Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Overrated- Penn State, Nebraska, Iowa
Underrated-Ohio State, Purdue, RU, Minnesota.
I’m surprised you’re not buying into Nebby. With Palmer, Copeland and Roby coming back and Allen going into his sophomore year they should be a true contender for the conference.
Agree with this. Nebraska looks tough.
They had a tailor made schedule and in the games against the actual NCAA B1G teams, the margins of defeat weren't close enough for me to think they are going to close 8-12 points per game. I think they dance but 3rd is awfully high IMO...i think the B1G gets 6-7 teams in and Nebraska is 1 of the 6-7 but i don't have them 3rd.
Wisconsin gets 2 starting guards back off injury and Ohio State has better talent overall vs Nebraska...Maryland and Indiana are also better on paper as well....also think Carsen Edwards is B1G player of the year so 8th might be too low for Purdue.
Last year's aberration isn't the typical B1G performance.
I can't stand Penn St., but I do not understand why almost everyone on this Board thinks they will be mediocre. I know they lost a lot, but they have recruited so well the last few years that they can now simply re-load with young 4 and 5-star talent, much like OSU does every year. That fact, plus having a top-performing senior QB will make them very competitive, IMHO.
This is the basketball board.
If I was ranking this week, I would go with the following based on incoming talent and where teams finished last year/schedule not finalized etc.
1) Michigan State (Izzo and talent clearly at top)
2) Indiana (Archie Miller/recruiting/blue blood program).
3) Michigan (top 5 national coach/system geared towards ability to replace starting players all the time).
4) Ohio State (powerhouse financial program that recruits elite talent every year)....paying Holtmann top dollar to leave Butler comes with expectations of winning 20-22+ games annually.
5) Wisconsin (red flag to have this high on paper, but lost starting backcourt for entire league schedule and still finished 9th place last year at 7-11.....gotta figure a starting backcourt is worth 2-3 B1G games)...you don't make 18 straight NCAA's in a row, have a rash of injuries to your starters and get tossed to the bottom half of a ranking system, until proven otherwise.
6) Nebraska (bubble/schedule/ability to win on road against top half of league is red flag, but talent is there/need to see more depth off bench)....Excellent at home is a huge factor now.
7) Maryland (have to figure if they were 8-10 last year, they can be 10-8)....more of a leap of faith on talent, than reality....Turgeon under the gun now.
8) Purdue (Carsen Edwards factor to me is huge)....I'd have no problem flip flopping Nebraska and Purdue, based on how highly I view Edwards as a player/leader.....he could be Tony Carr 2.0, leading Purdue to wins, that they have no business getting involved with.
To me, this is your Top 8, without having seen the actual 20 game schedule and who plays back to back road trips and home stands etc.
9th-Illinois- although my instinct is to place them 11th- overwhelming amount of turnover on roster, but talent is clearly there for Brad Underwood. I probably should drop them even lower to 12th, I don't like some of the rumblings behind the scenes with the staff and existing players that departed....but will ignore that for now and reserve right to drop them lower, if it looks worse than it is......but based on the look at incoming players and talent, it's difficult to see them lower, they have players for sure.
10th Penn State-too many 3 point shot attempts and makes to replace, to rank any higher.....I think they could drop further than this, quite honestly, if they didn't beat Ohio State on a 35 footer in Columbus, they would be 8-10 last year and not picked in top half of league this year. I see them as a 7-13 or 6-14 type of team this year, with people looking out for them now....lack of home court advantage is still a concern in Happy Valley, will winning the NIT salvage that??
11th Northwestern-If anyone can get a team to this part of the standings, it's Chris Collins, because there really is a system in place and new facilities to look forward to, after being displaced last year.....Vic Law becomes the guy as a senior. I should flip flop NW and Illinois on coaching and style of play.....on paper however, Illinois is clearly better.
12th Iowa-I don't like their defense or McCaffrey's sideline antics, my gut instinct is to place them 13th or last, but it's still Iowa and I need to see RU pass them over a 20 game schedule before dropping them lower (hint, hint).
13th Rutgers-(should be 12th and will be higher, if they landed Casimir or Amin)...RAC factor should start to take hold as home court becomes a major factor into 2019-2020 (this coming season is still a wildcard). Coaching staff being held together for a 3rd year in a row, is when results start to show up (I have RU 11th if Amin picks RU and is healthy and there are no injuries).
14th-Minnesota-....this is not a talent ranking as much as it' s a climate hanging over Minneapolis.....PJ Fleck is somehow managing through athletes suing the school and finding recruits for football......
Pitino Jr is now in the midst of transfers out and doesn't appear to have good enough kids, that are good people off the court, to buy-in and do the work necessary to stop the bleeding.....parents taking shots at the staff on twitter, assistant coach/recruiting ace, Kimani Young abandoning ship for Danny Hurley and UConn.
Coffey returning is a walking double-double, but I am leery of environment and buy-in.....it's making this Pitino Jr's last season in Minny IMO....
Like a guy who grew up rich with a dad that liked to bang waitresses on the table after hours? He literally is that guy... the most punch-able (non-nazi) guy in the world!A little off topic and maybe it's just me but Pitino Jr has the most punchable face
People including Carino are going to be blown away by the performance of the frontcourt this year. Lazy assumption to say they are a question mark.
Per Carino:
1.Mich State
2.Michigan
3. Nebraska
4. Indiana
5. Maryland
6. Penn State
7. Wisconsin
8. Ohio State
9. Purdue
10. Iowa
11. Northwestern
12. Illinois
13. Minnesota
14. Rutgers
The chances of us finishing last are zero, zero, and zero again.Per Carino:
1.Mich State
2.Michigan
3. Nebraska
4. Indiana
5. Maryland
6. Penn State
7. Wisconsin
8. Ohio State
9. Purdue
10. Iowa
11. Northwestern
12. Illinois
13. Minnesota
14. Rutgers
Yes but so will a lot of the freshman talent Carino credits as boosting other teams' chances. I understand Romeo Langford is a 5 star, etc. Really, "question mark" is code for "ultimately not that good". As you said, Omoruyi, Shaq, Shaq, Doucoure and Johnson will surprise as a group.I think the front court will surprise as well but I don’t blame anyone for being skeptical. Johnson and Carter will be playing their first d1 games. Fair to call them question marks.
Illinois could be very good.
Maybe we should stop having the team jog to road games??? :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:The problem always comes back to the inability to win on the road which has been caused by the team only averaging around 60 points per game.
Your comment isn't supported by fact because there always is a chance that something could happen.The chances of us finishing last are zero, zero, and zero again.