The Big Ten consistently can puff out its chest as the deepest conference in college basketball. However the conference goes into the 2020-21 season struggling with a 20-year championship game drought.
Tom Izzo led Michigan State to the 2000 national championship. Maryland won the 2002 title as a member of the ACC.
Since 2000, six Big Ten groups have actually come one action far from a title win, falling in the NCAA Championship Game: Indiana (2002 ), Illinois (2005 ), Ohio State (2007 ), Michigan State (2009 ), Michigan (2013 and 2018), Wisconsin (2015 ).
Next season, the Big Ten features multiple groups who seem efficient in a perform at a national championship, reinforced even more by some of the conferences top stars withdrawing from the NBA Draft and returning to college for another season.
Iowa (No. 5), Illinois (No. 6), Wisconsin (No. 10) and Michigan State (No. 11) all rank inside the top-11 of the CBS Sports most current 25 And 1 rankings.
All-Big Ten First Team guard Ayo Dosunmu and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Kofi Cockburn offer Illinois its finest roster in at least 15 years. Wisconsin returns almost everybody from a team that surprisingly won a share of the Big Ten Championship last year.
I think you could see a Michigan team that is extremely skilled. I think youve got five, 6 teams at the top that are all great enough to win a nationwide champion. Well see what continues to happen with COVID as we move forward, however I think its going to be a year where we can see a favorable test or two during the season and its a group that has depth that ultimately can win.
Who is the preferred in the Big Ten? 247Sports polled 14 Big Ten reporters for their forecasted conference order of finish..
Here are some findings that stood out:.
Four various teams made first-place votes: Iowa (5 ), Illinois (4 ), Wisconsin (4) and Michigan State (1 ).
The top 2 groups (Iowa and Illinois) were separated by just 3 total points.
There were clear tiers with the top-four being separated by a typical rank distinction of just 1.6 points.
Ohio State had the largest variety of vote differences. One writer selected Ohio State to complete second, while 2 others chose the Buckeyes to finish ninth.
Big Ten Player of the Year Luka Garza returns to Iowa as the nationwide gamer of the year favorite. All-Big Ten First Team guard Ayo Dosunmu and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Kofi Cockburn give Illinois its best lineup in at least 15 years. Wisconsin returns nearly everybody from a team that surprisingly won a share of the Big Ten Championship last year. I think youve got five, 6 teams at the top that are all good enough to win a national championship. Well see what continues to happen with COVID as we move forward, however I believe its going to be a year where we can see a positive test or two during the season and its a team that has depth that ultimately can win.
