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

PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 16: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike's Arena on February 16, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Illinois 70-59. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

11 of 14

Big Ten Basketball Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Michigan Wolverines

Among all of the NBA Draft decisions, Michigan got one of the biggest ones with the return of All-American center Hunter Dickinson, coming off a season of averaging 18.6 ppg and 8.6 rpg to lead the team. His presence automatically makes the team viable in the conference but it’s the rest of the offseason moves that make them vulnerable.

While Dickinson did return, former five-star frontcourt prospects, Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate, both decided to stay in the NBA Draft. That takes away not only depth inside but Houstan had national breakout potential had he returned. That leaves Will Tschetter and Terrance Williams as the likely starters at power forwards, while top-40 prospect and son of head coach Juwan Howard, Jett, to likely start at the wing.

And at guard, the Wolverines landed an Ivy League transfer for the third year in a row in Jaelin Llewellyn (15.7 ppg), who’ll likely start at the point after Frankie Collins transferred to Arizona State this offseason. There’s not a lot of proven depth in the backcourt next to him, as Kobe Bufkin and top-100 incoming freshman Dug McDaniel will get plenty of minutes next season.

Michigan is a team that could certainly use another guard or wing from the transfer portal to round out the roster but the duo of Dickinson and Llewellyn will make them more than competitive enough for a top-half finish in the league. They’ll need a third option to emerge to potentially make a run for the Big Ten title.

Home/Big Ten