3MW’s All Conference Team:
Player of the Year: Luka Garza, Jr., Iowa
Coach of the Year: Greg Gard, Wisconsin
Newcomer of the Year: Kofi Cockburn, Fr., Illinois
Freshman of the Year: Kofi Cockburn, Fr., Illinois
Season Storylines:
The Big Ten was the best conference in the country this year with 12 teams having legitimate shots at NCAA Tournament bids (yeah, Minnesota won’t make it, but they were really good). All 12 of those teams finished in KenPom’s top 40 rankings and 11 of them cracked the top 30.
Wisconsin, Maryland, and Michigan State split the grand prize with 14-6 conference records. The latter two squads were more or less expected to be in this spot at the end of the year, but the Badgers shocked the world. Wisconsin rattled off eight straight wins to vault from 6-6 to 14-6 and capture a share of the Big Ten title. Head coach Greg Gard more than earned his Coach of the Year award after losing Ethan Happ, the Big Ten’s best player a year ago. Much of the credit should be given to Ohio State transfer Micah Potter, who has invigorated the Badger lineup and allowed Nate Reuvers to slide over to a more comfortable position. Sparty wasn’t quite as dominant as many expected, but it still finished 7th overall in KenPom and is riding a five-game winning streak heading into the postseason. The Terps led the conference for most of the year, but a 2-3 record over the last couple weeks blew their shot at an outright title.
Illinois finished one game out of the title split, making up for a so-so start to the year in which it went 9-5 with losses to non-tourney teams Miami FL and Missouri. The Illini have the star power, size, and defensive chops to win the postseason tourney and secure a top 6 seed in the Dance. Ohio State, Iowa, Penn State, and Rutgers tied for 5th in the competitive bloodbath that was the Big Ten season. The Buckeyes ranked as high as #1 in the country early in the year, but a late December / early January collapse brought them down to Earth. OSU ranks 2nd among Big Ten teams in KenPon at #8. Iowa boasts National POY candidate Luka Garza, Penn State finally won with its talent but finished the season just 1-5, and Rutgers looks poised to make its first NCAA Tournament since 1991.
Michigan had a roller coaster season, the downs of which were primarily due to the health of Isaiah Livers. Credit Juwan Howard for taking the Wolverines to another NCAA Tournament despite the loss of John Beilein and three key starters. Purdue ironically is the 7th best team in the league per KenPom, but the Boilers are currently on the outside of the big boy bracket looking in. Too many losses have Purdue in desperation mode to make the Big Ten title game. They have the talent to do so, but it’s a tough road ahead. Indiana, the only potential Big Ten tourney team outside the KenPom top 30 may have to win one more game in the postseason conference tournament to earn an at-large bid. Minnesota will likely miss out on the Dance despite ranking 29th overall in KenPom and featuring Daniel Oturu, a surefire NBA Draft pick and one of the best players in the country.
In the basement, Northwestern and Nebraska combined for an overall record of 15-46. Both teams have promising futures with the Cats bringing in talented recruits and the Huskers bringing in transfers galore.
Tournament Preview
Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis hosts this year’s Big Ten tournament, a much more fitting venue than Madison Square Garden. The top four teams receive byes to the quarterfinals, a major advantage in a cutthroat league. Keep an eye on Indiana and Purdue, two teams fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives. Minnesota likely needs to win the tournament to make the Big Dance, while the other nine squads are more or less locked in.
Michigan State has been my favorite Big Ten squad all year and they’re my pick to cut down the nets on Sunday. Illinois is an intriguing pick as well, while Ohio State is my choice for “non-top four” champion. Really, 12 teams could win this bracket so whatever happens, we’re in for quite a treat.
Tournament Predictions
(12) Minnesota over (13) Northwestern
(11) Indiana over (14) Nebraska
(8) Michigan over (9) Rutgers
(12) Minnesota over (5) Iowa
(7) Ohio State over (10) Purdue
(6) Penn State over (11) Indiana
(8) Michigan over (1) Wisconsin
(4) Illinois over (12) Minnesota
(2) Michigan State over (7) Ohio State
(3) Maryland over (6) Penn State
(4) Illinois over (8) Michigan
(2) Michigan State over (3) Maryland
(2) Michigan State over (4) Illinois