Big Ten Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Adam Childs | Sep 16, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Big Ten logo on the floor before the Big Ten Men's Basketball Final against the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines at the Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Wolverines won 71-56. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 11: Indiana Hoosiers players (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

. . Hoosiers . 7. team. 482.

Indiana was well on its way to making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years when the season as abruptly canceled during the Big Ten tournament. That is the bad news. The good news is they return a talented roster that didn’t lose a whole lot.

Yes, they did lose Justin Smith to transfer and Devonte Green to graduation, but they still return a solid core led by Trayce Jackson-Davis. He was a double-double machine for the Hoosiers in his first year in Bloomington. He is not much of an outside threat, but he is great around the rim and is a very good rebounder.

He is joined in the frontcourt by Joey Brunk, Race Thompson, and Jerome Hunter. All three of them have to prove that they belong on the court for a majority of the game, but they all have upside that will help the Hoosiers.

The biggest plus for the Hoosiers is the recruiting class that Archie Miller has brought in. Led by five-star point guard Khristian Lander, Indiana is looking like they have some immediate help coming from the youngsters. Anthony Leal is a sharpshooter and Jordan Geronimo and Trey Galloway are explosive athletes that can cause headaches for other teams.

If Lander isn’t the starter at the point to begin the season, the Hoosiers are in good shape with Rob Phinisee and Al Durham coming back. They have a ton of experience and have improved every year.

The biggest question mark for the Hoosiers is their outside shooting. If they can knock down shots they will be a dangerous team in the Big Ten. Even with their struggles last year they still knocked off Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Penn State when they were highly ranked. This team is not going to be afraid of any team.

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