, Northwestern is going to need vast improvements from Pete Nance and Miller Kopp in their sophomore campaigns. Nance was the highest-rated recruit in Northwestern history but scored only 2.9 points per game in 12 minutes per in a disappointing season. Kopp was not much better, scoring 4.9 points and eventually losing his spot in the starting lineup.

Losing Pardon and Benson means losing their two best rebounders from last season. The Wildcats are going to be small and short on big depth. Hopefully, Nance added weight to his skinny 6’10 frame or else I’m not sure who bangs with opposing big men down low.

With several other low-tier Big Ten teams expected to improve, it will be hard for the Wildcats to get out of the cellar.

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