Big Ten Basketball: 6 behind the scene takeaways from 2021-22 Media Day
By Greg Waddell
4. The guards are better than people give them credit for
Noticeably absent from Media Day was Purdue’s Jaden Ivey, who many assume to be the best guard in the Big Ten. But while Ivey was missing, there was more than enough veteran talent from around the conference at the event to make me feel like the guards are a bit underrated heading into the season.
Andre Curbelo carried himself with confidence from start to finish, asserting that he wasn’t “afraid to say we’re going to be better than last year.”
Eric Ayala (arguably the best-dressed attendee) carried himself like the star player nobody’s talking about. Turgeon and Ayala both praised Maryland newcomer Fatts Russell as another immediate impact backcourt option.
First-team All-Media Day Drip nominee Eric Ayala @EA_Glo put to the test on the #ShotClock at #B1GMediaDay pic.twitter.com/baQKp7yPOv
— Sleepers Media 💤🏀 (@SleepersMedia) October 7, 2021
Beyond Maryland’s guard duo, there was also Michigan’s Eli Brooks, Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon, and Wisconsin’s Brad Davison.
Brad Davison @braddavi34 is @SleepersMedia’s biggest fan (plus bonus dap of Tom Izzo) pic.twitter.com/wDVXFvBc4K
— Sleepers Media 💤🏀 (@SleepersMedia) October 8, 2021
With fifteen years of college basketball experience between them, they will no doubt make an impact on the conference race this year, even if they don’t pick up the individual accolades the frontcourt scorers will along the way.