Big Ten Basketball: 2023 conference tournament preview and predictions

Key Players

There are playmakers on all fourteen teams in the Big Ten; we’re just narrowing our focus to a few who could lead their teams on runs all the way to the title.

Zach Edey – Purdue

Potentially the national player of the year, Edey has been of utmost importance to Purdue’s rise to prominence this year. A 7’4 center who’s always the biggest threat on the court, he’s averaging 21.9 points and 12.8 rebounds a game this season. He’s a force on offensive and is one of the top rebounders in the nation, leading it in offensive boards, while being a matchup nightmare for every team on their schedule.

Trayce Jackson-Davis – Indiana

Jackson-Davis is having his best year as a senior and is a major force for the Hoosiers, helping them get that pair of upsets against Purdue this past month. He’s averaging 20.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game and is one of the top rebounders in Big Ten history. He’s been a double-double machine, has multiple 20-rebound games this year, and is the primary option for a Hoosiers squad that can do serious damage in March.

Terrence Shannon Jr. – Illinois

A 6’6 guard from Chicago, Shannon is doing great things in his home state after three years starring at Texas Tech. He’s become the focal point on offense for the Fighting Illini, averaging 17.1 points per game this year. Shannon has had some big performances this year, including a 29-point performance in a win over UCLA; he’s the kind of player who can charge an unexpected run through this tournament, though he’s certainly not alone in that regard.

Boo Buie – Northwestern

Despite losing a pair of key players to Blue Blood programs, Northwestern is in prime position thanks to Buie’s play this season. He’s far from the only key cog for the Wildcats this year, but he averages 17.2 points and 4.5 assists per game and runs the offense. He had 35 points against Illinois a few weeks ago and will be vital for Northwestern’s success both this week and in the Big Dance.