Big Ten MBB Basketball Primer (#11 in new Pre-season Poll - Post #4)

[Red Don]

Big Ten Men's Basketball Preview 2021-22: Michigan, Purdue, or OSU?

Big Ten men's basketball should be full of elite talent and teams again in 2021-22, with Michigan, Purdue, and Ohio State looking like the early favorites.

nothingbutnylon.com

Favorites: Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue
Contenders: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Rutgers
Purgatory: Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin
Basement: Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State

Nebraska​

Head coach: Fred Hoiberg (3rd season)
2020-21 record: 7-20 (3-16)
Conference finish: 14th

It was a brutal year for Nebraska in 2020-21. COVID-19 absolutely ravaged it, and by the time the Cornhuskers had any hope of stringing together some momentum, they were in the thick of their conference schedule in one of the deepest leagues of all time. They were dead on arrival.

There will plenty of roster turnover yet again, and Lincoln will hope that means an improvement from last year. It also means predicting how it will all gel is tough.



Hoiberg brings in the No. 18 class in the nation, including five-star shooting guard Bryce McGowens, who will ideally make an immediate and important impact. Additionally, Alonzo Verge Jr. (Arizona State), Keon Edwards (DePaul), and C.J. Wilcher (Xavier) have entered the fray via the transfer portal.

This might be the season it comes together enough for a tournament bid, but Nebraska’s absolute ceiling in the conference is likely eighth, which would be fantastic for the program but not enough to get it outside of this category.

 

[wheat]

Big Ten Men's Basketball Preview 2021-22: Michigan, Purdue, or OSU?

Big Ten men's basketball should be full of elite talent and teams again in 2021-22, with Michigan, Purdue, and Ohio State looking like the early favorites.

nothingbutnylon.com

Favorites:
Contenders:
Purgatory:
Basement:

All in all, a pretty fair assessment. You can be a really good team and finish eighth in the league. I think we'll have the talent to compete night in and night out. It will depend on how well the team comes together. I'm looking forward to this season. It's been a slow climb but this should be the year we aren't outmatched most nights.

 

[Red Don]

25 impact freshmen for the 21-22 season

It’s never too early to start looking ahead to next season! Check below for our list of 25 impact freshmen for the 21-22 college basketball season. In no particular order: Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga: America is going to quickly run out of adjectives for the 7-1 Holmgren, who is already in the...

collegehoopstoday.com

Bryce McGowens, Nebraska: After initially committing to Florida State, McGowens opted to head to Lincoln to attempt to lead the Cornhuskers’ program to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. Blessed with good length and size for his position at 6-7, look for Fred Hoiberg to use this five-star prospect in different spots on the floor as he hopes to create a potent perimeter troika with McGowens, his brother Trey McGowens, and Arizona State transfer Alonzo Verge.

 

[Red Don]

Nebraska basketball picked 11th in preseason Big Ten poll

Nebraska men's basketball was picked to finish 11th in the Big Ten preseason media poll.

omaha.com

"Nebraska basketball was picked to finish 11th in the Big Ten preseason media poll released Wednesday.

With 105 voting points, the Huskers finished 24 points above Northwestern and Penn State that tied for 12th and 44 points behind 10th-place Wisconsin.

The Huskers were picked 13th a year ago and finished last."