Top 25 for 2012-13 season...ESPN's Katz

[OatesStache]

Pretty sure he is transferring.

That's right. He probably wasn't going to play much. Mitch McGary is a very impressive young player. He is probably my favorite for Big 10 FOY next season. Huge kid, who can be a banger in the Big 10 and also handles the ball well and shoots good from 15 feet out. He's part Cody Zeller, part Aaron White.

 

[hawkforlife9]

How we are not ranked with the Top 25 recruiting class coming in?

Exactly, with Woodbury coming on board.. for sure top 25.

Kentucky did it with all Freshman and couple sophs.

 

[herbyhawk]

no doubt about Gesell making Robinson better it was the assists by Gesell that allowed Robinson to score by layup and dunk, GR scored all of his points inside the paint, and the MVP missed his last 4 FT that cost the North squad the win
and Woodbury had a dbl dbl something nobody else did in either game and Woody had 3 steals and 0 t/o, now who had the better game a kid that had a dbl dbl game or a kid that never hit a shot ouside 10 feet with the majority of those points coming off dunks and layups?
the announcer had it right the MVP should have been split between Gesell and Robinson or as another announcer chimed in it could be a 3 way split between Woody, Gesell and Robinson
and for the record the best player in both games was Noel, and its not even close
Gesell played the game as a point guard should, he distributed the ball. he did not score because he didn't have too.
if you look at it Woodbury made a strong arguement for the MVP as he got the most minute at 19, his dbl dbl and 3 stls and 0 t/o are very good #'s for a MVP

 

[JonDMiller]

I think MSU is too high here. If OSU loses Sullinger, they are not a top 10 team, either. If MSU loses Burke, nope, although I do like Glen Robinson Jr quite a bit coming in there. If Indiana keeps all of theirs, they are a Top 10 team. Wisconsin? I just don't see it other than their ugly style.

Illinois just lost Leonard...what will Mbakwe do at MN? Purdue & NW on the way down...Neb is going to stink..PSU probably on way up a bit...

 

[SpiderRico]

As much as I dislike him and feel that his style has absolutely ruined the game of basketball, Bo Ryan has been highly successful.

In fact, he has the highest winning % of any coach in the Big 10 with at least 10 years in the league.....EVER. His teams have NEVER finished worst than 4th in the Big 10 in any year since he took over. That is unreal!

But I still hate him with a passion!!

 

[Section136]

I think MSU is too high here. If OSU loses Sullinger, they are not a top 10 team, either. If MSU loses Burke, nope, although I do like Glen Robinson Jr quite a bit coming in there. If Indiana keeps all of theirs, they are a Top 10 team. Wisconsin? I just don't see it other than their ugly style.

Illinois just lost Leonard...what will Mbakwe do at MN? Purdue & NW on the way down...Neb is going to stink..PSU probably on way up a bit...

Uhh, Burke plays for Michigan. The same stuff gets spewed about Wisky every year. Then they always finish in the Top 4 of the conference and Bo only wins about 70% of his B1G games. I hate the guy, but he does win.

Who do you put in the Top 10 if you take out MSU and OSU?

 

[OatesStache]

Exactly, with Woodbury coming on board.. for sure top 25.

Kentucky did it with all Freshman and couple sophs.

Iowa only has the 5th best class in the conference.

Iowa is bringing in two top 100 players, but Michigan St. is bringing in 4, Michigan and Indiana are bringing in 3 each, and Purdue has 2 as well. Wisconsin is bringing in a top 20 guy.

 

[oroko]

Re: At this point, the Badgers need the benefit of the doubt..

as far as their ability to rebuild.

They lose Taylor, which is huge. And Rob Wilson, who played well down the stretch but is very replaceable. But I believe PG George Marshall redshirted this year (others who know the Badgers better can respond). And they have 6-8 Sam Dekker coming in, the Rivals No. 18 player and 5-star recruit. He will give the Badgers a scary dimension. Dekker, Evans, and their bevy of big guys (Bergrenn, Kaminski, Brusewitz and Uthoff, who redshirted), along with Gasser and Brust give the Badgers a number of options. That's a lot of size and experience to go to.

It's always possible they don't locate an adequate replacement for Taylor, but Bo Ryan has (to date) always found capable point guards to run the show for the Badgers.

I bet they're better off without him.

 

[JHHawk]

Katz prefaced these rankings saying that they are too early and will change later in this month,when we know who is going pro,and then again after late signees and transfers....just an early look.
I think with the assumptions of certan guys coming out and certain guys signing with certain teams,they make some sense:

1. IU- return everyone of significance from a sweet 16 team,a team that beat Kentucky,and then pushed them as hard as anyone in the tourny. Add to that a top 3 recruting class,and this team is very loaded. Assumptions: Zeller and Watford return.

2. Louisville- return many players from a FF team.

3. KU- Withey,Johnson,Releford,Young, ect return..joined by some top recruits like Perry Ellis. Robinson and Taylor will be gone,but the talent level barely drops.

