Big Ten Basketball: 10 key storylines to watch for 2023 offseason

Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) celebrates as he is announced the player of the tournament after winning the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship game against the Penn State Nittany Lions, Sunday, March 12, 2023, at United Center in Chicago. Purdue won 67-65.Pupsu031223 Am22423 /

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Iowa forward Kris Murray Big Ten Basketball 221111 Nc At Iowa Mbb 030 Jpg /

4. Iowa needs to find some offense in the portal

The best pure offense in Big Ten Basketball for the past decade comes from Iowa and head coach Fran McCaffery. He’s benefitted from having a 20+ ppg scorer in each of the past four years, with two from National Player of the Year Luka Garza, along with brothers, Keegan and Kris Murray.

This past season, Kris Murray led the team with 20.2 ppg and 7.9 rpg and was an All-Big Ten performer. Just like his brother though, he’s likely to enter the NBA Draft as a projected first round pick. If that were to happen, it would be the first time in three years that the Hawkeyes wouldn’t know who its best player would be for the next season.

There was an idea who could be a breakout star and led the team in scoring. But if Murray leaves and starting forward Filip Rebraca (14.1 ppg ad 7.5 rpg) has to leave, that’s the two leading scorers. Starting guard Ahron Ulis has already transferred out, while Connor McCaffery doesn’t have any more eligibilty.

To be clear, Iowa isn’t completely without talent left. Double-digit scorers, Payton Sandfort and Tony Perkins are set to return. Can they become leading options on a tournament team? That remains to be seen. But with how offensively friendly this program is, expect them to land some key pieces in the portal.

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