Big Ten Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

By Tuck Clarry | Oct 8, 2023

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 09: Coleman Hawkins #33 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts after making a basket during the first half of a Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Second Round game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at United Center on March 09, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

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Big Ten Basketball Ohio State Buckeyes guard Isaac Likekele (13) and forward Zed Key Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch Basketball Ceb Mbk Iowa Iowa At Ohio State /

6. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State is fresh off of a horrendous 2022-2023 season, finishing 5-15 in conference the worst results in Chris Holtmann’s six years in Columbus. And the Buckeyes lose their two leading scorers in freshman volume shooter Brice Sensabaugh and senior Justice Sueing, who also accounted for 38% of the team’s shot attempts.

And while the losses of leading scorers create uncertainty, a reset after such a tough season may benefit Holtmann’s squad. The talent is there too, with three returning sophomores–big man Felix Okpara, point guard Bruce Thornton and shooting guard Roddy Gayle Jr.–who showed flashes in conference play. Gayle closed out their Big Ten tournament run, scoring 15 and 20 against Michigan State and Purdue.

There were also major additions in the portal in recruiting, with the Buckeyes bringing in Minnesota fixture Jamison Battle (12.4 points per game) and promising freshmen wings Scotty Middleton and Devin Royal, along with guard Taison Chatman. Even with a disappointing previous season and plenty of ambiguity about how the rotation is going to work out, expectations are high for Holtmann. He has the talent of not just a tournament team but a team that can and should make it out of the first weekend.

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