Is the Big Ten a mess this year?

[Medill90]

Spent five minutes looking at rosters, and suddenly not feeling so bad about NU's situation.

Iowa lost three starters. Nebby has something like 11 new players. Top players at PSU, U of I, Rutgers and others transferred. Mich, Minny and IU saw their top players go pro....and Mich's coach is gone.

OSU and MSU look pretty tough. Purdue too.

So, sure, NU has issues at the guard spot. But outside the top three teams, is there another that we know today will be markedly better than the Cats?

I could see the Cats doubling their conference wins from four to eight, and that's not about the Cats being better than last year.

 

[mikewebb68]

Spent five minutes looking at rosters, and suddenly not feeling so bad about NU's situation.

Iowa lost three starters. Nebby has something like 11 new players. Top players at PSU, U of I, Rutgers and others transferred. Mich, Minny and IU saw their top players go pro....and Mich's coach is gone.

OSU and MSU look pretty tough. Purdue too.

So, sure, NU has issues at the guard spot. But outside the top three teams, is there another that we know today will be markedly better than the Cats?

I could see the Cats doubling their conference wins from four to eight, and that's not about the Cats being better than last year.

Already attempted to wager that our BIG record would actually improve this year, primarily due to what you're saying. Had no takers, so I think the board is in agreement that, though it will likely be a rough season, back-to-back basement finishes are not in the cards...

 

[NJCat]

Already attempted to wager that our BIG record would actually improve this year, primarily due to what you're saying. Had no takers, so I think the board is in agreement that, though it will likely be a rough season, back-to-back basement finishes are not in the cards...

Collins should be B1G Coach of the Year if the Cats escape the cellar this season with their very young and depleted line-up.

 

[Medill90]

Collins should be B1G Coach of the Year if the Cats escape the cellar this season with their very young and depleted line-up.

he's not alone....their will be a number of young and depleted rosters in the Big Ten

 

[DaCat]

How can the Cats be better this year, given the recent news about Gaines' injury? We need improvement across the board from the top returners: Turner, Kopp, Nance, Greer, Young. And the new guys Jones, Beran, and Buie need to contribute right away. It's asking for a lot, but stranger things have happened.

 

[Sec_112]

I appreciate your investigation, Medill. It gives me a little more hope.

The slightest improvement can bump them up to six wins. But the Cats gotta do better than that 29% from three in the league last year. They have to open things up.

But it's just one of many things.

In the end, they need to get out of the discussion with Rutgers, Penn State, Nebraska and fill-in-the-blank (this year it's Illinois).

Fingers crossed. I like the size. Now I need some shooting.

 

[Vassar69]

Spent five minutes looking at rosters, and suddenly not feeling so bad about NU's situation.

Iowa lost three starters. Nebby has something like 11 new players. Top players at PSU, U of I, Rutgers and others transferred. Mich, Minny and IU saw their top players go pro....and Mich's coach is gone.

OSU and MSU look pretty tough. Purdue too.

So, sure, NU has issues at the guard spot. But outside the top three teams, is there another that we know today will be markedly better than the Cats?

I could see the Cats doubling their conference wins from four to eight, and that's not about the Cats being better than last year.

I read that 22 of the top 30 scorers in the Big Ten last season have either graduated, gone pro, or transferred out. MSU will be dominant, but beyond that it’s going to be an open field.

 

[Ghost96]

How can the Cats be better this year, given the recent news about Gaines' injury? We need improvement across the board from the top returners: Turner, Kopp, Nance, Greer, Young. And the new guys Jones, Beran, and Buie need to contribute right away. It's asking for a lot, but stranger things have happened.

I don’t think anyone is arguing that in a vacuum this team will be worse than 2018. Medill90 is pointing out that we’re not in a vacuum. His theory is many teams will regress more than we do. I hope he is right!

 

[mikewebb68]

Collins should be B1G Coach of the Year if the Cats escape the cellar this season with their very young and depleted line-up.

Nebby is in an even worse spot than us at this point. Its way too early, but if things remain the same we finish ahead of them at a minimun, and most likely Rutgers as well after their best player transferred. Even supposedly solid teams like the Illini have serious depth issues (only one schollie more than us, and the last two schollies they fillled with an obvious project and an overseas player they took sight unseen...)

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

Spent five minutes looking at rosters, and suddenly not feeling so bad about NU's situation.

Iowa lost three starters. Nebby has something like 11 new players. Top players at PSU, U of I, Rutgers and others transferred. Mich, Minny and IU saw their top players go pro....and Mich's coach is gone.

OSU and MSU look pretty tough. Purdue too.

So, sure, NU has issues at the guard spot. But outside the top three teams, is there another that we know today will be markedly better than the Cats?

I could see the Cats doubling their conference wins from four to eight, and that's not about the Cats being better than last year.

