The 2019-2020 college basketball season ended prematurely thanks to COVID-19, and we’re all still struggling with what to do for our sports fix. And while we hope and pray for the health of the country and nation, there’s still a void there for a country that has sports so aligned with its culture.
So, we’re looking ahead. The Big Ten was by all accounts and measures the deepest and toughest league in the country last season, and it stands to be much the same next year. But who will contend next year, who will fall back, and what surprise teams may surface?
Here’s are way-too-early look at the Big Ten power rankings for 2020-2021
14. Northwestern Wildcats
As good of a coach as Chris Collins can be, he just doesn’t have the talent right now to compete. It could be another tough year in Evanston.
13. Nebraska
Things will be a little better in year two under head coach Fred Hoiberg, but it’s still a rebuild job that has yet to finish laying the foundation. It’ll take another year or two before we see significant improvement.
12. Rutgers
Look for the Scarlet Knights to take a little bit of a step back next season. Once the schedule got a little tougher, the results began to fall back. That’s trouble for the future, even with some nice pieces coming back.
11. Minnesota
Big man Daniel Oturu is heading to the NBA draft, and while there are some pieces to like, this team just doesn’t seem to have the consistent horses to win consistently heading into next season.
Next … 10 through 6
Middle of the pack pushing for the NCAAs
10. Indiana
The Hoosiers seem to always have a star player, but lack the depth of talent on the roster to contend in the upper echelon of the league. It’ll be deja vu all over again next season.
9. Penn State
The Nittany Lions have had a significant upgrade on its roster under head coach Pat Chambers, but losing Mike Watkins and Lamar Stevens is going to sting.
8. Purdue
The Boilermakers roster will be a little more seasoned next year and that’ll help, but Matt Painter doesn’t have the athletic ability his teams have had in the past.
7. Iowa
It’ll be a shocker if Luka Garza returns for his senior season, so that’ll leave a huge gap in this roster. But there’s still a lot of interchangeable parts that can keep this team right around the middle of the league.
6. Ohio State
On one hand there’s a lot to like about the team Ohio State can put on the court next year, but on the other, there’s the lack of a true star player or two to vault Chris Holtmann’s team to the top of the league. It should be another NCAA appearance, but it’s doubtful there’s enough there to contend for the league title.
Next … 5 through 1
The contenders
5. Wisconsin
Badger fans will probably get all over me on this one, but this team won a ton of close games. While some of that obviously has to do with an ability to win in crunch time, there’s a lot of breaks involved as well. I see that turning around just a wee-bit next season.
4. Michigan
The Wolverines will bounce back next season. It was a bit snake-bitten by injury and some close losses, but this young team will be year older. The losses of Zavier Simpson and John Teske will hurt, but there’s enough to back-fill and be better.
3. Maryland
We still have to wait to see what happens with the NBA draft, but there’s length and athletic ability coming back from a young team no matter what happens. The ‘Terps will be in the thick of it again.
2. Michigan State
The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Spartans have so much depth on a yearly basis, it almost doesn’t matter with roster turnover.
1. Illinois
This was the year before the storm. The Illini culture has shifted and the program is for real. It’ll be a year wiser and a year better and should contend for a Big Ten title.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.
We have a forum and message board now. Get in on the conversation about Ohio State athletics by joining the Buckeyes Wire Forum.
