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Big Ten Basketball: 5 key questions and storylines for 2021-22 season

By Tristan Freeman

Mar 7, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo celebrates after the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo celebrates after the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big Ten Basketball Illinois Fighting Illini (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Big Ten Basketball Illinois Fighting Illini (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

2. Which team has the best collection of backcourt players in the Big Ten?

Kay

Ron Harper Jr. and Geo Baker, Caleb McConnell, Paul Mulcahy, and Jaden Jones. Harper Jr. and Baker can both be All-Big Ten selections this upcoming season. Harper has an opportunity to be 1st team All-Big Ten if he continues to improve as he has a very productive season as a junior last season.

Baker is a senior like Harper and their experience, talent, and desire to take their games make a strong case for them having the best backcourt heading into the 2021-22 season. The Scarlet Knights have depth as well with McConnel, Mulcahy, and Jones who are taller guards who help make this backcourt so versatile and deep.

Mauro

Michigan has the best collection of backcourt players in the country.  They have a returning senior in Eli Brooks who has won a ton of games at Michigan.  Highly touted recruits in Caleb Houstan, Zeb Jackson, Isaiah Barnes, and Frankie Collins.  They were also able to add a premier scorer from Coastal Carolina in DeVante Jones.  Michigan has the whole package but their backcourt is exceptional.

Waddell

It’s between Illinois and Michigan…but the way the question is worded gives the edge to the Wolverines.  Devante Jones could easily crack all-conference teams, any team in the country let alone the conference would take a 5th year senior Eli Brooks, and they bring a McDonald’s All-American in Kobe Bufkin and a top-50 ranked recruit in Frankie Collins off the bench.

The challenge for Juwan Howard will be taking those four players and turning them into 80 minutes of quality guard play that exceeds what Andre Curbelo and Trent Frazier can do for Illinois.  By March, I think they’ll have done that.

Farmer

Illinois has the best backcourt in the Big Ten led by Andre Curbelo and Trent Frazier. Curbelo is an elite playmaker who makes everyone around him much better, while Frazier is an experienced veteran who is one of the best on-ball defenders in the country. The Illini also added Utah transfer, Alfonso Plummer, who will likely be the sixth man, and they should finally see hidden gem, Austin Hutcherson, on the court at the State Farm Center.

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