Big Ten Preview

The Big Ten continues its quest for its first national champion in nearly twenty years. Michigan St. and Maryland should offer the conference its best chance at a national champion this year. 

Teams that will be in:

Michigan St.

Maryland

The Spartans and the Terrapins appear to be the cream of the crop in the Big Ten. If the Spartans stay healthy, they should contend for the national championship as well.

Teams that should be in:

Purdue

Ohio St.

The Boilermakers lost Carsen Edwards and two other starters, but Coach Matt Painter should still have enough firepower returning to make the tournament. Kaleb Wesson returns to lead the Buckeyes, who have enough to make the second weekend of the tournament.

Teams that could be in:

Michigan

Illinois

Wisconsin

Indiana 

Iowa

Penn St.

Minnesota

Michigan will have to adjust to life without John Beilein on the sidelines. Illinois and Penn St. are teams that return a lot, but from teams that struggled at times last year. Indiana can make a return to the tourney if it can stay healthy this season.

Long shots to be in:

Nebraska

Northwestern

Rutgers

Nebraska welcomes a new coach Fred Hoiberg to Lincoln, but he doesn’t have any returning starters to help him. Rutgers will have to replace leading scorer and rebounder Eugene Omoruyi who transferred to Oregon.