CBB Review previews Big Ten basketball heading into the 2025-26 season.
Big Ten basketball projected standings
1. Michigan Wolverines
I’m all in on Michigan with UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg, Roddy Gayle, former UNC starter Elliot Cadeau, and more. Dusty May is an excellent coach and after what he did last year (lead the Wolverines to 27 wins), this year’s team could be even better. I’ve got them in the Final Four.
2. Purdue Boilermakers
Braden Smith is back, and that alone is why Purdue is a team that many think can reach the Final Four this year. But with Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer, he’s not alone. Matt Painter just keeps bringing in top-notch rosters. Is this finally the year?
3. Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois went international and picked up some studs for Brad Underwood to work with. Plus, with Andrej Stojakovic transferring in, they’ve got a star scorer. And if you need boards? Look to 7-footers Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, who are two talented brothers to have on the same team. Watch out for the Illini!
4. UCLA Bruins
Donovan Dent was one of the best transfers in the nation, so Mick Cronin can start off by bragging about that pickup. They’ve also got Tyler Biladeau, Eric Dailey, and Skyy Clark back, which is a great trio of returners. The bench is iffy, but Cronin is a good, experienced coach and should be able to get the best out of his group.
5. Michigan State Spartans
Four the of five projected Spartans starters suited up for the team last year, including Coen Carr and Jeremy Fears Jr. That’s a great starting point, and Tom Izzo also brings in Samford transfer Trey Fort and former FAU star Kaleb Glenn. Izzo should have another highly competitive team in the Big Ten.
6. Oregon Ducks
A healthy Jackson Shelstad, combined with Nate Bittle, is one of the best guard-big duos in the country, but the key is once Shelstad returns. The Ducks will need to be fine without him to avoid a bad non-con slate. And on a team without a whole lot of depth and other starpower, they may need Elon transfer TJ Simpkins to play a much bigger role for the first few weeks than he would have expected.
7. Ohio State Buckeyes
It seems like a make-or-break year for Jake Diebler. Bruce Thornton may be the best guard in the Big Ten and John Mobley could complete the best backcourt in the conference. Oh yeah, and Devin Royal returns as well. That’s a great lineup at starting 1-3, and Diebler needs to take advantage of it.
8. USC Trojans
Eric Musselman lost everyone besides Terrance Williams, and boy did he re-group and load up with this team. The guard and wing play is terrific, bringing in a Chad Baker-Mazara, who has Final Four experience, Rodney Rice from Maryland, Ryan Cornish from Dartmouth, and Jordan Marsh from UNC-Asheville. But the Trojans are also a very big team – Williams is 6-7, 235, Jacob Cofie is 6-10, and Gabe Dynes is 7-5. Defensively, Dynes and Amarion Dickerson are top-notch, and you can’t forget about Ezra Ausar, who was crucial for Utah last year. Bravo, Mr. Musselman.
9. Wisconsin Badgers
No more John Tonje, but it’s John Blackwell’s turn to lead this Badgers team. He’s got some great, experienced talent, with Nolan Winter and San Diego State transfer Nick Boyd. That’s a very intriguing big three, so if the Badgers can get some bench production, they’ll be all set to go dancing again.
10. Washington Huskies
Danny Sprinkle didn’t mess around with the new look Huskies, and there’s a reason our Ariel Puterman is big on this Washington team. Former USC standouts Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates are a terrific duo of transfers to nab, and Lipscomb’s Jacob Ognacevic, who will be out for the non-conference, is quite the guy to get back during Big Ten play. He dominated the Atlantic Sun and should have no problem finding his way in a Power 5 conference. That, and a team that can and in all likelihood will go 10-dee,p and you’ve got an underrated team waiting to pop off.
11. Indiana Hoosiers
Darian DeVries is the new man in charge, and his son Tucker is a star in his own right on the roster. And there’s a lot to like, between DePaul transfer Conor Enright, former Sam Houston stud Lamar Wilkerson, and big man Reed Bailey, who can play the five and burn teams from deep. But the Hoosiers also have a deep bench, which could really help them once the heat of Big Ten basketball play gets going.
