Michigan, MSU lead way for Big Ten in CBS Sports' updated rankings

On3 imageby:Anthony Broome04/12/22

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The 2022-23 college basketball offseason is still in its infancy stages, but that does not mean it is too early to look ahead. Michigan basketball is awaiting pro decisions on some of its top players while the rest of the country scrambles with the transfer portal and decisions of their own.

CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish published his latest rankings for the 2022-23 season, where Michigan came in at No. 13. The Wolverines are currently his highest-ranked team in the Big Ten.

UCLA, North Carolina, Kentucky, Baylor and Houstan round out Parrish’s top five.

“The Wolverines’ ranking is based on a returning core of Hunter Dickinson, Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate, each of whom is a nice college player but nothing resembling a sure-fire first-round pick,” Parrish wrote. “For that reason, I’ll assume for now that they’re all back at Michigan, which could then be the favorite in the Big Ten.”

The next-closest Big Ten team in the rankings is Michigan State at No. 19. The Spartans are awaiting decisions from some of their key pieces, as well.

“The Spartans’ ranking is based on Michigan State returning seven of the top nine scorers from a team that advanced to the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament – among them Max Christie, who has declared for the NBA Draft but could return to school considering he’s not a projected first-round pick,” he said. “If Christie is back, the hope would be that he takes a sophomore-year leap similar to the one Purdue’s Jaden Ivey and Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis made this season.”

Big Ten schools after Michigan, MSU

The conference boasts only two other schools in Parrish’s updated rankings in Indiana and Purdue. The Hoosiers ranked 19th directly behind the Spartans.

“The Hoosiers’ ranking is based on Indiana returning the top three scorers from a team that made the NCAA Tournament – among them Trayce Jackson-Davis, who could be a candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year,” Parrish said. “Indiana’s recruiting class is ranked in the top 20 and highlighted by 5-star guard Jalen Hood-Schifino.”

Purdue will face another season where it must replace some key production, but Parrish is banking on head coach Matt Painter to figure it out.

“The Boilermakers’ ranking is based on Purdue returning three of the top seven scorers from a team that made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament – among them All-American candidate Zach Edey,” he said. “Admittedly, that’s not a lot — but Matt Painter deserves the benefit of the doubt based on the consistency with which he runs his program.”

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