Today is Big Ten Basketball Media Day and that is just insanely early. Not only does the event start insanely early in the morning (hey, basketball is a “night” thing, like hockey. Football and baseball are “day” games) today, but usually the event falls on Halloween, or just before.
Here’s what’s crazier- as early as this event is, quite a few schools have already had their own individual media days…last week even!
Just like every year, Tom Izzo is the rock star of Big Ten Media Day. He’s the dean of league coaches, and Michigan State basketball is flag-bearer for the conference.
MSU is the B1G’s blue chip brand. It’s Michigan State basketball that’s in the Champions Classic with Duke, Kansas and Kentucky every year. (That’s a hugely underrated event by the way, way more people should care about that than actually do)
Anyways, take a break from your football and MLB postseason, and take a look at where we have your team in our very early power rankings.
Here’s the link to our 2015-16 top 25 national rankings (Terrapins are #7).
That said, here’s our extremely early projection of how the Big Ten race shapes out in 2015-16.
1. Maryland (link to 2015-16 Maryland season preview)
Terps are ranked #2 or #3 nationally in a few publications. Therefore, we devoted a whole post to them, which you can check out here.
2. Michigan State basketball (link to 2015-16 MSU season preview)
It really doesn’t matter where they’re ranked at all right now. You know where they’ll end up in March. Michigan State basketball gets it done at conference tournament time and during the early rounds of March madness
3. Michigan (Wolverines make our 5 non-NCAA Tournament teams who will go dancing next year)
Got burned badly picking these guys second last year. Hitting the slot machine again this year with my gambler’s fallacy.
4. Wisconsin (Badgers make our 5 elite teams who take a step back next season list)
Never pick Bo Ryan outside the top 5, no matter what star players he’s lost to attrition.
5. Indiana
They’ll be fun to watch, and bigger now. Still, the only adjustments Tom Crean makes at halftime involve his pants. Look for his Xs and Os to cost them a couple games they really should win.
6. Purdue
So this is the year A.J. Hammons plays up to his full potential. We mean it this time. Really. We’re serious.
7. Ohio State
This is an uncharacteristic spot for the Buckeyes. They’ll be back up in 2016-17.
8. Iowa
Probably a First Four kind of season coming up.
9. Northwestern
Still not close to a NCAA Tournament, but getting there. Slowly and surely, getting there. Maybe. Possibly. Potentially. Eventually.
10. Illinois (link to 2015-16 Illinois season preview)
Given what happened with Tracy Abrams and Darius Paul, #10 seems too high now.
11. Minnesota
Pitino must have the best agent in the business. For him to have the deal he does, despite the lack of accomplishment…SMH
12. Penn State
A year away; really I’m serious. Not just saying that.
13. Nebraska
The best coach in the press conference game FWIW
14. Rutgers
Hey, they’ll always have that upset over Wisconsin
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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