**2020-21 Big Ten Basketball Thread**

[CC_123]

We do this yearly since we have a big following of Big Ten hoops on this forums. The season is just about a week away from opening, but not much of the schedules have been released yet.

Anyways, here is my way-to-early prediction on how the Big Ten standings unfold this year.

1. Iowa
2. Wisconsin
3. Illinois
4. Michigan State
5. Michigan
6. Rutgers
7. Ohio State
8. Purdue
9. Minnesota
10. Indiana
11. Maryland
12. Penn State
13. Nebraska
14. Northwestern

--------

As for the Gophers, it is hard to know what to really expect this year with so many fresh faces. We got three nice transfers in Both Gach, Liam Robbins, and Brandon Johnson. All three of those guys could be starting this season, but Gach and Robbins will be for sure. We also have some freshman that could make an impact, such as Jamal Mashburn Jr. and David Mutaf (depending how much PT Mutaf gets). Returning Carr is big for the team and much needed. If Kalscheur can get back to how he played in 18-19, the Gophers could be a solid team. There is just a lot of question marks on how much last years freshman have improved over the course of the summer. I won't make a record prediction because who knows how many games they will actually play, but if the team meshes and reaches close to their full potential, they could make the NCAA's as a 8-11 seed type team.

[minimatt27]

Don't sleep on the Buckeyes. Great recruiting class better coach

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by minimatt27

Don't sleep on the Buckeyes. Great recruiting class better coach

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

I view my rankings as:

Teams 1-3 are interchangeable
Teams 4-7 are interchangeable
Teams 8-11 are interchangeable
Teams 12-14 are interchangeable

[CC_123]

Four players from the Big Ten were drafted on Wednesday night

Drafted:
Jalen Smith (Maryland) #10
Daniel Oturu (Minnesota) #33
Xavier Tillman (Michigan State) #35
Cassius Winston (Michigan State) #53

Undrafted and signed:
Lamar Stevens (Penn State) was signed by the Cavs
Zavier Simpson (Michigan) was signed by the Lakers
Jon Teske (Michigan) was signed by the Magic

Undrafted and unsigned:
Kaleb Wesson (Ohio State)

I THINK that covers all of them but I could be missing someone

[indyguy]

I was surprised that Lamar Stevens didn't get drafted. I figured someone would take a flyer on him as a Draymond type of player.

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by indyguy

I was surprised that Lamar Stevens didn't get drafted. I figured someone would take a flyer on him as a Draymond type of player.

Being 23 is the sole reason he wasn't drafted

[CC_123]

Season starts today!

[rats60]

https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/1...-poll-released

1. Illinois 376 (16)

2. Iowa 350 (6)

3. Wisconsin 347 (6)

4. Michigan State 323

5. Rutgers 249

6. Michigan 241

7. Ohio State 229

8. Indiana 212

9. Purdue 179

10. Maryland 141

11. Minnesota 121

12. Penn State 72

13. Nebraska 54

14. Northwestern 47

[gowizards0]

People are down on Maryland this year. Yes we lost Cowan and Jalen Smith. But we still have a lot of experience at 1-3 in Ayala, Morsell, Wiggins and some wild cards like Chol Marial (7'2 former elite recruit).

[bmc398]

Pretty down on our chances this year. We’ll be better than last year but I think 12 league wins is our ceiling. Definitely a bubble team. Only 11 scholarship players and going into the first week with only 8 healthy will be a challenge. Love our Freshman class and have a better one next year. This year will be stabilizing and the next 2-3 we’ll be back at the top of the league.

[DajuanWagner]

Originally Posted by rats60

https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/1...-poll-released

1. Illinois 376 (16)

2. Iowa 350 (6)

3. Wisconsin 347 (6)

4. Michigan State 323

5. Rutgers 249

6. Michigan 241

7. Ohio State 229

8. Indiana 212

9. Purdue 179

10. Maryland 141

11. Minnesota 121

12. Penn State 72

13. Nebraska 54

14. Northwestern 47

ILL-INI.........Ayo FTW!!!!!!!!

[CC_123]

I can't wait to hear for the next four years how Zach Edey is the best big man in the country

[bmc398]

Originally Posted by CC_123

I can't wait to hear for the next four years how Zach Edey is the best big man in the country

19 points, 5 rebs on 9/10 shooting in your first ever game. He’s certainly not going to suck. You’re very clearly worried...

[bmc398]

Originally Posted by bmc398

19 points, 5 rebs on 9/10 shooting in your first ever game. He’s certainly not going to suck. You’re very clearly worried...

In 13 minutes played...

[slogue2]

Originally Posted by DajuanWagner

ILL-INI.........Ayo FTW!!!!!!!!

Ayo and Ace Wolf (Adam Miller) balled out today. So great seeing Adam play so poised and confidently in his first game. Should be a very fun season!

