Big Ten Basketball: Projecting each team’s key player production for 2021-22

Minnesota – Luke Loewe and Sean Sutherlin

Decrease in production: Luke Loewe

There is a reason Luke Loewe is one of the top twenty players to transfer to the Big Ten. The 6’4 point guard averaged over 16 points, three rebounds, and three assists a game last season. There is also a reason why he will not reproduce those numbers, Loewe has been playing at William & Mary for the past four seasons. The most obvious of statements is; the Colonial Athletic Association is not the Big Ten.

Loewe’s scoring average should remain in the double-digits and his assists should not waver too much during the non-conference schedule, but even with those games, there will be an adjustment period needed to acclimatize to the Big Ten.

Increase in production: Sean Sutherlin

This is nothing short of a risky selection. Sutherlin missed all of the 2020-21 season with a torn labrum in his shoulder. The last time the 6’5 swingman played, he averaged 13 points over twenty-eight games with New Hampshire.

On one hand, it is a sure-fire bet he will produce more than last season, but Sutherlin faces the same issue as Loewe, Sutherlin last played in the American East Conference, but despite the tougher conference and missing a complete season, Sutherlin is the player best equipped to increase production, even from his numbers two seasons ago.

At 6’5 he will play the small forward position, but he has the skills to play point guard as he demonstrated at New Hampshire. He is not a threat from beyond the arc, but his driving ability against bigger defenders and his ability to post up smaller guards gives him the versatility to stay on the court and to produce.