GBI Magazine

Gold and Black Illustrated, Vol 27, Digital 2

Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.

Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/744300

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 56 of 123

VOLUME 27, ISSUE 2 55 BY BRIAN NEUBERT BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com P er usual, the Big Ten is loaded, with at least four preseason top-25 sorts of teams. Most consider Wisconsin, Michigan State, Indi- ana and Purdue to be those teams most likely to compete both for the conference title in the regular season and favorable NCAA Tournament seeding for the postseason. But there may not be a sure thing in the conference. Sure, Wisconsin's loaded, bringing back every key players from a Sweet 16 team that finished last season on a tear under newly promoted coach Greg Gard. Yet, this will be the Badgers' first full season under Gard, their first off-season under their new staff, and it was an off-season spent dealing with significant expec- tations. Sure, Michigan State is Michigan State, one of the top programs in the game, welcoming an elite recruiting class to go along with a solid returning core of veterans. Yet, the Spartans will be atypically young, relying heav- ily on freshmen, and perilously thin on size due to inju- ries. Sure, Indiana won the league last season and brings back a terrific roster. Yet, the Hoosiers were carried last season by point guard Yogi Ferrell and he's gone. And sure, Purdue may have one of the best frontcourts in college basketball and the makings of a nice comple- mentary ensemble around it. Yet, the Boilermakers need to transition comfortably to a new defensive identity and prove they're comfortable collectively with the ball in their hands with games on the line. Those are the four teams that seem to stand out head- ing into this season but are not the only threats. Maryland could have the league's best player in Melo Trimble, Illinois could have the league's top scorer in Mal- colm Hill and Ohio State might have the most potential of any team in the league. Here's a team-by-team look at the Big Ten heading into the 2016-17 season. THE TOP OF THE HEAP The teams with the best chance, on paper, to vie for the league title and be nationally prominent (alphabeti- cal order) Indiana: Ferrell was the Hoosiers' "every- thing," as he was often described, so IU's retooling won't come without challenges. But there's a ton of talent remaining as Tom Crean's team's identity figures to move from the back- court to the frontcourt. Yes, scorer James Blackmon returns from injury and the combination of returnee Robert Johnson and transfer Josh Newkirk (Pitt) figures to at least be solid in Ferrell's absence. But this team's strength clearly lies on the front line, where center Thomas Bryant is viewed as a lottery pick B1G QUESTIONS Conference is loaded with great teams, but not great certainty Tom Campbell Despite being a freshman, Ethan Happ was a big reason why Wisconsin rebounded from a slow start to make a lot of noise in the Big Ten in 2015-16.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of GBI Magazine - Gold and Black Illustrated, Vol 27, Digital 2