Big Ten basketball preseason power rankings: Indiana, Michigan on top heading into 2022-23 campaign

The Big Ten has a completely new look to it heading into the 2022-23 season, after a mass exodus of top talent. The league’s nine NBA Draft picks in 2022 were the most among all conferences, and the most selections by the league since it had 10 in 1990.

The league’s top four scorers have departed, making Michigan junior center Hunter Dickinson the top returner at 18.6 points per game a year ago. He also averaged 8.6 rebounds per outing, more than any other returning Big Ten standout.

RELATED

• Michigan basketball: Hunter Dickinson talks ‘regret’ from last season, desire to build legacy

• Coach’s take: Juwan Howard got ‘his guy’ in four-star Michigan big man commit Papa Kante

Indiana is the Big Ten favorite, but it’s mostly by default. Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue and others are in the mix, as well, and it’s hard to peg how so many teams will do this season with so much roster turnover, a theme in college basketball with the rise of the transfer portal. That makes the exercise of creating a set of preseason power rankings extremely difficult, but we took a stab at it below:

1. Indiana (21-14, 9-11 in Big Ten last season)

The Hoosiers made the NCAA Tournament last year for the first time since 2016 and have their best player, forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, back for one last ride. Four-star freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, the No. 25 player in his class per the On3 Consensus, will add to a talented supporting cast that includes forward Race Thompson and point guard Xavier Johnson.

2. Michigan (19-15, 11-9)

Like Indiana, the Maize and Blue have their centerpiece back in big man Hunter Dickinson. U-M has seven scholarship newcomers but several new faces that should make big impacts, such as Princeton graduate transfer point guard Jaelin Llewellyn and four-star freshman guard Jett Howard.

3. Illinois (23-10, 15-5)

The Fighting Illini won a share of the Big Ten regular season a year ago but saw its top players depart the program, including first-team all-conference center Kofi Cockburn. They have eight new faces on the team, but Texas Tech transfer guard Terrence Shannon Jr., Baylor forward transfer Matthew Mayer and others make them a contender.

4. Michigan State (23-13, 11-9)

The Spartans’ center spot is a huge question mark, and they only have 10 scholarship players. But they return their backcourt, including a breakout candidate in guard Jaden Akins, and tout an experienced forward in Malik Hall. 

5. Purdue (29-8, 14-6)

The Boilermakers will look different from last season in a number of ways, but one thing will look the same — the low-post presence that is 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey (14.4 points per game on 64.6 percent shooting a year ago). Concerns lie in the backcourt, though, and with if Edey can be the team’s alpha after the departure of fellow big man Trevion Williams. 

6. Iowa (26-10, 16-8)

Iowa lost a lottery pick in forward Keegan Murray, but his twin brother, Kris Murray, is a projected draft pick for next year and will compete for first-team All-Big Ten honors. He averaged 9.7 points on 47.9 percent shooting last season and will lead the Hawkeyes this winter.

7. Rutgers (18-14, 12-8)

The Scarlet Knights may be one of the top defensive teams in the league this season, led by center Clifford Omoruyi, who can also fill up the stat sheet on the offensive end. Veteran guards Paul Mulcahy and Caleb McConnell both headline the squad, as well.

8. Ohio State (20-12, 12-8)

The Buckeyes’ top two players — forward E.J. Liddell (19.4 points per game) and guard Malaki Branham (13.7) — are now in the NBA. Head coach Chris Holtmann hit the transfer portal hard, finding some gems, but there’s no telling how the roster will jell around forward Justice Sueing.

9. Maryland (15-17, 7-13)

First-year head coach Kevin Willard will attempt to turn around the Terrapins’ fortunes, and he has some nice pieces to work with. Forward Donta Scott and guard Hakim Hart were third and fourth on the team in scoring last season, respectively, and the team got a boost this offseason from Charlotte guard transfer Jahmir Young, who scored in double figures every game last season.

10. Wisconsin (25-8, 15-5)

The Badgers ripped through the Big Ten and grabbed a share of the regular-season crown despite being picked 10th by the media. That’s where we have them this season, due in large part to losing the conference’s player of the year, Johnny Davis. 

11. Penn State (14-17, 7-13)

Eight of Penn State’s 13 conference losses came by six or fewer points, and now the Nittany Lions are seeking a breakthrough under second-year head man Micah Shrewsberry. Their top two scorers, guards Jalen Pickett (13.3 points per game in 2021-22) and wing Seth Lundy (11.9) highlight an experienced unit.

12. Minnesota (13-17, 4-16)

Forward Jamison Battle is expected to take the next step as a premier player in the Big Ten, but he and North Carolina big man transfer Dawson Garcia have their hands full in head coach Ben Johnson’s second campaign.

13. Northwestern (15-16, 7-13)

Four of the team’s top six scorers are back on the roster. However, those players return from a team that went well under .500 in the league.

14. Nebraska (10-22, 4-16)

Head coach Fred Hoiberg doesn’t appear any closer to a turnaround in his fourth season than he did in his first. The Cornhuskers have finished 14th, 14th and 13th in the Big Ten in his three years at the helm.