You mentioned how teams have to replace key players, but you fail to mention important players entering those programs. For example, Eugene Omoruyi is seen as the top player for Rutgers. Statistically, he was, but the second half of the season he wasn't close to his season average. For the second year in a row, Omoruyi dislocated his kneecap. Coach Pikiell had begun to rely on to the younger players like Ron Harper Jr. and Myles Johnson as the core players during the second half of the season. A few weeks before Omoruyi announced his transfer, Coach Pikiell signed a carbon copy of Omoruyi in Akwasi Yeboah(grad transfer-Stony Brook) who is a better 3pt shooter. Coach Pikiell wanted Omoruyi to have surgery on his knee. Omoruyi didn't wish to red-shirt so he could recover from the knee injury. He felt he was being phased out.

More important than the loss of Omoruyi is the addition of Jacob Young (jr. transfer-Texas). Young's game is similar to Corey Sanders in the ability to create his own shot. The difference between the two is Young is better at getting his teammates involved. Also, Rutgers' starting center from the 2017-18 season is healthy again and back after redshirting last year. Red-shirt sophomore Mamadou Doucore started 29 as a true freshman. Does all of this mean Rutgers is better, maybe or maybe not, but it does mean teams across the board in the B1G are not suffering as much as you think.

 

[Fitz51]

We’ll still stink.

 

[ubercat]

Well, I still plan on going to all our home games. But I'll bring some Febreze just in case.

 

[mikewebb68]

You mentioned how teams have to replace key players, but you fail to mention important players entering those programs. For example, Eugene Omoruyi is seen as the top player for Rutgers. Statistically, he was, but the second half of the season he wasn't close to his season average. For the second year in a row, Omoruyi dislocated his kneecap. Coach Pikiell had begun to rely on to the younger players like Ron Harper Jr. and Myles Johnson as the core players during the second half of the season. A few weeks before Omoruyi announced his transfer, Coach Pikiell signed a carbon copy of Omoruyi in Akwasi Yeboah(grad transfer-Stony Brook) who is a better 3pt shooter. Coach Pikiell wanted Omoruyi to have surgery on his knee. Omoruyi didn't wish to red-shirt so he could recover from the knee injury. He felt he was being phased out.

More important than the loss of Omoruyi is the addition of Jacob Young (jr. transfer-Texas). Young's game is similar to Corey Sanders in the ability to create his own shot. The difference between the two is Young is better at getting his teammates involved. Also, Rutgers' starting center from the 2017-18 season is healthy again and back after redshirting last year. Red-shirt sophomore Mamadou Doucore started 29 as a true freshman. Does all of this mean Rutgers is better, maybe or maybe not, but it does mean teams across the board in the B1G are not suffering as much as you think.

Lol a guy who transferred to Oregon so he can play in the NCAAs is a "carbon copy" of a guy who transferred from Stony Brook. Oregon seemed to have no priblem with his knees! Having seen Rutgers play several times last year, there was no doubt in my mind who their best player was, and he is gone now...

 

[Titanium999]

How can the Cats be better this year, given the recent news about Gaines' injury? We need improvement across the board from the top returners: Turner, Kopp, Nance, Greer, Young. And the new guys Jones, Beran, and Buie need to contribute right away. It's asking for a lot, but stranger things have happened.

Gaines also

 

[TheC]

I don’t think anyone is arguing that in a vacuum this team will be worse than 2018. Medill90 is pointing out that we’re not in a vacuum. His theory is many teams will regress more than we do. I hope he is right!

Why would they regress more than we do? Those other teams also have been out there recruiting good, young players. If history is any indication, their new players will be a little bit better than our new players. Until we consistently prove otherwise, its hard to not be pessimistic.

 

[Medill90]

My OP was driven primarily by the disruption caused by departures (pro and transfers) with injuries and coaching changes thrown in for good measure.

The amount of change to rosters is something to behold.

Agree with the assertion that NU has to prove that its incoming players are equal or better to competition. I'd just note that the 18 and 19 classes are highly regarded. 18 is arguably more important, because there's a group of rising sophs and one RS frosh who have a year's experience in the program.

I think the fact that there will be two reportedly competent PG's on this year's roster is a marked difference.

And two of the three upper classman played significant roles last year.

Going through the Big Ten roster by roster, you don't see teams that strike fear until you get to the top two or maybe three. There's a lot of opportunity caused by the change. A team that has chemistry, gels, and has some basketball acumen can make some noise.

With that said, that is pretty much the same take for 10 other teams. What Hoiberg has done gutting the Nebby roster could be magical. Iowa could have some guys step up to fill for the three missing starters. Juwan Howard could be a much better college coach than I suspect he his. Rutgers could fill that hole and continue its progression. PSU could rebound from a crappy year. An 8-12 Indiana team that lost a first round pick and more could be better this year with three frosh coming in.

