Despite having eight teams (the second most of any college hoops conference in the nation) selected for the NCAA Tournament field this postseason, the Big Ten basketball conference didn't advance anyone to the Final Four for the Big Dance.
The Big Ten made some high-profile coaching moves this spring, which highlighted the early 2025 offseason in the conference. Raising the ceiling for the top blue bloods in this conference for the upcoming season in college hoops will be critical for the Big Ten's national stage presence in the 2025-26 campaign.
Illinois-Off ball scorer
Getting key pieces back in the projected rotation for the upcoming season in the Big Ten has been a major factor for head coach Brad Underwood and Illinois this spring early in the 2025 offseason. Illinois has attacked the transfer portal for more proven pieces in the backcourt and forward rotation.
Illinois' biggest roster deprivation early this offseason is adding an off-ball scorer who can stretch the floor and knock down catch-and-shoot looks from outside. Adding a true wing scorer and backup combo guard from the portal could be a good step for Underwood and the Illini to start rounding out the projected 2025-26 roster for the upcoming season.
Indiana-Proven frontcourt depth
New Indiana head coach Darian DeVries has already filled out much of the projected roster for his squad for the coming 2025-26 college hoops season via the spring transfer portal window. Indiana has taken a patient portal strategy path early this offseason. However, the frontcourt still lacks true and proven rim protection from an experienced and proven big man from the portal.
Iowa-Adding quality guards to the backcourt
After hiring former Drake Bulldogs head coach Ben McCollum, the Iowa Hawkeyes have begun overhauling the core part of the rotation early this offseason for 2025. Iowa needs to rejuvenate the starting backcourt to spark a new offensive scoring energy in Iowa City lost all its double-digit points per game scorers from this past season for the Hawkeyes.
Maryland-Wing depth
Former Texas A&M longtime head coach Buzz Williams replaced Kevin Willard in College Park, MD, early this offseason ahead of a critical 2025-26 campaign in the Big Ten for the Terrapins next season. Maryland has added multiple former Texas A&M transfers who played under Williams in College Station, including standout big man Pharrel Payne.
Michigan-Outside shooters in the backcourt
Michigan and head coach Dusty May boast a reportedly expensive (per CBS Sports) transfer portal class that could help the Wolverines push for the team's first conference regular season crown in a half decade (since 2020-21 campaign).
The Wolverines don't have a single returning player on the projected 2025-26 season roster with over 1.5 three-point field goals per game.
Michigan State-Jase Richardson... or another portal point guard
A big remaining question mark for longtime head coach Tom Izzo and the Michigan State men's program remains the status of experienced guard Jase Richardson. If Richardson doesn't return for another year in East Lansing for the Spartans for the upcoming 2025-26 regular season, it makes full and complete sense for MSU to get another portal guard to round out the projected rotation in the backcourt.
Minnesota-Bench depth at the three
Minnesota's retooling of the projected 2025-26 roster is nearly complete after adding six quality players to rejuvenate the roster from the portal this spring for head coach Ben Johnson. The Gophers' outlook for next season relies on getting proven bench depth and scoring from the wing at the two and the three.
Nebraska-Experienced big
Nebraska and head coach Fred Hoiberg were very close to making their second straight appearance as a single-digit seed in the NCAA Tournament from the Big Ten this past postseason. The Huskers and Hoiberg ranked in the bottom half of the Big Ten conference this past season in paint points per game and rebounding on the offensive end.
Northwestern-Quality frontcourt pieces
With Northwestern's two starting big men from the frontcourt unit exhausting their eligibility in college following the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign, the Wildcats need to add more depth and length for the bigs to push for a tourney spot from the Big Ten next postseason.
Ohio State-Scoring help for Bruce Thornton in the rotation
Ohio State returns its top scoring guard from this past season, to-be senior point guard Bruce Thornton. Head coach Jake Diebler and the Buckeyes need more quality off-ball scorers in the backcourt and wing rotations to make a legitimate push for the Big Dance next season in 2025-26.
Oregon-Length and rebounders
The postseason concluded in a disappointing fashion for head coach Dana Altman and the Oregon Ducks in the NCAA Tournament last month, as they dropped a heartbreaking two-possession contest to former Pac-12 foe Arizona in the second round.
Altman and the Ducks need to add more length and defensive chops to a wing and forward rotation that did get some quality pieces from the spring portal in the current window, including Texas transfer Devon Pryor and Elon transfer guard TK Simpkins.
Penn State-Versatile guard depth
Getting more versatile scoring and guard depth in the backcourt can help to add more competitiveness to Penn State's starting unit in the Big Ten in the upcoming 2025-26 campaign.
Purdue-Another forward?
Purdue's roster-building for the early-portion of the 2025 offseason looks to be done after head coach Matt Painter added to the forward and frontcourt rotation with a couple of key portal pickups earlier in this week.
Rutgers-Defensive specialists
After adding a handful of key portal pickups to the backcourt and forward rotations, Rutgers has three scholarship spots left for the roster for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign in college hoops. Rutgers needs upgrades on the backcourt defensively after it ranked in the bottom 50 teams nationally in three-point field goal percentage allowed this past season in the Big Ten.
UCLA-Backcourt experience and go-to support options on the wing
UCLA's roster in the backcourt will look much different this offseason for the projected 2025-26 core part of the rotation and the starting unit. The Bruins lost six players to the portal, including four who transferred to other major and mid-major programs in college basketball this offseason.
Who can UCLA add to support star transfer guard pickup Donovan Dent for the 2025-26 season in the Big Ten?
USC-Wing scorers
Head coach Eric Musselman and USC have contacted multiple quality transfers who can bring more offensive punch on that end of the floor to the wing rotation. USC's backcourt and wing rotation quality could hinge on the NBA Draft decision of starting guard Desmond Claude late this spring.
Washington-Reliable forward depth
A good mix of young players and experienced upperclassmen can make the Huskies an intriguing sleeper conference pick for the Big Ten for next season in 2025-26. Health and player development have been major issues for the Huskies and head coach Danny Sprinkle in the 2020s decade in recent years entering a critical season in the Big Ten.
Wisconsin-Bench depth
Can Wisconsin's young depth live up to the hype in the Big Ten as a roster rotation that can rank in the top tier of the conference's top teams in the 2025-26 season?