Big Ten Basketball hadn't won a national championship in over 20 years before Michigan broke through by winning it all against UConn in April. Between them, Illinois making the Final Four and others making a deep run, the 2025-26 campaign was arguably the best for the league in a very long time.
Will the Big Ten remain supreme in College Basketball next year? Based on the way-too-early roster construction, there will be more Final Four contenders to watch. Here's the latest power rankings for the league.
18. Penn State Nittany Lions
2025-26 record: 12-20 (3-17)
Likely departures
- Freddie Dilione (14 ppg and 2.2 apg)
- Kayden Mingo (13.7 ppg and 4.3 apg)
- Josh Reed (11.5 ppg and 4.1 rpg)
- Melih Tunca (7.8 ppg and 2.4 apg)
- Dominick Stewart (6.6 ppg and 2.2 rpg)
- Eli Rice (6.7 ppg and 1.7 rpg)
Likely returnees
- Ivan Juric (10.2 ppg and 5.3 rpg)
Roster additions
- Jay Rodgers (11 ppg and 6.9 apg at Central Connecticut)
- Brant Byers (14.2 ppg and 4.1 rpg at Miami OH)
- Thomas Allard (D-II guard transfer)
- Roberts Blums (12.4 ppg and 3.4 rpg at Davidson)
- Tim Oboh (8.5 ppg and 4.9 rpg at Buffalo)
Penn State was the worst team in the Big Ten last year because it had the worst overall defense. On paper, the talent has arguably gotten worse, losing Mingo and Dillione in the backcourt. Rodgers led the NEC in passing, and Byers was an elite shooter for the Redhawks, so that duo could be effective.Â
Juric has the chance to be a breakout player in the conference and someone they can rely upon to win some games. But unless the defense makes improvements and someone else becomes an elite scorer, the Nittany Lions appear doomed to another bottom-place finish.
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