College basketball season is almost here!
Between now and Nov. 6th, we’ll take an in-depth look at different conferences around the country.
Today’s focus is on the Big Ten:
1. Can Purdue bounce back?
That might sound like a weird thing to say about a team that finished 29-6 and won both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, but it’s the utmost truth. The Boilers’ loss to Fairleigh Dickinson last March was the biggest upset in the history of the NCAA Tournament. It will be interesting to see how this team — which returns over 88 percent of its scoring from last year — reacts in a season where only a deep run in March Madness can truly offset the sting of a defeat that massive. If Purdue gets to the Final Four next spring — a place where it’s not been since 1980 — it will offset the heartache it felt a year ago when it fell to Fairleigh Dickinson.
2. Who plays point guard for Illinois?
It’s the million dollar question in Champaign. Brad Underwood’s squad is loaded at the other four spots on the floor, but the answer at the sport’s most important position is still TBD. 6-6 sophomore Ty Rodgers is one candidate while freshmen Nicolo Moretti and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn are others. The versatile Rodgers averaged 8.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists last season in games where he logged 25 minutes or more. If Illinois can stabilize its point guard play, it will again compete for a Big Ten regular season title.
3. Can Northwestern go back-to-back?
The Wildcats have never advanced to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons, but this group has a realistic chance to change that. Northwestern returns four of its top six scorers — Boo Buie, Brooks Barnhizer, Ty Berry, and Matthew Nicholson — from last season’s team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and lost to UCLA. Princeton grad transfer Ryan Langborg is also another potential starter after he averaged 18.6 points in three NCAA Tournament games last spring. One big thing to remember? The Wildcats did not play games on campus the year following their appearance in the 2017 NCAA Tournament because of construction at Welsh-Ryan Arena. That won’t be the case this season. Chris Collins has enough to grind out another NCAA Tournament berth in Evanston.
4. Will Michigan and/or Ohio State qualify for the 2024 NCAA Tournament?
TBD. The Wolverines lost Hunter Dickinson to Kansas and two other players — Jett Howard and Kobe Bufkin — who were first-round picks in June’s NBA Draft from last year’s team that finished 18-16. And Ohio State? The Buckeyes finished 16-19 last season and also lost a first-round pick in Brice Sensabaugh. There’s major questions surrounding arguably the top two brands in the Big Ten.
5. Who is the sleeper?
Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights may have lost two starters — Paul Mulcahy and Cam Spencer — to the transfer portal, but reinforcements are on the way. UMass grad transfer Noah Fernandes (13.4 points, 4.1 assists) is set to be Rutgers’ starting point guard while top-40 freshman Gavin Griffiths is also set to have a major impact. Reliable veterans also return in Aundre Hyatt, Derek Simpson, and Mawot Mag, who missed the latter part of last season with a knee injury. Add Cliff Omoruyi (13.2 points, 9.6 rebounds) — a potential All-American candidate as a senior — and Steve Pikiell again has a team that’s primed to challenge for a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Leftovers
- St. John’s, New Mexico to meet on Nov. 17th at MSG
- Episode 446 — Kentucky’s Mark Pope
- Purdue, Alabama working to finalize home-and-home series
- Weekend Brunch: How Mick Cronin quickly made UCLA into arguably college basketball’s most intriguing team
- UCLA, Gonzaga finalizing two-year series starting next season at Intuit Dome, the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers