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Big Ten Basketball Season Preview: Are the Hoosiers Ready To Return to the Top?

Big Ten Features 7-footers Dickinson and Edey

The first thing that comes to mind when looking at the 2022-23 Big Ten season happens to be the players who aren’t there.

Iowa’s Keegan Murray, Jaden Ivey of Purdue, and  Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis were all Top-10 picks in the 2022 NBA Draft. Six teams had players selected in the draft so it will be time for other players to emerge.

Xavier Johnson #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers takes a shot
Justin Casterline / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP

Not all the top players have moved on as Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson and Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davisare priced at +2000 and +2200 in the odds to win the national player of the year award according to the sportsbook. Purdue’s Zach Edey and transfer Terrence Shannon Jr. who headed from Texas Tech to Illinois, come in at +2200.

Expectations league wide are down a little bit as Indiana is the only team in the top 20 in both national polls. According to the college basketball playoff odds, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois are both priced at +3300 in the odds to win the national title.

Here is a team-by-team look at the Big Ten heading into the 2022-23 season.

Let’s check the latest NCAAB picks, stats, injury reports, and NCAAB predictions. We’ve plenty of NCAAB expert picks for you to consider.

Indiana Hoosiers

  • Conference Odds: +300
  • National Title Odds: +3300

Indiana’s last regular-season conference title came in 2016 and there have been just three title-winning seasons by the Hoosiers in the last 25 years. Former IU great Mike Woodson is trying to get Indiana back to being relevant once again and this is a team that could start that process, especially with the decision by Trayce Jackson-Davis to pull his name out of consideration for the 2022 NBA Draft..

Jackson-Davis put up 18.3 points and 8.1 rebounds a season ago and will once again be one of the top players in the Big Ten. Double-digit scorers Xavier Johnson and Race Thompson also return.

Freshmen Malik Reneau and Jalen Hood-Schifino started in the exhibition game against Marian and combined for 25 points and 14 rebounds. Fellow freshman CJ Gunn also got some quality minutes off the bench.

— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) November 4, 2022

Michigan Wolverines

  • Conference Odds: +385
  • National Title Odds: +3300

Hunter Dickinson is back after putting up 18.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and he could vie for the conference and national player of the year honors.

Much of his supporting cast has moved on with Eli Brooks graduating Caleb Houston now in the NBA, DeVante’ Jones also declaring for the draft as did Moussa Diabate.

Terrance Williams and Kobe Bufkin is other returning player to keep an eye on

Michigan added a top-five recruiting class and brought in Duke guard Joey Baker as well as Jaelin Llewellyn, who averaged 15.7 points per game at Princeton.

The college basketball betting lines list the Wolverines (+900) as the Big Ten team with the best chance to reach the Final Four.

Iowa Hawkeyes

  • Conference Odds: +500
  • National Title Odds: +10000

Iowa loses leading scorer Keegan Murray, who averaged 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game a season ago. He is already proving to be one of the best rookies in the NBA. Second-leading scorer Jordan Bohannon is also gone

Kris Murray may be asked to help overcome the departure of his brother while Patrick McCaffrey is Iowa’s only returning double-digit scorer. Tony Perkins and Filip Rebraca are other key returning players.

Jordan Toussaint transferred to West Virginia after being a part of the Iowa player rotation last season.

Payton Sandfort and Connor McCaffrey were among the double-digit scorers in Iowa’s exhibition win against Truman State. Freshmen Dasonte Bowen and Josh Dix could play significant minutes as well.

Illinois Fighting Illini

  • Conference Odds: +650
  • National Title Odds: +3300

As if losing 7-footer Kofi Cockburn, who recently signed with a team in Japan after not sticking with an NBA team, and top perimeter player Alfonso Plummer to graduation, Illinois also saw Jacob Grandison and Andre Curbelo transfer to Duke. Trent Frazier also embarked on his professional career while Da’Monte Williams graduated.

That leaves Coleman Hawkins as the top returning scorer as he averaged 5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 19 minutes per game. RJ Melendez and Luke Goode are other key returning players.

Purdue signed a top-10 recruiting class with freshman Skyy Clark starting in the tune-up against Quincy while Ty Rodgers is another freshman to keep an eye on.

The Fighting Illini brought in three transfers from Big 12 country with Texas Tech’s Terrence Shannon joining the Baylor duo of Matthew Mayer and Dain Dainja.

Those who bet online are keeping an eye on Shannon as a dark horse conference and national player of the year candidate.

Purdue Boilermakers

  • Conference Odds: +650
  • National Title Odds: +5000

Purdue lost three of its top four scorers. Jaden Ivey was a lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft while Trevion Williams and Sasha Stefanovic also declared for the draft. Guard Eric Hunter left for Butler.

The 7-foot-4 Zach Edey is back after averaging 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocked shots per game.

Mason Gillis, Brandon Newman, Caleb Furst, and Ethan Morton might need to take on larger roles this season.

The well-traveled David Jenkins is in his fourth different program. He averaged 8.5 points last season at Utah.

Freshmen Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith started in the exhibition contest against Truman State while classmates Trey Kaufman-Renn, Brian Waddell, and Camden Heide all played more than 10 minutes in the game.

Sasha Stefanovic #55 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts to making a three-point shot
Sasha Stefanovic – Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images via AFP

Michigan State Spartans

  • Conference Odds: +800
  • National Title Odds: +6600

Michigan State will need to replace its top three scorers with Gabe Brown, Marcus Bingham, and Max Christie all declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft. They combined for 31.4 points and 14.1 rebounds per game.

