NCAA Basketball: Bold predictions for 2019-20 Big Ten Basketball season

By Brian Rauf | Oct 31, 2019

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 10: Isaiah Livers #4 of the Michigan Wolverines brings the ball up court as Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini defends during the first half at State Farm Center on January 10, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

4 of 4

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 15: Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers looks on in the second half against the Nebraska Huskers 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) /

3) Wisconsin will finish in the bottom five

Simply put, I just do not see how this Badgers team is going to be successful this season.

Losing a player like Ethan Happ is one thing, but schools routinely have to replace star players from the previous season. Unfortunately for Wisconsin, they don’t appear to have anyone who can replace Happ’s production.

How much did they lean on him to produce? He led the Badgers in points, rebounds, assists, and steals a year ago while leading the conference is usage percentage, and he led by a wide majority in most of those categories. With Khalil Iverson also gone, Wisconsin is looking to D’Mitrik Trice, Brad Davison, and Nate Reuvers to carry the load.

Those three core players combined to have just six 20-point games last season. Yes, Micah Potter (once he’s eligible in December) and Aleem Ford will help inside, but offense is going to be a struggle for this group. None of them are true playmakers or are capable of consistently creating shots for themselves. That’s why Happ, a center, had everything run through him.

Wisconsin failed to hit the 60-point mark in seven games last season even with Happ. Without his production – both scoring and ability to create for others with his passing – that number is only going to go up.

Next. One big question for every Big Ten team. dark

For all the teams in the Big Ten with question marks, Wisconsin appears to have the most – and doesn’t appear to have the answers to those questions. Because of that, look for them to really struggle throughout the upcoming season.

Home/Big Ten