Big Ten Basketball: Early grades for each teams 2023 offseason moves

Jan 21, 2023; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Fred Hoiberg looks on from the bench during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Nebraska 76-65. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

4 of 7

Big Ten Basketball Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Michigan Wolverines – Grade: D

The Wolverines lost both Jett Howard and Kobe Bufkin to the NBA Draft and replaced them with Nimari Burnett (who may not be eligible) and Caleb Love, who was part of the disastrous UNC team this past season. It’s arguably a downgrade but most importantly, the team suffered the biggest loss in Big Ten Basketball as star center Hunter Dickinson transferred out.

Michigan landed Seton Hall transfer Tray Jackson but he’s more of a power forward, the one position the team didn’t need another role player for. Had they landed Tennessee transfer Olivier Nkamhoua, I could’ve tried to squeeze out a “C”. But they’ve gotten much worse this offseason and will need Love to be an All-American just to be competitive.

7. Illinois Fighting Illini – Grade: C

This is a complicated team to judge right now because they’re a few decisions from having potentially an “A” or a “D” or worse. Leading scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. and starting forward Coleman Hawkins are in the NBA Draft process and it’s 50/50 on whether they’ll return or not. They also still don’t have a proven ball-handler on the roster, though that could change if they land MAC POY transfer RayJ Dennis.

The Illini did land a couple of solid transfers in Justin Harmon (Utah Valley) and Marcus Domask (Southern Illinois), both of whom are double-digit scorers and capable starters. The question now is whether or not they end up being the best part of Illinois’ offseason or just a piece of it.

Home/Big Ten