The way too early

[RU72]

The Big Ten may be tougher to predict than the national picture,but it appears to be at a level of last season or a drop lower,with Rutgers, if Cliff returns in the top 2 in returning points:
Michigan State
Purdue-assuming Edey back
Rutgers-incoming frosh of consequence
Maryland-potential to win it
Illinois
OSU-with no Brice
Iowa
Indiana
Wisconsin
Michigan-unless Hunter returns
Nebraska
Northwestern-revert to the mesne
Minnesota-far improved
Penn State-could be world class bad

Nationally-based on the consensus of the 5 current pundits:
UConn
Marquette
Duke
Houston
Creighton
Kansas
UCLA
Michigan State
Miami
UNC

 

[kcg88]

Maryland will be the favorites if/when they get Hunter Dickinson. Ohio State and Michigan State will also get a lot of preseason hype.

 

[RUsojo]

When Willard lands Dickinson and wins the big ten…

Feels like it’s only a matter of time with Willard if not next year sometime soon.

Rutgers will probably be picked towards the bottom of the league.

 

[FastMJ]

When Willard lands Dickinson and wins the big ten…

Feels like it’s only a matter of time with Willard if not next year sometime soon.

Rutgers will probably be picked towards the bottom of the league.

Rutgers will absolutely not be picked toward the bottom of the league. They will be an improved team compared to this season.

 

[darkcheck]

Rutgers will absolutely not be picked toward the bottom of the league. They will be an improved team compared to this season.

I’m not sure I take that bet. It all depends on the portal now.

 

[ScarletR30]

My way too early prediction is Wisconsin wins the league. They never have back to back sup par seasons.

Lost a lot of weird games last year. Return most of the team I believe

 

[fluoxetine]

What does "toward the bottom" mean? Just 8th or worse? That seems possible, I dunno. We aren't going to be picked like 13th or 14th.

 

[in22]

When Willard lands Dickinson and wins the big ten…

Feels like it’s only a matter of time with Willard if not next year sometime soon.

Rutgers will probably be picked towards the bottom of the league.

Turgeon won the big ten as well. Maryland fans will just run Willard out of town like they did with Turgeon.

 

[SHUSource]

When Willard lands Dickinson and wins the big ten…

Feels like it’s only a matter of time with Willard if not next year sometime soon.

Rutgers will probably be picked towards the bottom of the league.

Of course, there is still some roster movement to shake out, but based on what we know, I can't see why Rutgers would be picked near the bottom of the league. I expect a pretty strong year again, something along the lines of the trajectory you were on this year prior to the Mag injury. Perhaps a tick beneath that, but that's still a pretty good season.

It's also hard for me to imagine a Willard-coached team maintaining the type of intensity required to put itself in the best position to succeed. He has some good pieces, but they will slump and play themselves out of contention for anything serious. If he's got 3-seed material, bet that they will earn a 7 or 8 seed with little hope of advancing to the second weekend. It's his way.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

This is fun, but as the title says way too early. Especially in todays college basketball.

We have no idea what our roster looks like. You take Cliff out of the mix we could be in trouble.

 

[fluoxetine]

Torvik currently has us projected #42, though our roster is missing Spencer so I assume a bunch of other teams are also missing players so, yeah.

 

[MiloTalon13]

This is fun, but as the title says way too early. Especially in todays college basketball.

We have no idea what our roster looks like. You take Cliff out of the mix we could be in trouble.

I'm not disagreeing, but losing Cliff "it opens up all kinds of interesting possibilities".

 

[FastMJ]

What does "toward the bottom" mean? Just 8th or worse? That seems possible, I dunno. We aren't going to be picked like 13th or 14th.

Near the bottom would imply bottom quartile (11-14) IMO.

 

[fluoxetine]

Near the bottom would imply bottom quartile (11-14) IMO.

Seems really unlikely unless the offseason is a complete disaster (i.e. Cliff and Paul both leave and we don't replace them with anyone).

 

[friar10]

Rutgers is on the right track . They have a very good coach that stresses defense. Get a little more offense they will be a very big threat.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I'm not disagreeing, but losing Cliff "it opens up all kinds of interesting possibilities".

IF you call being 6-14 in B1G interesting.......

Take Myles and Cliff out of the lineup over the past 5-6 years and our not dancing streak is alive and well. We will quickly learn how important those 2 are/were when Cliff leaves/graduates.

 

[MiloTalon13]

IF you call being 6-14 in B1G interesting.......

