Big Ten Basketball: Top 25 non-freshmen players for 2022-23 season

6. Xavier Johnson – Indiana Hoosiers

2021-22 stats: 12.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.1 apg

Johnson put up big numbers at Pittsburgh and collectively, did so at Indiana. He was arguably the best player in the conference from February on, averaging 17 ppg and shooting over 45% from three-point range, carrying the Hoosiers to the NCAA Tournament. He had some awful performances in the first half of the season and can be turnover-prone but his ceiling is as high as any guard in the league.

With Indiana returning almost everyone of importance, Johnson’s role should largely remain the same. It’ll depend on which player shows up this upcoming season but in terms of ranking the talent, the 5th-year senior playmaker is the best in the league.

5. Kris Murray – Iowa Hawkeyes

2021-22 stats: 9.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg 

Each season, there is one near-consensus breakout candidate for Big Ten Basketball. The predictions on Johnny Davis and Keegan Murray were spot-on a year ago and this offseason, it’s been all-about Kris Murray. He averaged just 17 mpg playing behind his brother and still managed to put up some major stats, including 29 points and 11 rebounds against Indiana (season-high 29 minutes played) and 23 points versus Purdue.

Murray was also efficient from the field, making 48% from the field and 39% from three-point range. Assuming his minutes go towards 30 per game and the numbers and efficiency remain the same, Murray could easily average 18-20 ppg and fulfill that breakout potential as Iowa’s next leading scorer.