Big Ten basketball was the nation’s most competitive conference last season. Here’s a way-too-early look at how it could shake out in the 2020-21 season.
Big Ten Basketball was undoubtedly college basketball’s best conference this past season as they were threatening to send a record number of teams to the NCAA Tournament. A number were legitimate Final Four contenders as well and others – namely Penn State and Rutgers – were having uncommonly great seasons and were set to earn tournament berths for the first time since 2011 and 1991, respectively.
The abrupt end to the season eliminated all those potential achievements and ended the careers of star players like Cassius Winston, Anthony Cowan, and Lamar Stevens.
With those players gone, along with several expected to remain in the NBA Draft, the Big Ten is expected to look vastly different when the 2020-21 season tips off.
Michigan State will be looking for a new identity in the post-Cassius Winston era. Maryland will be doing the same with Cowan and star big man Jalen Smith leaving. Illinois is expected to lose most of its key players from last season’s breakout team. Ohio State and Penn State are dealing with a good amount of turnover as well.
On the flip side, there are a handful of teams poised for breakout seasons. Rutgers is hoping to build upon their successful season. Indiana is hoping (slash expecting) for big things in Year 4 under Archie Miller. Wisconsin and Iowa both return almost all of their key pieces, including Big Ten Player of the Year – and expected preseason National Player of the Year – Luka Garza for the Hawkeyes.
All that should lead to another exciting season of Big Ten basketball. How do all 14 teams stack up against each other going into the new year?
There are NBA Draft decisions looming – which early entrants return and which players stay in the draft – which could impact these rankings, but here’s a way-too-early look at our Big Ten Power Rankings for the 2020-21 season.