Take Myles and Cliff out of the lineup over the past 5-6 years and our not dancing streak is alive and well. We will quickly learn how important those 2 are/were when Cliff leaves/graduates.

The possibilities it opens up are getting other players and changing playing style.
I agree, if they try to play just like they played when they had Cliff, but without Cliff, that would be bad.

 

[pigmasty83]

The Atlantic has us #25 in its way too early top 25.

 

[MiloTalon13]

The Atlantic has us #25 in its way too early top 25.

Uconn #12

The way-too-early men's college hoops Top 25 for 2023-24: Marquette, Purdue start on top

Seth Davis unveils his top 25 teams going into the men's college basketball offseason.

theathletic.com

He has Cam Spencer as a departure?

 

[bac2therac]

This is fun, but as the title says way too early. Especially in todays college basketball.

We have no idea what our roster looks like. You take Cliff out of the mix we could be in trouble.

June Bacatology coming soon

 

[NickRU714]

What is the expected impact of the incoming freshman?
Potential Big Ten Freshman POY level for Griffiths?
At least Big Ten All-Freshman Team.

A limited Mag (presumably) and the loss of Caleb (even just his defense - regardless his offense) it seems like a big jump to project a Top 2 Big Ten team.
Even with a returning Clif. Is the expectation that Clif progresses into a Big Ten POY caliber player?
We've gone down the "Clif will definitely shoot 3s next year" last off season.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

I don't see Maryland as some elite team, they lost Hakim Hart to the portal and Donta Scott graduated. They had ONE B1G road win, at Minnesota.

I like their incoming freshman, but I like RUs even more than MDs.

Ohio State will bounce back and while PSU is penciled towards the bottom out of ignorance, they will likely land, all A-10 1st team guard and former Top 150 recruit, Ace Baldwin, who played for Mike Rhoades at VCU.....I think Baldwin is better than Jalen Pickett in all around talent.

The B1G will secure another 8 to 9 bids again, but let's get to Labor Day weekend and assess things. Means nothing in early April or even Memorial Day or 4th of July.

 

[kcg88]

Like the last two years we will be picked in the 7-10 range along with Iowa, Wisconsin, and someone else.

 

[RU-ROCS]

This is fun, but as the title says way too early. Especially in todays college basketball.

We have no idea what our roster looks like. You take Cliff out of the mix we could be in trouble.

Exactly. He had me at "way too early."

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Uconn #12

The way-too-early men's college hoops Top 25 for 2023-24: Marquette, Purdue start on top

Seth Davis unveils his top 25 teams going into the men's college basketball offseason.

theathletic.com

He has Cam Spencer as a departure?

Has us at #25 with no Spencer. Must think Gavin is the 2nd coming of Mag.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Whatever happened to those brothers that were supposed to be real good that I think played at USC.

Got my answer...he ended up being good. https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mobleev01.html

 

[dconifer]

I don't see Maryland as some elite team, they lost Hakim Hart to the portal and Donta Scott graduated. They had ONE B1G road win, at Minnesota.

Donta Scott has another year of eligibility, but I think it's going to be a mutual decision for him to depart, one way or another...

 

[Loyal_2RU]

When Willard lands Dickinson and wins the big ten…

Feels like it’s only a matter of time with Willard if not next year sometime soon.

Rutgers will probably be picked towards the bottom of the league.

The Athletic has us ranked 25 nationally. So maybe not... Seth Davis.

The way-too-early men's college hoops Top 25 for 2023-24: Marquette, Purdue start on top

Seth Davis unveils his top 25 teams going into the men's college basketball offseason.

theathletic.com

 

[Loyal_2RU]

The Athletic has us ranked 25 nationally. So maybe not... Seth Davis.

The way-too-early men's college hoops Top 25 for 2023-24: Marquette, Purdue start on top

Seth Davis unveils his top 25 teams going into the men's college basketball offseason.

theathletic.com

Has us 4 in current B1G. Purdue, MSU, OSU, Rutgers. UCLA also top 10.

 

[Rutgers85]

 

[RU72]

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I'm thinking my picks were/are pretty spot on. I think they over sold Northwestern and under sold Maryland.Rutgers is definitely top 5.

 

[RUJMM78]

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Maryland will be higher ranked especially if they get Dickinson from the transfer portal.

 

[shields]

Illinois have a lot of seniors?

 

[MiloTalon13]

Maryland will be higher ranked especially if they get Dickinson from the transfer portal.

Once the portal settles - it will all need a do-over