12. Iowa Hawkeyes
The combo of Ben McCollum and Bennett Stirtz is one heck of a way to start a new era in Iowa City, but this isn’t the Missouri Valley Conference anymore. Still, the Hawkeyes should be a fun, offensive team to watch, which is typical, but with a new twist with McCollum’s coaching.
13. Maryland Terrapins
Buzz Williams is a proven coach, so I want to trust him here, but it isn’t his best roster on paper. The Terps bring in Myles Rice from Indiana, Isaiah Watts from Washington State, Pharrel Payne from Texas A&M, and Elijah Saunders from Virginia, which is a nice start. But starpower could be an issue. Expect Rice to be the go-to option, but it might be a struggle for Maryland to get to March Madness in year one of Buzz.
14. Minnesota Gophers
Niko Medved takes over at Minnesota, which already makes for an intriguing year and future years ahead. He starts the team over from scratch and brought in some guys with chips on their shoulders, like former Belmont star Cade Tyson and journeyman BJ Omot. It’s also an experienced team, which can go a long way.
15. Nebraska Cornhuskers
A lot of Nebraska’s success this year will fall on transfer Rienk Mast, who missed last year with an injury. Plus, having Connor Essegian off the bench isn’t a bad tool in Fred Hoiberg’s back pocket. But don’t expect Nebraska to. keep pace with the top teams in the conference.
16. Northwestern Wildcats
Nick Martinelli is a star and can take over games, but without Brooks Barnhizer, Ty Berry, and Jalen Leach, Northwestern may take a step back this season. They’ll need some guys who were further down in last year’s rotation to make big strides forward.
17. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
If Rutgers failed to make the NCAA Tournament with Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, you wonder how bad they will be this season. But with less of an emphasis on NBA products, it could also help this year’s team gel more. Look for NJIT transfer Tariq Francis to be a guy who could surprise in the Big Ten.
18. Penn State Nittany Lions
Coming off a 16-15 season, Mike Rhoades looks like he’s in for a tough year ahead in University Park. With no Ace Baldwin to rely on and a very bad offseason, guys will have to buy in and improve throughout the year if there’s any chance at competing in this conference.
CBB Review Preseason Big Ten Basketball Player of the Year
Braden Smith, Purdue
Smith can realistically break the all-time NCAA D-I record for assists in a career. That would be one heck of an accomplishment, but he’s probably got bigger ones on his mind.
CBB Review Preseason Big Ten Basketball Coach of the Year
Danny Sprinkle, Washington
If Ariel Puterman is right, and Washington does become the most underrated team in the Big Ten, then you’ve got to credit coach Sprinkle. So congrats on the preseason award – now go out and do it for real!
CBB Review Preseason Big Ten Basketball Freshman of the Year
Darius Adams, Maryland
Adams will be in a major role for a team looking to make it to the NCAA Tournament. That’s going to be a fun storyline to watch as he should have the ball in his hands a lot.
CBB Review Preseason Big Ten Basketball Transfer of the Year
Donovan Dent, UCLA
Dent is just a flat-out scorer, and he will elevate this UCLA team. After dropping over 20 a game with New Mexico in the Mountain West, he gets his chance on the biggest stage – Big Ten basketball.
CBB Review Preseason Big Ten Basketball First Team
- G: Braden Smith, Purdue
- G: Donovan Dent, UCLA
- G: Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
- F: Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
- F: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
CBB Review Preseason Ten Basketball Second Team
- G: Jackson Shelstad, Oregon
- G: John Blackwell, Wisconsin
- G: Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
- F: Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
- C: Nate Bittle, Oregon
CBB Review Preseason Big Ten Basketball Third Team
- G: Nick Boyd, Wisconsin
- G: John Mobley Jr., Ohio State
- F: Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
- F: Tyler Biladeau, UCLA
- C: Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois
CBB Review Preseason Big Ten Basketball All-Freshmen Team
- G: Darius Adams, Maryland
- G: Trey McKenney, Michigan
- G: Jerry Easter, USC
- G: Kayden Mingo, Penn State
- C: Hannes Steinbach, Washington
[…] Penn State was at the bottom of my Big Ten basketball preview rankings, and I guess they proved me why, narrowly beating Fairfield, 76-68. They then blew out New Haven, playing the game in Connecticut, doing the new Division I program a favor. […]