Big Ten Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2020-21 season

Assuming Luka Garza opts to return to Iowa after declaring for the NBA Draft, which he is expected to do, the Hawkeyes could potentially be a top 10 team nationally.

Garza is obviously a big part of that. The reigning Big Ten Player of the Year broke numerous conference scoring and rebounding records last year and split National Player of the Year honors with Dayton’s Obi Toppin, making him the easy favorite for preseason National Player of the Year in 2020-21.

He will remain the focal point of Iowa’s attack, but almost all of their key contributors will be back as well. Joe Weiskamp announced his return on the wing while CJ Fredrick, Connor McCaffery, and Joe Toussaint all return in the backcourt. They will also receiving a boost in the form of Jordan Bohannon, who missed almost all of last season with a hip injury and took a medical redshirt.

With those perimeter players surrounding Garza on the inside, Iowa should be one of the nation’s best offensive teams once again. They struggled on the defensive end last year and, while that still won’t be a strength, having this level of roster continuity should help them on that end.

There are still a few unknowns when it comes to how teams in the Big Ten will look for the 2020-21 season, but there is one thing we do know – everyone will be trying to knock off the preseason favorite Hawkeyes.