4. Kentucky- Will lose top 6 players,and this is the only franchise in pro sports that can reload to this level. Wiltjer will return. Harrow,top transfer,become eligible. They have a couple of McDonalds AA signed. Big question..who will they add? Probably top two players in the country in Muhammad,and Noel,and a couple more top 30 guys. They will be back quickly.

5. OSU- could be a reach. Assumption is that Sullinger will leave...if not,then move them up. Thomas returns. So, losses are Buford and Sully. Additons? not much at this point,but Matta will look to add a top 25 player like Ky. Still,they will have Craft,Smith,Thomas,Thompson,Revenol,Williams,Scott,Ross...all top 100 players,returning...and do add a big man in the middle to help replace Sully.

6. Baylor- assumption is that Perry Jones is gone. Quincy Miller? maybe. Acer-gone.
Still, if everyone else returns,they have a ton of talent on that bench,and are bringing in another couple of top 50 recruits.

7. MSU- Lose Green,Thornton and Wood,but return Appling,Trice,Payne,Nix,Dawson,Kearny,and Byrd. Add to that group a great recruiting group...Harris,Valentine,Kaminski,ect. They will have the best frontcourt line in the league.(Breaking news- Nix arrested for DUI,with pot in car,under influence,Izzo saying his status with program in doubt...big blow if he is gone,but I suspect that Izzo will keep him...if gone,will drop them).

8. Michigan- Have seen them at #2 in another rating....that is how loaded they are. Losing Smotryx and Brundidge knocks them back a bit. Assumption- Burke stays.
So, Burke,Hardaway,Morgan are joined by Glenn Robinson III,and Mitch McGary which would be a dynamite starting group right there. Add in the canadian kid,and Horford..and they have a nice rotation,if a bit thin.

21. Wisconsin. - I thought they would drop off losing NBA starter Leuer,and 4 yr starter Nankavil....did not happen. So, losing Taylor and Wilson will not wipe them out either. Gasser,Brust,Bergrenn,Brueswitz,Evans,Kaminsky,Jackson return,joined by redshirt frosh Marshall and Uthoff,and superfrosh Dekker. Marshall is a very quick distributing pg out of chicago who will be very good. Dekker is early favorite for FOY.
Evans was coming on gangbusters late in the year. Bergrenn is just good.
Wis will challenge for top 4 in the league,as usual,and will be a sweet 16 team,minimum,again.

As for the rest of the big ten...
NW- return 5 guys who have started,and all shoot close to or better than 40% from the arc....and will be joined by a mature big man transfer from TCU and a redshirt frosh top 100 player in Depps. Sound like a team headed down? Not really. Same old aggravating NW,who will beat some top half teams.

Minny- If Mbakwe returns,could be a sleeper contender in the league. Played great in the NIT,with all underclassmen. Hollins could be among best at pg. Williams is all league contender at forward. Mbakwe was all league preseason this year. Adding some depth. Dangerous.

PU- better recruiting class than Iowa coming in,but big losses. Drop just behind the Hawks.

Ill- new coach, no meyers leonard, small recruiting class, young team,with talent..total wildcard,but keep them down below hawks.

I think it will come down to Iowa, Minny and NW for the coveted # 6 and #7 seeds in the Big Ten,which probably will be NCAA bids with the Big Ten again the best league in the country.

 

[herbyhawk]

all the BT teams will be looking to fill holes,
Green for MSU who step up to replace him
Taylor for Wiscy its not easy to replace a all BT PG
Hummel and Jackson for Purdue that a pair that will be hard to replace.
Sullinger if he leaves will be had to replace
Shurna for NW
Gatens for Iowa leading scorer 4 straight years not going to be easy
Leonard for Illinois.
Burke for Michigan if he leaves and in my opinion would be a huge mistake
these all have to be replaced, all the top teams in the league have outstanding talent coming in. the key will be in how the teams mesh and end up coming together before conference play will determine who finishes where.
Iowa won't get a sniff at the top 25 until the OOC session is done, because of the record the last 3 years, let Iowa go 13-0, 12-1 or 11-2 in OOC play then they will be mentioned, i am not going to get worked up about the Top 25 rankings right now
Indiana will be good but preseason #1 good not likely, we have no idea of who's staying and who's leaving from Kentucky as i have not heard of the players announcig for the draft on Kentucky team, not to mention having Indiana jump OSU, MSU, and Wisconcin has some on here keep reminding up that Bo has never finished outside the top 5, and we still don't know about Burke for Michigan if he's staying or leaving, that's pretty bold prediction to have a team go from 5th in the BT to #1 in the country.
the BT will be solid 1-9 maybe 10 depending on who takes Leonards place and how fast the new coach works out at the BT level

 

[SheagleHawk]

has taken a quick early stab at the probable rankings going into next season with assumptions about certain players leaving for the NBA...

1. IU
2. Louisville
3 Kansas
4. kentucky
5. OSU
6. Baylor
7. MSU
8. Michigan
21. Wis.

Bad news? Top 5 in the Big Ten are rock solid.
The good news? No obvious selection for Big Ten's #6 team.

So, Iowa,Ill,NW,PU and Minny can fight for that #6 and #7 slot and probable NCAA bids.

