Big Ten Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2022-23 season

6. Ohio State Buckeyes

Star forward E.J. Liddell put up great production once again this past season and his entrance to the NBA Draft is no surprise. And neither is freshman guard Malaki Branham, whose second-half run on the season elevated him to a projected first-round pick. They also will lose starting point guard Jamari Wheeler and center Kyle Young to eligibility, while sharpshooter Justin Ahrens has entered the transfer portal.

Ohio State did get good news with the return of wing Justice Sueing, a double-digit scorer who missed all of this past season with an injury, while big man Zed Key could have a breakout junior campaign in terms of production. They also have a top-5 incoming recruiting class, with four top-60 overall recruits coming in, as well as Wright State transfer wing Tanner Holden, coming off a season of averaging 20.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg. The question of who will be leading the team in scoring will be around all offseason but there’s enough overall talent on the roster.

5. Indiana Hoosiers

Entering this past season, it was expected that star forward Trayce Jackson-Davis would only be around for one more year. But so far this offseason, he hasn’t indicated a move one way or another, so for now, let’s assume the 18 ppg and 8.0 rpg forward is back, along with fellow starting forward Race Thompson.

The question now comes for the supporting cast. The team lost several role players, including Rob Phinisee and Parker Stewart. The fate of Xavier Johnson, who recently got arrested in an off-the-court incident, is also unknown. But even if he departs, five-star incoming guard Jalen Hood-Schifino can step in and have a major impact. Outside of Michigan, the Hoosiers are the one team that can still go a number of different directions this offseason but right now, looks like a tournament team.