Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: 2019-20 under the radar players from each team

By Jacob Shames

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 17: Thomas Kithier #15 of the Michigan State Spartans grabs a rebound in the second half during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Breslin Center on February 17, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 17: Thomas Kithier #15 of the Michigan State Spartans grabs a rebound in the second half during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Breslin Center on February 17, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: Kobe King #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers dribbles the ball against Paul White #13 of the Oregon Ducks in the first half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 22, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: Kobe King #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers dribbles the ball against Paul White #13 of the Oregon Ducks in the first half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 22, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

Rutgers: Caleb McConnell

Statistically, McConnell was Rutgers’ best three-point shooter last year. That sounds good until you consider that he shot 35.7 percent — solid, but hardly enough to carry a team’s outside attack.

The good news? McConnell — and the rest of the Scarlet Knights — should be better this year — may be quite a bit better. With freshman Paul Mulcahy as the possible point guard of the future and transfers Jacob Young and Akwasi Yeboah jumping into the fold, Rutgers has a surprisingly deep backcourt now, one that should lead to much more space for playmakers like McConnell.

Give McConnell an extra inch of space and he could take it a few miles. At 6’7 and 190 pounds, he’s a lanky, multi-positional wing who can score from anywhere, rebound and shut opponents down from point guard to forward. He even played point at times last season. McConnell averaged 5.5 points on 41.5 percent shooting overall, but averaged 9.4 points and nailed 13 of 28 treys from February onwards. He’s maybe the Scarlet Knights’ most offensively gifted player, and he’ll cause opposing wings nightmares if he can build off his strong finish.

Wisconsin: Kobe King

Badgers players and fans have been pining for King to be more aggressive his entire college career. With the graduation of Ethan Happ and the absence of his 14.3 shots per game, they may get their wish.

There’s a good reason for this desire from King. The 6’4, 203-pound King has everything it takes to be a true go-to-guy but hasn’t put it all together thus far. That’s hardly his fault, but the key to the Badgers’ success this season might be King proving his deference was more a reaction to Happ than a natural lack of assertiveness.

Next. Big Ten preseason power rankings for 2019-20. dark

The Badgers’ system doesn’t generally allow its guards to run wild, but King could thrive with more aggression. In games against Oklahoma (14 points, two triples) and Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament (13 points, 5-of-10 shooting), King showed the strength, quickness, shooting, creating and finishing ability that could make him one of the Big Ten’s better lead guards — if he can find the confidence to put it on display. Either way, he should rocket past his 4.2 points per game and minuscule 12.8 usage rate.

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