Meyers Leonard declared for the NBA tonite,so that removes one big man.

Looks like MSU might have some new challenges other than filling Green's shoes....

The State News :: Nix arrested for drug possession, suspended indefinitely

 

[CWooD4]

Exactly, with Woodbury coming on board.. for sure top 25.

Kentucky did it with all Freshman and couple sophs.

And six UK players will be drafted...

How many from Iowa?

Iowa has a good recruiting class coming in sure, but they are inexperienced and young. And not even on of the top 3 classes in their own conference.

 

[herbyhawk]

And six UK players will be drafted...

How many from Iowa?

Iowa has a good recruiting class coming in sure, but they are inexperienced and young. And not even on of the top 3 classes in their own conference.

what does that have to do with this, the class mabe 5th in the League but it still a TOP 25 CLASS by ESPN at #21, so answer this how is it other teams will be better because of their incoming recruits but Iowa by having 2 in the Top 100 and one of them is in the top 50 can't make Iowa better?
also Iowa returns a freshmen AA, 6 out of the top 8 scorers, finished in a tie for 7th place at 8-10 as a team that lead the BT in scoring i believe. not only that the 2 incoming Top 100 players, fill in the 2 biggest gaps on this team./ but Iowa will not Improve, WHY?

 

[Section136]

And six UK players will be drafted...

How many from Iowa?

Iowa has a good recruiting class coming in sure, but they are inexperienced and young. And not even on of the top 3 classes in their own conference.

You really dont understand sarcasm, do you?

 

[herbyhawk]

You really dont understand sarcasm, do you?

there was no sarcasm in that it was a simple statement of fact
the using of the statement of Kentucky having 6 in the Draft and Iowa having none was not needed. and i asked a simple question why can't Iowa be improved with a Top 25 class but other teams will be. i also pointed out the 2 more highly rated player that fills the 2 biggest need won't make Iowa better, that's all i asked is "why".
you are now telling i can't ask a simple question i even used question marks to enforce what i asked

gee you really have a hard on for every post i make.

 

[TritonHawkeye]

You really dont understand sarcasm, do you?

there was no sarcasm in that it was a simple statement of factthe using of the statement of Kentucky having 6 in the Draft and Iowa having none was not needed. and i asked a simple question why caon't Iowa be improved with a Top 25 class but other teams will be. i also pointed out the 2 more highly rated player that fills the 2 biggest need won't make Iowa better, that's all i asked is "why".you are now telling i can't ask a simple question i even used question marks to enforce what i askedgee you really have a hard on for every post i make.

Herby you are fighting battles that aren't even directed at you.

Deep breath...

 

[Section136]

there was no sarcasm in that it was a simple statement of fact
the using of the statement of Kentucky having 6 in the Draft and Iowa having none was not needed. and i asked a simple question why can't Iowa be improved with a Top 25 class but other teams will be. i also pointed out the 2 more highly rated player that fills the 2 biggest need won't make Iowa better, that's all i asked is "why".
you are now telling i can't ask a simple question i even used question marks to enforce what i asked

gee you really have a hard on for every post i make.

Umm, I was talking to CWooD4 and even quoted him in my post so he would know that. I was not talking about your post. Who's got the hard on now herb?

 

[tm3308]

Wut? Katz gives Wisky the benefit of the doubt because he is a Badger alum and then in the same sentence you say they have earned it? Which one is it?

It can't be both? Most anyone would give Wisky the benefit of the doubt, but especially a Bucky alum.

 

[JonDMiller]

there was no sarcasm in that it was a simple statement of fact
the using of the statement of Kentucky having 6 in the Draft and Iowa having none was not needed. and i asked a simple question why can't Iowa be improved with a Top 25 class but other teams will be. i also pointed out the 2 more highly rated player that fills the 2 biggest need won't make Iowa better, that's all i asked is "why".
you are now telling i can't ask a simple question i even used question marks to enforce what i asked

gee you really have a hard on for every post i make.

You either need to pace yourself and pick your battles, or find another hobby. You seem to be at the heart of every ******* match on these boards, and that's not something you should shoot for..and PS, coming back in and replying to me in this thread with a protest is not a good idea

 

[OatesStache]

what does that have to do with this, the class mabe 5th in the League but it still a TOP 25 CLASS by ESPN at #21, so answer this how is it other teams will be better because of their incoming recruits but Iowa by having 2 in the Top 100 and one of them is in the top 50 can't make Iowa better?
also Iowa returns a freshmen AA, 6 out of the top 8 scorers, finished in a tie for 7th place at 8-10 as a team that lead the BT in scoring i believe. not only that the 2 incoming Top 100 players, fill in the 2 biggest gaps on this team./ but Iowa will not Improve, WHY?

Nobody said Iowa wouldn't improve. I don't want to speak for others, but I was saying that despite Iowa's good recruiting class, it is not enough to vault them into the top 5 of the conference. Not only do most of those teams have better recruiting classes, but they also have more current talent on their roster to build off of.

I think Iowa is one monster recruiting class away before they can seriously compete with the big dogs in the conference. Heck, it took IU three huge recruiting classes to get back to the top half.