Sure, that could happen.

But outside those top teams, how would we know? They've got to suit up, practice and play a few games before we have a clue.

It looks to be wide open.

 

[Booty Maximus]

Spent five minutes looking at rosters, and suddenly not feeling so bad about NU's situation.

Iowa lost three starters. Nebby has something like 11 new players. Top players at PSU, U of I, Rutgers and others transferred. Mich, Minny and IU saw their top players go pro....and Mich's coach is gone.

OSU and MSU look pretty tough. Purdue too.

So, sure, NU has issues at the guard spot. But outside the top three teams, is there another that we know today will be markedly better than the Cats?

Illinois did not have any "top players" transfer. A couple of developmental bigs did leave the program (Higgs and Kane), but Illinois basically returns just about everyone and adds Kofi. And they will be markedly better than NW. I'd include Maryland as well, they are picked in the top 3/4 of the league by everyone since they have Cowan and Smith back.

I do agree the league overall is much weaker, the middle will be the usual jumble of teams that will be difficult to predict. And NW's guards are probably what keeps them from making much of a move upwards.

 

[NVAcat]

Yes, Maryland lost Bruno but reloaded in a big way. Doubt they will beat out MSU but could well end up 2d best team.

 

[combes]

Illinois did not have any "top players" transfer. A couple of developmental bigs did leave the program (Higgs and Kane), but Illinois basically returns just about everyone and adds Kofi. And they will be markedly better than NW. I'd include Maryland as well, they are picked in the top 3/4 of the league by everyone since they have Cowan and Smith back.

I do agree the league overall is much weaker, the middle will be the usual jumble of teams that will be difficult to predict. And NW's guards are probably what keeps them from making much of a move upwards.

Higgs was not even on the team last year. Never practiced after medical diagnosis of epilepsy. Kane averaged under 2 PPG playing behind Giorgi and now Kofi has been added. He could have gotten some minutes but he is hardly a top player leaving. Probably 11th man.

 

[mikewebb68]

Higgs was not even on the team last year. Never practiced after medical diagnosis of epilepsy. Kane averaged under 2 PPG playing behind Giorgi and now Kofi has been added. He could have gotten some minutes but he is hardly a top player leaving. Probably 11th man.

Kane would have been behind Kouma? Eh, no. Not even certain he would have been behjnd that player you gave a 4-year schollie to sight unseen (and who now allegedly has a stress fracture). Love how the guy who leaves you unexpextedly very late (and right after a glowing article waa written about him-- perhaps you should have checked on his medical status before offering?)! is suddenly fhe worst player on earth. Illini fans, ladies and gentleman...

Did Antawn January suck as well since he decommitted from you? Methinks, for such a aupposedly awesome team, you are beginning to have a bit of a depth problem...

 

[Booty Maximus]

Kane would have been behind Kouma? Eh, no. Not even certain he would have been behjnd that player you gave a 4-year schollie to sight unseen (and who now allegedly has a stress fracture).

combes said Kane would be the 11th guy. Kouma would be 12th.

Kane and Bosmans-Verdonk play different positions. Kane might have been "behind" him in the rotation simply because he plays the 5 and would be behind both Giorgi and Kofi whereas BBV can play the 3 or 4 and has more of a chance to get minutes.

Love how the guy who leaves you unexpextedly very late (and right after a glowing article waa written about him-- perhaps you should have checked on his medical status before offering?)! is suddenly fhe worst player on earth. Illini fans, ladies and gentleman...

Kane doesn't have any medical problems, he wants more minutes so will go somewhere else where he won't play at all next year. You're confusing him with Higgs.

Did Antawn January suck as well since he decommitted from you? Methinks, for such a aupposedly awesome team, you are beginning to have a bit of a depth problem...

January was a talented prospect, just not eligible to play college ball.

Our depth is fine. Once again, the 2 guys that left might have played 5-10 min/game max combined. I would have liked to see Kane stay, but more for future teams than this year. He has a nice skill set and could have contributed down the road.

 

[mikewebb68]

combes said Kane would be the 11th guy. Kouma would be 12th.

Kane and Bosmans-Verdonk play different positions. Kane might have been "behind" him in the rotation simply because he plays the 5 and would be behind both Giorgi and Kofi whereas BBV can play the 3 or 4 and has more of a chance to get minutes.



Kane doesn't have any medical problems, he wants more minutes so will go somewhere else where he won't play at all next year. You're confusing him with Higgs.



January was a talented prospect, just not eligible to play college ball.

Our depth is fine. Once again, the 2 guys that left might have played 5-10 min/game max combined. I would have liked to see Kane stay, but more for future teams than this year. He has a nice skill set and could have contributed down the road.