[rats60]

Originally Posted by slogue2

Ayo and Ace Wolf (Adam Miller) balled out today. So great seeing Adam play so poised and confidently in his first game. Should be a very fun season!

It is nice when your preseason All American puts up 28 & 10 and isn't even your best player on the floor. Those two are going to be fun to watch. Kofi with a strong game too. Looking forward to the Baylor game.

[slogue2]

Originally Posted by rats60

It is nice when your preseason All American puts up 28 & 10 and isn't even your best player on the floor. Those two are going to be fun to watch. Kofi with a strong game too. Looking forward to the Baylor game.

No doubt. I think Kofi got his 18 and 11 in only 17 minutes. He was doing wind sprints after the game to get his work in. The Baylor, Duke, and Mizzou stretch will be a blast.

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by bmc398

19 points, 5 rebs on 9/10 shooting in your first ever game. He’s certainly not going to suck. You’re very clearly worried...

I'm not worried at all. He was playing against an inferior, non-physical opponent. I'd hope you could score when you are 7'4 and are playing against a bunch of 6'7 kids.

I am just going to be annoyed by your "he's the best in the country" talk just like you did with Hammons, Haas, Haarms, etc. All of which weren't ever close to being the best in the country, let alone the conference (Hammons could be argued for conference)

[CC_123]

Gophers looked fantastic in the first half, but have looked so bad this second half. I know this type of stuff happens when you get up massive at halftime, but the effort completely disappeared in the second half. We have settled for three after three instead of attacking. We have the size advantage and athletic advantage, but instead we want to sit and chuck up threes. And our defensive effort has completely disappeared. They played great, gritty team defense in the first half and have played sloppy in the second half. Frustrating to watch.

[CC_123]

OBVIOUSLY, UW-Green Bay isn't a juggernaut, but it is always nice to start the season off with a win. We had a really bad 12 minute stretch on both ends in the second half, but got it back together in the final 8 minutes. These non-conference games are going to be really important for the Gophers with all the fresh faces.

Marcus Carr is still good. 35 points, 7 boards, 4 assists. He was able to score whenever he wanted to, which is the norm for him. Kalscheur scored 17 but shot horribly from beyond the arc, but was effective when attacking the basket, which is something he needs to do more of to build confidence. Both Gach scored 14 and is going to be a difference maker on both ends for the Gophers. He plays fast and is so athletic. He was a really nice get for Pitino in the transfer pool. Liam Robbins was about what I expected after watching him play quite a bit last year. 10 points, 9 rebounds with 4 offensive boards. He isn't going to beat anyone, but he is a solid big body that can contribute a little bit.

Overall, we looked pretty good. A lot of room for improvement, obviously. Still a lot to clean up on both ends before we get into conference play, but I'll never complain about a win. Ski-U-Mah!

[bmc398]

Here’s what our guy is so worried about...
https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/...ze-the-big-ten

[CC_123]

Originally Posted by bmc398

Here’s what our guy is so worried about...
https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/...ze-the-big-ten

Oh no...a 7'4 guy that can dunk it on 6'7 kids, but can't out-rebound them just like every other 7-footer that Purdue has ever had. Lets wait until he does it against some real, physical competition and not a bunch of under-sized kids from the ASUN conference. I'm not worried one bit about him.

I'm not saying the stat line doesn't look impressive (well, aside from the soft rebounding numbers). But let's wait a year or two before you start declaring him the best big man to ever play collegiate basketball like you do with every other Purdue 7-footer.

[bmc398]

Originally Posted by CC_123

Oh no...a 7'4 guy that can dunk it on 6'7 kids, but can't out-rebound them just like every other 7-footer that Purdue has ever had. Lets wait until he does it against some real, physical competition and not a bunch of under-sized kids from the ASUN conference. I'm not worried one bit about him.

I'm not saying the stat line doesn't look impressive (well, aside from the soft rebounding numbers). But let's wait a year or two before you start declaring him the best big man to ever play collegiate basketball like you do with every other Purdue 7-footer.

Let’s go back and remember that you brought him up....not me.

The kid was impressive. He’s a far better rebounder too than Haarms or Haas and you’d know that if you actually watched. 5 RBs isn’t terrible in 16 minutes. AND who needs rebounds when you and your teammates are making everything?

We only had 29 total rebounds and still out rebounded liberty by 5. Lots of made shots in this one.

[fidrych]

Id expect Green Bay to become one of those Mid Majors that, in time, becomes very difficult to play against (HC has good bloodlines)

Check out Hauser brothers stats from last night (pretty typical). Man they would of looked great at Wisconsin. Imagine them both there this year. One can only dream............

Badgers gave up 47 in second half night. Gard cant be please with that.

Big Ten pretty solid top to bottom. Home court advantage might not mean much.

[jrfillini]

It's, um, nice to have Ayo back this year. Better to win than lose, so we'll take it.