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) /

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Big Ten Basketball Rutgers Scarlet Knights Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The Knights have five starters that could’ve gone pro, which would’ve devastated its roster for next season. It was a foregone conclusion that leading scorer Ron Harper Jr. and guard Geo Baker were gone but both Paul Mulcahy and Caleb McConnell went through the draft process and could’ve left.

Instead, both guards made the move to come back for another year, giving Rutgers one of the best backcourts in the Big Ten. It’s also going to be a chance for Mulcahy to get in the national spotlight more, coming off a season where he averaged 9.0 ppg and 5.3 apg. The question will be who does he pass the ball to.

The hope is that Loyola (MD) transfer Cam Spencer can have a big impact immediately. The 6’4 guard averaged 18.9 ppg and 3.2 apg this past season on 47-35-86 shooting splits. There’s not much production from the bench so if Spencer isn’t an impact scorer, things can get dicey.

With starting center Clifford Omoruyi back, Rutgers has a big that can contend with the best frontcourt players in the conference. They’ll need returning forward Aundre Hyatt to take a leap and lock down the power forward position in Harper’s absence or else things will be an issue inside whenever Omoruyi isn’t on the court. But in a conference without a ton of great guards on paper, the Knights are in solid shape, which is why they’re in the top half for now.

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