LGHL You’re Nuts: Who will be the “surprise” team in the Big Ten this season?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Who will be the “surprise” team in the Big Ten this season?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images
For the first time in a few years, there isn’t a consensus preseason “favorite” to win the Big Ten conference.
The Ohio State Buckeyes and Cincinnati Bearcats tip off in a charity exhibition game in 35 days at Fifth Third Arena, raising money to assist young people and their families with mental health struggles. You can read more about that game here.
Just over two weeks later, the Buckeyes will try to wrangle the Longhorns from the University of Texas in the season opener in Las Vegas. That’s all to say that the season is sneaking up on us pretty quickly now as the summer turns to fall.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated which of the four outgoing Ohio State transfers would have the best season at their new school. 37% of the readers picked Scotty Middleton, who is now at Seton Hall. That was the most popular pick, and was also Justin’s choice.
27% of the readers picked Michigan Man Roddy Gayle, which was Connor’s choice. 25% of the readers picked Felix Okpara (Tennessee), and the remaining 11% picked Bowen Hardman (Akron).
Connor- 81
While there isn’t a Big Ten media poll out yet (looking at you, Adam Jardy), there’s a general consensus of who the top four-ish teams will be in the conference this season — Purdue, Indiana, Illinois, and UCLA. When the “unofficial” poll does come out in a few weeks, there will probably be a handful of teams getting first-place votes, followed by a wide range of teams the rest of the way down the standings of the now 18-team conference.
Without having printed “predictions” from many people, our basketball writers are both picking a Big Ten team they think will surprise people this season — for good reasons or otherwise.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have not been to a Sweet Sixteen in a quarter century now, and I’m not convinced that this season will end that horrendously unfortunate streak of mediocrity. However, I’m not seeing very much optimism by national writers about this Iowa team, and I think there probably should be.
To start, Iowa is bringing back the guy who is most likely to win Big Ten Player of the Year this season, 6-foot-7 forward Payton Sandfort. Sandort finished eighth in the conference in scoring last season at 16.4 points per game, which is also second-highest among returning players behind only Minnesota’s Dawson Garcia. Sandfort shot 37.9% from three-point range last season, and his 2.8 three-point makes per game was the most in the Big Ten. He’s tall, athletic, can rebound, and can shoot the crap out of the ball.
Fran McCaffery’s squad also returns sophomore center Owen Freeman, who averaged 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season in just under 23 minutes per game. The 6-foot-10, 230-pounder was splitting time with Ben Krikke at center, but there’s no longer a platoon at that spot, and Freeman should play extended minutes now.
Iowa also brings back junior guard Josh Dix, who averaged 8.9 points per game last year but really got into a groove towards the end of the season, averaging 13.7 points per game over the final nine games of the year. This includes three consecutive 20+ point games against Illinois, Penn State, and Northwestern in late February and into early March. Dix shot 42% from three last year but did not attempt very many, instead settling around the elbow and free throw line and hitting quite a few mid-range jumpers.
On top of that talented trio, Iowa lucked out a little bit with the home only and away only assignments. The Hawkeyes will not travel to Indiana, Purdue, or Michigan State this season — three venues that are not kind to visitors. The general hope is that you play the best teams only on your court, and you go play the worst teams only on their court. Iowa can’t complain with how their Big Ten schedule panned out at all.
Rutgers is an intriguing team to take for this because they are one of the most interesting and hyped teams coming into the season, but that doesn’t always translate to wins, at least immediately.
The Scarlet Knights look very different from last year, which is something fans are embracing. The two main figureheads of the change are the pair of top-five recruits, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. Harper is the younger brother of Rutgers legend Ron Harper Jr., and both players are expected to be two of the top freshmen and overall players in the conference.
However, Rutgers will need more than the dynamic duo of freshmen to win games in a tough conference, and that is where the transfer portal and the questions come into play.
Returning to the Scarlet Knights from last year’s team are only three players: Jeremiah Williams, Emmanuel Ogbole, and Jamichael Davis.
Aundre Hyatt, Noah Fernandes, Austin Williams, and Oskar Palmquist ran out of eligibility and pursued professional options. Derek Simpson went to St. Joseph’s, Antonio Chol went to Howard, Mawot Mag went to BYU, Clifford Omoruyi went to Alabama and Gavin Griffiths went to Nebraska.
The Scarlet Knights brought in their fair share of talent from the transfer portal. Zach Martini came in from Princeton, Tyson Acuff came in from Eastern Michigan, Jordan Derkack came in from Merrimack and PJ Hayes came in from San Diego, along with Harper and Bailey.
Martini, Acuff, and Derkack are all talented mid-major players who should be able to advance to the Power Five level. If they can help Harper and Bailey, they can be a top-five team in the Big Ten.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images
For the first time in a few years, there isn’t a consensus preseason “favorite” to win the Big Ten conference.
The Ohio State Buckeyes and Cincinnati Bearcats tip off in a charity exhibition game in 35 days at Fifth Third Arena, raising money to assist young people and their families with mental health struggles. You can read more about that game here.
