The Big Ten continues to be an impossible conference to judge. Last season, the Spartans and Boilermakers ran through the competition, each finishing with over 30 wins on the season. However, Michigan State lost to Syracuse in the Round of 32, while Purdue got beat badly by Texas Tech in the Sweet 16. This left Michigan – also a 3 seed but not expected to go past the Sweet 16 – as the surprise finisher out of the Big 10. The Wolverines took out Houston in one of the best games of the tournament in the Round of 32, followed up by wins over Texas A&M and Florida State to get to the Final 4. Michigan then advanced to the National Championship game with an easy win over the Cinderella Story from Loyola-Chicago. Unfortunately the run ended there, as Villanova took home their 2nd championship in three years.
This year, the Big 10 is unpredictable again. Michigan State looks good, but Purdue loses a lot of big men. However, the Boilermakers do return Carsen Edwards to help their cause. Romeo Langford looks to lead Indiana back to the tournament, while Tyler Cook and Iowa look to surprise the rest of the Big 10. Needless to say, the Big 10 will be a great conference to follow as always.
Projected Standings (Regular Season)
- Michigan State
- Michigan
- Purdue
- Maryland
- Wisconsin
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Nebraska
- Ohio State
- Penn State
- Minnesota
- Illinois
- Northwestern
- Rutgers
Projected 1st Team
G: Carsen Edwards, Purdue
G: Romeo Langford, Indiana
G: Charles Matthews, Michigan
F: Ethan Happ, Wisconsin
F: Nick Ward, Michigan State
Projected 2nd Team
G: Cassius Winston, Michigan State
G: James Palmer, Nebraska
F: Jordan Murphy, Minnesota
F: Tyler Cook, Iowa
F: Bruno Fernando, Maryland
Projected Player of Year
Carsen Edwards, Purdue
Projected Coach of Year
Fran McCaffery, Iowa
Projected Freshman of Year
Romeo Langford, Indiana