Andy Katz Power 36 Ratings 2018-19

seaofred92 · June 4, 2018

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2018-06-04/andy-katzs-power-36-look-ahead-2018-19-season-post-nba-draft

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16. Nebraska: This shouldn’t come as a shock that I’m bullish on Nebraska. The Huskers got James Palmer Jr. and Isaac Copeland back, with Glynn Watson at the point, giving the Huskers experience, scoring and the ability to defend at key positions. Nebraska will be playing with a bit of an edge that should bode well for a potential Big Ten title season.

seaofred92 · June 4, 2018

Other B1G teams in the pre-season Power 36:

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15. Michigan State: The Spartans did get Nick Ward back and still have Cassius Winston and Josh Langford. But the loss of go-to scorer and late-game shot-maker Miles Bridges – let alone the shot-alterer in Jaren Jackson Jr. – cannot be understated. The Spartans will have loads of talent and could still win the Big Ten.

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17. Michigan: I have no issues grouping these Big Ten teams all together in the middle of the poll. They all have the potential to win the Big Ten. Mo Wagner is gone and so too are sharpshooter Duncan Robinson and steady guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman. But the Wolverines got Charles Matthews back and the experience of Zavier Simpson, Jordan Poole, Isaiah Livers and Jon Teske gives the Wolverines one of the more ready starting fives at the beginning of the season. Last season’s team needed a few months to get the learning curve straightened out. That shouldn’t be a problem next season.

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20. Purdue: The Boilermakers got Carsen Edwards back and he is talented enough to carry Purdue toward the top of the Big Ten. Edwards is a preseason national player of the year candidate. He will have an inside presence in Matt Haarms and complementary players like Ryan Cline, Nojel Eastern and Grady Eifert who can make plays to offset the attention that will be focused on Edwards from opposing teams.

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22. Indiana: The Hoosiers were a few wins away from turning a rebuilding season into an NCAA tournament appearance last season. The starting five has some star power in Romeo Langford, whose decision to come to Bloomington was celebrated all over the state. Juwan Morgan was one of the most improved players in the Big Ten last season. De’Ron Davis inside, Devonte Green at the point and swingman Justin Smith give the Hoosiers plenty of pop. The players seem to have all bought into Archie Miller’s desire to defend at a high level.

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25. Wisconsin: Expect the Badgers to make a huge leap after an injury-plagued season. Ethan Happ will compete for Big Ten player of the year. Brad Davison will be the toughest player on the floor each night and now that his shoulder is repaired, he should be an even better shooter. Getting guards D’Mitrik Trice and Kobe King healthy means the Badgers have multiple scorers on the perimeter. Khalil Iverson gives the Badgers the athletic wing they need and Brevin Pritzl can focus on being a sharpshooter with Aleem Ford as a utility player who can do a bit of everything for the Badgers. Wisconsin will have experience at every spot. This will be the kind of Wisconsin team that Badger fans have grown accustomed to over the past decade.

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26. Minnesota: Coach Richard Pitino could have his deepest and most talented team since he’s been at Minnesota. It was supposed to be last season but injuries and a major suspension derailed a once-promising season. The Gophers have one of the top double-double players in the country in Jordan Murphy. Amir Coffey, Eric Curry and Dupree McBrayer give the Gophers a crew that can be as potent as any in the Big Ten. If this team can finally stay healthy, there is no reason the Gophers can’t be in the thick of the race for the conference title.