Big Ten Basketball: Analyzing each program’s 2020 recruiting classes

A brand new crop of freshmen will be joining Big Ten Basketball this year. Their presence will add some of the top recruits and top freshmen classes to the conference.

During the 2019-20 season, Big Ten Basketball was widely accepted as one, if not the top conference in the NCAA. The stats only serve to support that notion, as the Big Ten had a 111-39 non-conference record. With the fifth-ranked conference RPI and sixth strength of schedule, the Big Ten had six teams in the Associated Press’ final poll.

The 2020-21 season will see 48 new recruits join their teams in the Big Ten, with only Indiana securing a five-star recruit. Thirteen freshmen are four-star, while 34 are three-star recruits. With three members of the All-Big Ten First Team being seniors, and the whole nation waiting on Luka Garza’s decision, coupled with every member of the All-Big Ten Second Team not returning, there is room for new stars.

All signs point to the Big Ten being able to maintain the success they had last year. As at their peak on Feb. 2, they occupied eight spots in the top 25. In order to replicate the success, however, the freshmen will have to mesh with the returning players, some who are looking to have a breakout season in the Big Ten themselves.

The litmus test for several Big Ten teams will come during the early tournament games when they will have the opportunity to improve their RPI with some big non-conference victories. With Maryland, Michigan State, and Wisconsin sharing the Regular Season Championship, there is potential for yet another log jam as there are up to six teams that may be featured on the pre-season poll. The teams who finish the season in the poll, will not do so without some contribution from these freshmen classes.

The rankings accompanying the headline are from 247sports, and similar to my analysis of Big East recruiting classes, there are a few adjustments made.