Uh. You only have 11 scholarship players, so how could Kouma be 12th? And I am not confusing anyone, the Beligian player you schollied sight unseen is rumored to have a stress fracture. And if January thinks he is not eligible, why didn't he go the JC route?

You have depth issues when your 10th player has a stress fracture and your 11th player is a project with no other offers.

Hmm...I seem to know more about your team than you do!

 

[Vassar69]

Uh. You only have 11 scholarship players, so how could Kouma be 12th? And I am not confusing anyone, the Beligian player you schollied sight unseen is rumored to have a stress fracture. And if January thinks he is not eligible, why didn't he go the JC route?

You have depth issues when your 10th player has a stress fracture and your 11th player is a project with no other offers.

Hmm...I seem to know more about your team than you do!

Love ya Mikey

 

[Jonny2TheP]

I've stated this a few different times in a couple different threads over the past several months, but I actually believe NU will have a better conference record than last year. Considering that record was 4-16, that's not saying a ton, but with the loss of Pardon and Law (and Taylor I suppose), everyone seems to think this team will be even worse. I see the Cats winning 5-7 conference games due to the improvement of some younger players and a weaker conference overall. In no way do I think do the Cats will be a good team, but just think they'll be better than people think.

 

[Booty Maximus]

Uh. You only have 11 scholarship players, so how could Kouma be 12th?

Maybe I need to type slower so you can keep up? We were talking about where Kane would fit in. Kane would make 12 scholarship players. Thus Kouma would be 12th. Got it?

And I am not confusing anyone, the Beligian player you schollied sight unseen is rumored to have a stress fracture.

You suggested Illinois should have checked Kane's medical status, clearly confusing him with Higgs. Or maybe BBV. Either way, you would be confusing people indeed.

You have depth issues when your 10th player has a stress fracture and your 11th player is a project with no other offers.

Not really, 9 players is more than enough.

Hmm...I seem to know more about your team than you do!

Not really, though I can see why you'd want to get on the bandwagon. Going to be a looonnnngggg season in Evanston.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Maybe I need to type slower so you can keep up? We were talking about where Kane would fit in. Kane would make 12 scholarship players. Thus Kouma would be 12th. Got it?



You suggested Illinois should have checked Kane's medical status, clearly confusing him with Higgs. Or maybe BBV. Either way, you would be confusing people indeed.



Not really, 9 players is more than enough.



Not really, though I can see why you'd want to get on the bandwagon. Going to be a looonnnngggg season in Evanston.

What does Kane or Kouma have to do with a loooooonnng season in Evanston?

 

[Booty Maximus]

What does Kane or Kouma have to do with a loooooonnng season in Evanston?

Absolutely nothing.

 

[combes]

Absolutely nothing.

Other than a NU poster incorrectly stated that Illinois was losing a key player. It was wishful thinking on his part.

Other than that, absolutely nothing.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Other than a NU poster incorrectly stated that Illinois was losing a key player. It was wishful thinking on his part.

Other than that, absolutely nothing.

Oh I get it then, just another Illini guy getting in a free shot to NU on a dreadful day.

 

[Inovacat]

Illinois did not have any "top players" transfer. A couple of developmental bigs did leave the program (Higgs and Kane), but Illinois basically returns just about everyone and adds Kofi. And they will be markedly better than NW. I'd include Maryland as well, they are picked in the top 3/4 of the league by everyone since they have Cowan and Smith back.

I do agree the league overall is much weaker, the middle will be the usual jumble of teams that will be difficult to predict. And NW's guards are probably what keeps them from making much of a move upwards.

Who’s NW? Please remember for the future that this an NU board. Nebraska-come-lately is UNL to this board.

 

[mikewebb68]

Maybe I need to type slower so you can keep up? We were talking about where Kane would fit in. Kane would make 12 scholarship players. Thus Kouma would be 12th. Got it?



You suggested Illinois should have checked Kane's medical status, clearly confusing him with Higgs. Or maybe BBV. Either way, you would be confusing people indeed.



Not really, 9 players is more than enough.



Not really, though I can see why you'd want to get on the bandwagon. Going to be a looonnnngggg season in Evanston.

Uh, I was quite clear about BBV,, but whatever. And we will see if 9 players is more than enough after the inevitable injuries,. Hint: it was not enough for Nebby last year...

 

[Booty Maximus]

Uh, I was quite clear about BBV,, but whatever. And we will see if 9 players is more than enough after the inevitable injuries,. Hint: it was not enough for Nebby last year...

Not many non-blue blood teams can overcome the loss of their best player. And Nebraska didn't have 9 last year, they had 6, maybe 7 legit high major guys. Still, they were a top 15-ish team with Copeland. Still decent without him, but not enough to dance.