JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
All five members of this year's 1st team All Big Ten team were underclassmen. *All five of them decided to forego their eligibility and are entering this year's NBA draft.
They are Ohio State Deshaun Thomas, Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr and Trey Burke and Indiana's Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller. The last three will be drafted inside the Top 15 picks, the first two may not be drafted in the first round.
On Thursday, Michigan State's talented freshman Gary Harris said he would return for his sophomore year and Michigan's Glen Robinson III and Mitch McGary announced they would be returning for another year, too. *This leaves Michigan State forward Adrein Payne as the last*significant*NBA announcement left in the league before we know what awaits Iowa and everyone else.
Here are my quick thoughts on the league for next year given what has transpired on the early entry front:
1. Michigan State: If Payne stays, they are a Final Four team. If he leaves, they still could be
2. Ohio State: They have the raw offensive talent and they are the best defensive team in the B1G
3. Michigan: DYK: Soph to be Nic Stauskas was the third leading scorer behind Burke and Hardaway
4. Iowa: Hawkeyes should be more consistent next year. Play the above teams two times each
I believe these four teams are clearly in the top tier, with Michigan State being the elite team if Payne returns. The next grouping of teams, you can probably throw a blanket over them: Purdue, Indiana and Wisconsin. I still think the Badgers are in for some tougher times given how perimeter oriented they appear to be for next year, but Bo Ryan simply wins. Indiana has a lot of young talent on the team, but could struggle on the road early. Getting Indiana at home in January is a thing you want. Purdue could actually be the best team in this bunch to start with given what they return and how hard they fought this past year.
Then teams 8 through 10, Illinois, Minnesota and Penn State will battle it out. Illinois has the most raw talent, Penn State might have the best locker room over the summer and Minnesota may be a train wreck. Nebraska comes next and then Northwestern.
Iowa played the weakest Big Ten schedule this past year and may wind up playing the toughest Big Ten schedule next year. Still, Iowa wound up playing the 43rd toughest schedule in the nation according to Ken Pomeroy and finished 23rd in Pomeroy's rankings.
They are Ohio State Deshaun Thomas, Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr and Trey Burke and Indiana's Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller. The last three will be drafted inside the Top 15 picks, the first two may not be drafted in the first round.
On Thursday, Michigan State's talented freshman Gary Harris said he would return for his sophomore year and Michigan's Glen Robinson III and Mitch McGary announced they would be returning for another year, too. *This leaves Michigan State forward Adrein Payne as the last*significant*NBA announcement left in the league before we know what awaits Iowa and everyone else.
Here are my quick thoughts on the league for next year given what has transpired on the early entry front:
1. Michigan State: If Payne stays, they are a Final Four team. If he leaves, they still could be
2. Ohio State: They have the raw offensive talent and they are the best defensive team in the B1G
3. Michigan: DYK: Soph to be Nic Stauskas was the third leading scorer behind Burke and Hardaway
4. Iowa: Hawkeyes should be more consistent next year. Play the above teams two times each
I believe these four teams are clearly in the top tier, with Michigan State being the elite team if Payne returns. The next grouping of teams, you can probably throw a blanket over them: Purdue, Indiana and Wisconsin. I still think the Badgers are in for some tougher times given how perimeter oriented they appear to be for next year, but Bo Ryan simply wins. Indiana has a lot of young talent on the team, but could struggle on the road early. Getting Indiana at home in January is a thing you want. Purdue could actually be the best team in this bunch to start with given what they return and how hard they fought this past year.
Then teams 8 through 10, Illinois, Minnesota and Penn State will battle it out. Illinois has the most raw talent, Penn State might have the best locker room over the summer and Minnesota may be a train wreck. Nebraska comes next and then Northwestern.
Iowa played the weakest Big Ten schedule this past year and may wind up playing the toughest Big Ten schedule next year. Still, Iowa wound up playing the 43rd toughest schedule in the nation according to Ken Pomeroy and finished 23rd in Pomeroy's rankings.