Just over two weeks later, the Buckeyes will try to wrangle the Longhorns from the University of Texas in the season opener in Las Vegas. That’s all to say that the season is sneaking up on us pretty quickly now as the summer turns to fall.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated which of the four outgoing Ohio State transfers would have the best season at their new school. 37% of the readers picked Scotty Middleton, who is now at Seton Hall. That was the most popular pick, and was also Justin’s choice.
27% of the readers picked Michigan Man Roddy Gayle, which was Connor’s choice. 25% of the readers picked Felix Okpara (Tennessee), and the remaining 11% picked Bowen Hardman (Akron).
After 169 weeks:
Connor- 81
Justin- 68
Other- 16
(There have been four ties)
While there isn’t a Big Ten media poll out yet (looking at you, Adam Jardy), there’s a general consensus of who the top four-ish teams will be in the conference this season — Purdue, Indiana, Illinois, and UCLA. When the “unofficial” poll does come out in a few weeks, there will probably be a handful of teams getting first-place votes, followed by a wide range of teams the rest of the way down the standings of the now 18-team conference.
Without having printed “predictions” from many people, our basketball writers are both picking a Big Ten team they think will surprise people this season — for good reasons or otherwise.
This week’s question: Who will be the “surprise” team in the Big Ten this season?
Connor: Iowa
The Iowa Hawkeyes have not been to a Sweet Sixteen in a quarter century now, and I’m not convinced that this season will end that horrendously unfortunate streak of mediocrity. However, I’m not seeing very much optimism by national writers about this Iowa team, and I think there probably should be.
To start, Iowa is bringing back the guy who is most likely to win Big Ten Player of the Year this season, 6-foot-7 forward Payton Sandfort. Sandort finished eighth in the conference in scoring last season at 16.4 points per game, which is also second-highest among returning players behind only Minnesota’s Dawson Garcia. Sandfort shot 37.9% from three-point range last season, and his 2.8 three-point makes per game was the most in the Big Ten. He’s tall, athletic, can rebound, and can shoot the crap out of the ball.
Fran McCaffery’s squad also returns sophomore center Owen Freeman, who averaged 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season in just under 23 minutes per game. The 6-foot-10, 230-pounder was splitting time with Ben Krikke at center, but there’s no longer a platoon at that spot, and Freeman should play extended minutes now.
Iowa also brings back junior guard Josh Dix, who averaged 8.9 points per game last year but really got into a groove towards the end of the season, averaging 13.7 points per game over the final nine games of the year. This includes three consecutive 20+ point games against Illinois, Penn State, and Northwestern in late February and into early March. Dix shot 42% from three last year but did not attempt very many, instead settling around the elbow and free throw line and hitting quite a few mid-range jumpers.
On top of that talented trio, Iowa lucked out a little bit with the home only and away only assignments. The Hawkeyes will not travel to Indiana, Purdue, or Michigan State this season — three venues that are not kind to visitors. The general hope is that you play the best teams only on your court, and you go play the worst teams only on their court. Iowa can’t complain with how their Big Ten schedule panned out at all.
Justin: Rutgers
Rutgers is an intriguing team to take for this because they are one of the most interesting and hyped teams coming into the season, but that doesn’t always translate to wins, at least immediately.
The Scarlet Knights look very different from last year, which is something fans are embracing. The two main figureheads of the change are the pair of top-five recruits, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. Harper is the younger brother of Rutgers legend Ron Harper Jr., and both players are expected to be two of the top freshmen and overall players in the conference.
However, Rutgers will need more than the dynamic duo of freshmen to win games in a tough conference, and that is where the transfer portal and the questions come into play.
Returning to the Scarlet Knights from last year’s team are only three players: Jeremiah Williams, Emmanuel Ogbole, and Jamichael Davis.
Aundre Hyatt, Noah Fernandes, Austin Williams, and Oskar Palmquist ran out of eligibility and pursued professional options. Derek Simpson went to St. Joseph’s, Antonio Chol went to Howard, Mawot Mag went to BYU, Clifford Omoruyi went to Alabama and Gavin Griffiths went to Nebraska.
The Scarlet Knights brought in their fair share of talent from the transfer portal. Zach Martini came in from Princeton, Tyson Acuff came in from Eastern Michigan, Jordan Derkack came in from Merrimack and PJ Hayes came in from San Diego, along with Harper and Bailey.
Martini, Acuff, and Derkack are all talented mid-major players who should be able to advance to the Power Five level. If they can help Harper and Bailey, they can be a top-five team in the Big Ten.
Continue reading...
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25617217/Screenshot_2024_09_12_at_8.35.02_AM.png)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25617220/Screenshot_2024_09_12_at_8.36.45_AM.png)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25617223/Screenshot_2024_09_12_at_8.37.31_AM.png)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25617224/Screenshot_2024_09_12_at_8.38.21_AM.png)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25617218/Screenshot_2024_09_12_at_8.35.47_AM.png)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25616465/2170119107.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 07 Boise State at Oregon")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25616467/2170525480.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 06 Western Illinois at Indiana")
