Bo Ryan and the Badgers rule the Big Ten basketball roost this preseason and then there’s a whole bunch of teams below them in the NCAA Tourney and NIT mix in in the second tier. The league has six teams ranked in the top 25 polls and I wouldn’t be surprised if the league landed eight teams in the big dance. Then there’s a third tier of teams that won’t be going to the post season. After #11, the talent level drops off considerably.
So enjoy it Bo Ryan, you’re in the penthouse.
1. Wisconsin
Have two potential first round picks on the squad in Sam Dekker and Frank Kaminsky.
Badgers prediction: national runner-up
2. Michigan
They’re not re-building, they’re re-loading. Maybe. Possibly. Sort of.
Wolverines prediction: 2nd round out
3. Nebraska
This program has improved by “Miles.” Still, the program has never won a NCAA Tournament game. I predict they’ll get not one, but two.
Cornhuskers prediction: sweet 16
4. Ohio State
Their last few recruiting classes are overrated and over-hyped. Still, expect a good regular season, a great conference tournament, and a disappointing March Madness.
Buckeyes prediction: 1st-round out
5. Michigan State
What? Why do you have them so low? This is seriously one of Izzo’s least talented teams.
Spartans prediction: Sweet 16
6. Illinois
Can college basketball allow trades? They have so many guards, but so little forwards. The NCAA needs to let them hook up with a front-court heavy team and work out a deal.
Illini prediction: 1 NCAA Tournament victory
7. Maryland
Bonus points if you watched Mark Turgeon’s Big Ten Media Day presser and didn’t fall asleep. Turgeon: “It it what it is.”
ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Terrapins prediction: play-in game winner. 1st round loser
8. Minnesota
I got to feel for their fanbase. They sweat it out on Selection Sunday almost every year.
Sorry Gopher supporters, but it’s back to the Not Invited Tournament.
9 . Iowa
The way their season ended last year…they may have peaked for awhile. Sorry Charlie, no postseason in Iowa City.
10. Purdue
Two many questions at point guard, too young at other positions, too overly dependent on one player on offense, too many turnovers last year in an offense that losers it’s top two scorers.
11. Indiana
This:
Each coach gets 8 minutes. Indiana’s Tom Crean might use his up with his opening statement.
— Jim Polzin (@JimPolzinWSJ) October 16, 2014
I have no clue what Crean was actually talking about for most of his rambling, but I do know that this is a program in crisis.
12. Northwestern
Love the recruiting classes. Like the direction that the program is headed. However, nothing about last season, or the roster changes from last season, indicates any dramatic improvement from last season.
13. Penn State
With D.J. Newbill, could be another 1-man team like they were with Talor Battle. The terrible page view numbers that always come with PSU basketball material mandates that I keep this entry brief.
14. Rutgers
Enjoy the trip Bo Ryan
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and very often writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2