Malik Hall, Tyson Walker, Joey Hauser, and A.J. Hoggard all averaged more than 20 minutes per game while Jadek Akins was also part of the playing rotation. Akins is expected to miss about a month after undergoing foot surgery. The Spartans also added Western Michigan guard Jason Whitens.

Junior Mady Sissoko got the start in the exhibition game against Grand Valley State while sophomore Pierre Brooks joined freshmen Tre Holloman and Jaxon Kohler as key players coming off the bench.

Ohio State Buckeyes

  • Conference Odds: +800
  • National Title Odds: N/A

Zed Key, Justice Sueing and Eugene Brown will all be back for Ohio State. Sueing was limited to just two games last season leaving Key and Brown as the only returning players who saw significant playing time last season.

West Virginia guard Sean McNeil, who averaged 12.2 points per game, Wright State star Tanner Holden (20.1 points, 7.1 rebounds), Oklahoma State’s Isaac Likekele (7.1 points, 5.5 rebounds) and Citadel’s Owen Spencer joined the Buckeyes.

Ohio State also added five freshmen with Brice Sensabaugh and Bruce Thornton starting in the exhibition game against Chaminade while Roddy Gayle and Felix Okpara both played more than 20 minutes while coming off the bench.

Wisconsin Badgers

  • Conference Odds: +1600
  • National Title Odds: N/A

It won’t be easy to replace the 34 points and 12.2 rebounds that departed when Johnny Davis was taken with the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and Brad Davison graduating.

Size won’t be an issue with the return of the 6-foot-9 Tyler Wahl, who averaged 11.4 points and 5.9 rebounds, and 7-footer Steven Crowl (8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds). Chucky Hepburn and Jahcobi Neath also return.

The Badgers’ depth took a bit of a hit with the transfers of Lorne Bowman, Ben Carlson, and Matthew Mors.

Speaking of transfers, Wisconsin brought in guards Max Klesmit (14.9 PPG) from Wofford and Kamari McGee (11.6 PPG) from Green Bay.

Penn State Nittany Lions

  • Conference Odds: +3000
  • National Title Odds: N/A

Jalen Pickett is back for Penn State after averaging a team-high 13.3 points and 4.6 assists per game. Seth Lundy (11.9 points, 4.9 rebounds) also returns. However, John Harrar graduated and Sam Sessoms transferred to Coppin State.

Myles Dread and Dallion Johnson could be asked to contribute more offensively this season.

Former Bucknell guard Andrew Funk (17.6 points per game a season ago), Denver forward Michael Henn, and Drexel guard Camren Wynter (15.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists) are incoming transfers.

Jalen Pickett #22 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after a play
Jalen Pickett – Justin Casterline / Getty Images via AFP

Maryland Terrapins

  • Conference Odds: +4000
  • National Title Odds: N/A

Former Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard takes over at Maryland.

Donta Scott, who averaged 12.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, is the top returnee. Hakim Hart, Julian Rese, and Ian Martinez all averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season.

The Terrapins other double-digit scorers Fatt Russell and Eric Ayala are now playing professionally while Qudus Wahab transferred to Georgetown.

Charlotte guard Jahmir Young returns home to Maryland after averaging 19.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game as a junior.

Georgetown guard Don Carey, St. Francis forward Patrick Emilien (12.5 points, 6.2 rebounds), and Seton Hall guards Jahari Long are other incoming transfers.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

  • Conference Odds: +8000
  • National Title Odds: N/A

Jamison Battle is back after leading the Gophers in scoring (17.5 points) and rebounding (6.3). His running mate Payton Willis is one of many Minnesota players who graduated as the Gophers lost five of their top six scorers.

Dawson Garcia, who started in 39 of the 43 games he played in over the last two seasons at North Carolina, figures to play a huge role at Minnesota. Dartmouth guard Taurus Samuels (9.4 points per game) and Morehead State guard Ta’Lon Cooper (9.1 points per game) are other incoming transfers.

Freshmen Josh Ola-Joseph, Pharrel Payne, and Jaden Henley combined for 37 points and 14 rebounds in an exhibition game against St. Olaf.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

  • Conference Odds: +10000
  • National Title Odds: N/A

Nebraska brings back Derrick Walker, Keisei Tominaga, C.J. Wilcher but most of the other players have moved on as five of the top seven scorers are gone.

Walker’s double-doubles came against North Carolina State, Auburn, and Ohio State so he knows how to produce against elite competition.

SMU guard Emmanuel Bandoumel (10.6 PPG), Alabama forward Juwan Gary, and North Dakota State guard Sam Griesel (14.3 points, 6.6 rebounds) could make immediate impacts at Nebraska. Keep an eye on 6-foot-11 Blaise Keita.

Alonzo Verge Jr. #1 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers reacts after a play
Justin Casterline / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP

Northwestern Wildcats

  • Conference Odds: +20000
  • National Title Odds: N/A

Northwestern brings back Boo Buie, who averaged 14.1 points and 4.3 assists per game, along with Chase Audige (9.8 PPG), Ty Berry (7.4 PPG), and Robbie Beran.

Leading scorer Pete Nance transferred to North Carolina and Ryan Young is now at Duke.

Tydus Verhoeven, who started 62 games at UTEP over the last three seasons, is an incoming transfer to keep an eye on.

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