Big Ten Basketball: Michigan State leads power rankings heading into new year
By Ryan Kay
10. Wisconsin 8-5 (1-1)
Key Wins
*Defeated Marquette 77-61 in their in-state rivalry game.
*Beat Indiana 84-64.
*Won at Tennessee 68-48.
Disappointing Losses
*Lost on a neutral court to New Mexico 59-50.
*Lost on a neutral court to Richmond 62-52.
*Lost at Rutgers 72-65.
Wisconsin lost star player Ethan Happ and Khalil Iverson from last season’s team. They, however, returned three key players this year in D’Mitrik Trice, Brad Davison, and Nate Reuvers. The Badgers have can contributions from freshman Tyler Wahl and not until recently transfer Micah Potter. The most surprising contributors for Wisconsin this season have been sophomore Kobe King the Badgers second-leading scorer and junior forward Aleem Ford who both have been solid contributors this season.
This season’s Big Ten is the most difficult to predict in years. You have so many teams like Michigan State, Ohio State, Maryland, Penn State, Iowa and even teams like Indiana and Rutgers having good starts entering 2020. Wisconsin competing with up and coming teams like Illinois will make it that much more difficult as they go through the gauntlet of Big Ten play.
The Badgers lost arguably the 2nd best and most productive player in the Big Ten from last season in Ethan Happ to graduation. Their 5th leading scorer from last year Iverson graduated as well. Trice and Davison this season has helped the younger players like freshmen Tyler Wahl develop and contribute this season and now that Ohio State transfer Micah Potter is eligible to play, it will help the Badgers down low but the Badgers have struggled this season at times on offense especially if their outside shots are not falling.
Wisconsin, however, may surprise many in the Big Ten by playing well in Big Ten play. The Badgers may even when it is all said and done be one of the top 5 teams in the Big Ten. However, there will be obstacles and difficult games ahead but the Badgers should be ready for the challenge.
9. Illinois 9-4 (1-1)
Key Wins
*Beat Michigan 71-62.
*On the road, they defeated Grand Canyon 83-71
*Defeated Hawaii 66-53.
Disappointing Losses
*Lost to Miami 81-79 at home.
*Lost on a neutral court to Missouri 63-56.
Illinois did not lose a lot of key players from last year’s team but they did not return Aaron Jordan and Samba Kane. The Fighting Illini did bring back a good amount of their core players from last season in Ayo Dosunmu, Trent Frazier, Giorgi Bezhanishvili, Andres Feliz, Alan Griffin, and Kipper Nichols. However, the biggest impact player for Illinois has been freshman Kofi Cockburn, who leads the team in scoring.
The Fighting Illini brought back five of their top six scorers from last season but the season thus far has not gone as planned. Illinois was young last season but talented and even though their record last season didn’t prove it, they showed progress near the end of the season and beat some quality teams. Illinois along with Cockburn has three durable scorers returning in Ayo Dosunmu, Trent Frazier, and Andres Feliz this season. Cockburn a top-50 recruit, has really bolstered the front line for the Fighting Illini this season.
Head coach Brad Underwood will is in his third season as the head of the program for the Fighting Illini and he and his team look to take the program to another level during the heart of Big Ten play and look to hopefully compete in the top-tier of the Big Ten this year. They will have an opportunity to do so as they travel to take on Michigan State on Jan. 2nd.